Bipolar Disorder is a manic depressive illness that is concentrated on a persons mood swings energy and ability to function. Different from the normal ups and downs it is co related to mental health and mental disorder. Bipolar disorders can result in severe consequences like suicide, poor performance at work, leaving job affecting the day-to-day activities and causing discomfort within the family.

Bipolar disorder usually develops in late teens or early adulthood. It is a prolonged state of mental health that should be carefully managed through out for the person to lead a productive life.

What are the contributing risk factors of Bipolar disorder?

Scientists agree that there is no single cause to this state of mental health. There are other factors, which increase the risk of bipolar illness.

Genetic is considered the main cause of bipolar disorder. Children with a parent or sibling having the history of the mental disorder are more likely to develop the disorder than others who do not have any background of the illness.

The common pattern of brain structure and functioning is also linked to the person’s unstable moods.

Symptoms of Bipolar disorder

People with bipolar disorder usually experience emotional states that occur in distinct episodes called mood episodes. An overexcited state is called manic episode or an extremely sad is called a depressive episode. The combined symptoms of these two states are called a mixed state.

People with this mental disorder may be irritable and violent. There are physical as well as behavioral changes related to bipolar disorder.

 The symptoms of manic episode include:

• Extremely happy or outgoing
• Talking very fast and jumping to new ideas
• Distraction
• Taking new projects and increasing goal related activities
• Being impulsive and indulging in spending spree, impulsive investments and impulsive sex
• Having an unrealistic belief in ones talent

The symptoms of depressive mood include:

• Feeling worried or lonely
• Loss of interest in activities
• Feeling restless
• Neglecting eating, sleeping and social habits
• Being irritable, thinking of death and suicide.

However, during a mixed state people may feel sad but extremely energized. Mixed state is related to agitation, irritability, change in appetite and suicidal feeling

Bipolar disorder severely affects mental health and can last for a lifetime. Though few people can overcome most of them have lingering symptoms.

How can you diagnose Bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder cannot be diagnosed through laboratory tests and scan. It requires a proper evaluation of the family history and symptoms of the patient as it is related to mental health and mental disorder. Previous records and inputs of family and friends help in diagnosing the problem.

Treatments for bipolar disorder:

Bipolar disorder being a long term and recurrent illness people need a long-term treatment to gain better control of their mood swings and related symptoms. This mental health disorder is also associated with other illness like anxiety, thyroid, diabetes, and headaches leading to severe depression.

An effective psychotherapy treatment and proper medication helps in relapsing and controlling this mental disorder. Medications are prescribed by the doctor after evaluating the daily life chart of the person like different daily mood symptoms, sleep and eating patterns events occurring daily in his life etc.

Bipolar disorder has no cure but the treatment can prove to be effective if people talk and work more closely with the doctor or psychiatrist and talk about their concerns and choices. Families and friends of the patients play a vital role in offering support and decreasing his fear and anxiety of the illness.

Bipolar disorder affects mental health of the person by creating a direct impact on the brain and it is functioning. Thus giving unconditional mental and emotional support, inviting the person for positive distractions like walks, outings prove to be effective. Therapies, which include positive behavioral changes, bonding with special groups and discussions also help to cope up with this disorder.

Basic Information on Bipolar Disorder is a post from: Mental Health