Bipolar Disorder in Adults
What is Bipolar Disorder or Manic-Depression?
Bipolar Disorder is a mental illness or brain disorder in which a person has two very different, intense moods. Sometimes a person has a depressed mood and at other times the person has a manic mood. This is why it is sometimes called Manic Depression. On this site, the term Bipolar Disorder will be used. On other sites, you may find the term Manic Depression used to describe this same illness. With Bipolar Disorder, a person’s mood changes from extremely sad and hopeless to extremely high and irrational with more normal moods in between. The depression and mania can each last for days, weeks or even months.
About two million American adults have Bipolar Disorder. It usually begins in adolescence or early adulthood. It is a very serious illness that can result in the loss of jobs, friends and marriages. It can also lead to drug abuse and suicide. Read our page on Suicide in Adults to learn the warning signs, who is at risk, how you can help and for other information.
Symptoms of Depression in Bipolar Disorder include:
- Intense sadness, hopelessness, and feeling of worthlessness
- Crying spells
- Inability to experience joy or pleasure
- Problems concentrating, remembering or making decisions
- Feeling tired all the time
- An increase or decrease in sleeping and/or eating
- Thoughts of death and/or suicide
Symptoms of Mania in Bipolar Disorder include:
- Feeling high, excited and very important
- Having grandiose, unrealistic ideas
- Sleeping very little and not feeling tired
- Increased physical activity
- Irritability, distractibility and rage
- Speaking and thinking very fast
- Reckless behavior such as spending sprees, driving dangerously or provocative sexual behavior
What Causes Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar Disorder tends to run in families. Researchers believe it has a biological or genetic cause. Hormones and a brain chemical called serotonin seem to be involved in Bipolar Disorder. It can be triggered by an upsetting life event like the death of a loved one, substance abuse, an illness or hormonal changes like those following childbirth. Bipolar Disorder may also begin when there is no obvious stress in a person’s life.
How Can Bipolar Disorder Be Treated?
Bipolar Disorder can be treated successfully! Medication is almost always a necessary part of treatment for Bipolar Disorder. Talking therapies (or counseling) can help a person with Bipolar Disorder and their family work out the problems caused by the disease and teach them ways to recognize and manage the symptoms. A combination of these two kinds of therapies is usually the most effective treatment for Bipolar Disorder.
The biggest problem with Bipolar Disorder is that people do not receive the treatment they need.
Additional Information about Bipolar Disorder
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm
NIMH is an agency of the United States government that does research on mental illnesses, including Bipolar Disorder. This site has clear information about Bipolar Disorder, including how to recognize it and what treatments are used.
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
http://www.dbsalliance.org
DBSA is a grass roots organization started in 1986 by people who had Bipolar Disorder. They have a Scientific Advisory Board of leading researchers in the area of Bipolar Disorder and Depression. Among the features of this easy-to-read site are additional information on symptoms of Clinical Depression, descriptions of specific medications and treatments and outlines of the available services. The telephone number for this organization is 800-826-3632.
Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bipolar-disorder/DS00356
Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice headquartered in Rochester, Minnesota, dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of virtually every type of complex illness. It is part of Mayo Clinic's mission to serve as a reliable source of health information. This site offers a series of pages devoted to Bipolar Disorder, covering the following topics: Signs and symptoms; Causes; Risk factors; When to seek medical advice; Screening and diagnosis; Complications; Treatment; Prevention; Self-care; Coping skills; Complementary and alternative medicine.
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