Definition Of Bipolar

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What is Bipolar? This is a question that has been asked by millions of people. It was known in the past as, manic depressive illness, and it is an illness that will affect so many American people. You need to learn about this illness, especially if you have a history of bipolar disorder. What is the definition of bipolar?

People with the bipolar disease will experience mood swings and other symptoms and behaviors. The mood episodes will take three different forms. There are the manic episodes, depressive episodes or the mixed episodes. You need to know the symptoms of each type of bipolar episode.

Manic episode You will often experience moods that are elevated where you will feel extremely happy for no reason. You can also become extremely irritable and start to feel anxious. You will start talking too fast and too much, plus you will find that your energy level has increased, which will mean that you will not sleep as much as you should. There have been people that have acted impulsively while having a manic episode and they will take risks that they later regret. For example, they will suddenly start uncontrollably spending money on a shopping spree. There are a lot of people that have the bipolar illness that will have to try and deal with delusions or hallucinations.

When you are feeling bipolar depression then your symptoms will be for what is known as a depressive episode.

  • One: You will start to feel an overwhelming emptiness feeling or really sad
  • Two: You will have a lack of energy.
  • Three: You will lose interest in things that you once found enjoyable.
  • Four: You will have trouble concentrating on anything.
  • Five: There will be changes in your appetite and it will be hard to get a normal night’s sleep.
  • Six: There have been people that have had thoughts of or attempted suicide.

Mixed episodeThe symptoms for this bipolar disorder will be both manic and depressive.

Now that you know what the symptoms are you need to know what the causes of bipolar disorder are. The symptoms of bipolar are said to be caused because of an imbalance of vital chemicals in your brain. There are billions of nerve cells in your brain and they move a endless supply of information from one to the other. In order for the information to keep flowing the cells will release a chemical called “neurotransmitters.” For every brain function there is two vital neurotransmitters. These are dopamine and serotonin. They play a crucial role in your emotional health. There are scientists that believe that if the levels of the neurotransmitters aren’t normal, then it can cause bipolar disorder. For example, if in certain parts of your brain there is too much dopamine, then you can have symptoms such as delusions. If there is not enough dopamine in the other parts of your brain this can result in symptoms such as a loss of emotion and energy.

Even though there is no cure for bipolar disease, bipolar medicine will help you keep your symptoms and severe mood swings under control. Your behavior will become more normal and predictable. When someone who is living with bipolar disorder is having a manic episode, they can become very agitated, uncooperative and aggressive. Bipolar medication will help to get these behaviors under control again. You will more than likely have to take medicine for the rest of your life, even when you are feeling better because if you stop taking the medicine your symptoms will return.

Your doctor may recommend you have bipolar disorder therapy and they may even suggest that you join a bipolar support group. Having someone you can talk to and someone that understands exactly what you are going through will go a long way towards your treatment. You will also want to make sure you have the support of your friends and family. You will need all the help you can get because this won’t be easy. So don’t try to do anything alone because you don’t have to.

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