Bipolar Mania -- Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

Bipolar disorder, also called manic depression, is recognized by dramatic emotional highs and lows called episodes. Episodes will be either depressive or manic and may occur for days, weeks or even months. Sometimes, sufferers will have a normal period in between their bipolar episodes. Depression is easy enough to diagnose. Symptoms include sadness, despair, crying, low energy and lack of interest in normal activities. A depressed person is often unable to find pleasure in anything, even if it is something they used to love. Bipolar mania is a bit trickier for many sufferers and even doctors.

Bipolar mania can be either full blown or hypomania. Hypomania is a less severe form of mania where symptoms may be the same, but are not severe enough to interrupt everyday life. Sometimes, these symptoms can be confused with normal feelings of happiness or enthusiasm. The difference lies in the duration of symptoms, as mania and hypomania will last four days or longer without interruption. The symptoms that define mania and hypomania are, not surprisingly, the polar opposite of depression.

During mania, energy levels skyrocket. The sufferer may feel the need for less sleep. Speech may be accelerated, and thought patterns may be wild or disjointed. The sufferer may come up with crazy schemes or plans. They may suffer from grandiose or narcissistic delusions. It's not uncommon for someone suffering from mania to make poor decisions with no regard to consequences. Promiscuous sexual behavior and spending sprees are two possible occurrences. The sufferer may try to max out their credit cards, write bad checks or even give money away. One of the most challenging things about mania is getting the sufferer to recognize they have it, as they often think there is nothing wrong with them during a manic episode.

Bipolar mania is often treated with antipsychotic medications, mood stabilizers or a combination of the two. Antipsychotics are prescribed for severe episodes or psychosis, usually for the short term. Mood stabilizers, on the other hand, may be taken daily for an extended period of time. Antidepressants are often avoided because they can trigger mania or make it worse than normal. In addition to medication, psychotherapy can also benefit those with bipolar disorder. Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, can help bipolar individuals come to terms with their disorder and learn helpful methods of coping.

Copyright 2007 Jim Sterling - All Rights Reserved

What is Bipolar Disorder? (Bipolar #1)




Bipolar Disorder Help


Bipolar Disorder News:
Futurity.org EUR Why lithium works to treat bipolar disorder
EURœThis introduces a new mechanism and more candidate genes whose study could lead to greater understanding of the causes of bipolar disorder, better diagnostic tests, and new types of drugs that are more effective and have fewer side ...


How do I get my best friend to understand my bipolar disorder .
She tells me what i should do all the time, and instead of supporting me she thinks she always knows whats best. and she thinks she completly understands what...


Does Osama Bin Laden's Son Have Bipolar Disorder?
Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden's fourth-born son, Omar Bin Laden, was hospitalized and treated two weeks ago for a mental disorder, according to various news reports...


Omar Bin Laden and Bipolar Disorder
Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden's fourth-born son, Omar Bin Laden, was hospitalized and treated two weeks ago for a mental disorder, according to various news reports...

Mel Gibson, Bipolar Disorder and Alcohol
As Mel Gibson's voicemails to his ex-girlfriend continue to be leaked to the Internet this week, many media outlets are asking questions about Mel Gibson's mental health...


Common Mental Illness Misdiagnoses
Diagnosing a mental illness is often far more challenging than diagnosing a physical illness...


A Heartfelt Question
A reader posted this on the About Bipolar Disorder Facebook page. I don't think there is an answer to "when," but perhaps some of you can suggest things she can say to her family: "When do your family members recognize that you are a person before you are bipolar, and that things you did normally before are [still] normal afterward? Why do they ...


Identifying Youth at High Risk for Bipolar Disorder | Psych .
Can teens and young adults who will later develop bipolar disorder be diagnosed and treated prior to developing full-blown symptoms? Recent research has...


Depression, bipolar support group available
A Fergus Falls, Minn., man who climbed out of depression through a support group wants others to reap the benefits. Dave Offner, who has bipolar disorder, has created a chapter of the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance for the Breckenridge and Wahpeton area...




Bipolar Disorder Help


Technorati Tags: , ,