the symptoms of bipolar disorder

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bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is an illness which affects the brain. The main symptom of bipolar disorder is extreme mood swings. A sufferer of bipolar disorder will not feel, think, and act as others do. As such, the effects can be widely varied and also disturbing to those not familiar with this disease.

There are three kinds of bipolar disorder: bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymia. In the latter bipolar type, both earlier types are present associated with a rapid cycling of the mood swings somewhere in between the two earlier types. Bipolar disorder usually develops during late adolescence, around the age of eighteen, give or take a few years. Some older adults and young children can also exhibit signs of the disorder but these are rare cases.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

The high and low shifts of moods of a person affected by this disorder are called mania and depression. Mania symptoms are quite varied and may be readily recognizable due to the state of almost manic energy or excitement. Some of bipolar disorder?s manic symptoms are an increase in the individual?s energy, his activity and restlessness.

More manic symptoms are listed below:

a euphoric or very high mood;
an irrational, extreme irritability;
a rapid succession of ideas and thoughts which disable the individual from
communicating well due to excitable explanation of the ideas;
a lessened need for sleep;
easily distracted;
a sense of being able to do many things which are unrealistic;
poor judgment;
elevated sex drive;
provocative or aggressive behavior;
denial of anything wrong.

The depressive episode of an individual suffering from bipolar disorder may have the following symptoms:

a very lengthy sad or empty mood;
a pessimistic view of things;
a constant feeling of hopelessness;
loss of interest in things previously enjoyed;
feeling slow or fatigued most of the time;
heightened restlessness and irritability;
suicidal tendencies
weight loss or gain;
difficulty in thinking or concentrating.

A person suffering from bipolar disorder will need to be diagnosed properly by certified professionals before any medication or treatment can or should commence. Sometimes, symptoms may be overlooked because bipolar disorder usually develops during late adolescence or early adulthood. During these times, teenagers are usually angry, full of angst or depressed anyway. Parents need to be concerned when these symptoms persist with their children or if they exhibit any of other the symptoms of bipolar disorder listed above.

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