Article by John C Allen

We all have ups and downs in life expressed in our emotions. In fact, it is necessary to express your emotions to find right way for solving your life problems. Suppressed emotions often create big problems. However, if your emotional behavior shows abnormal pattern, it is surely symptom of great concern. In the current article, we will discuss one such abnormal pattern of emotions which takes form of Bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a psychological disorder in which person express an abnormal emotional behavior pattern with serious shifts in mood, energy and thinking. Unlike ordinary moods swings, a person fluctuates from the highs of mania on one extreme, to the lows of depression on the other. Such extraordinary mood swings can lasts for days, weeks or months.

Signs and symptoms

As each person’s psychology is different, in the same way, impact of Bipolar disorder varies from person to person in terms of emotional pattern, frequency and severity. Some people express more symptoms of mania or depression, while other may express alternate episodes of mood disruptions. In general, there are four types of mood episodes found under psychological assessment of such disorder. A person expresses a different set of symptoms in each episode of Bipolar disorder, which are:

ManiaHypomaniaDepressionMixed disruptions

Common symptoms of mania

Feeling unusually energetic or optimisticSleeping very less still feeling energeticThoughts waving at speed from one to another ideaInability to concentrateImpaired judgmentActing recklessly without thinking about the consequencesDelusions and hallucinations

<p class=”NoSpacing”>Hypomania

Hypomania is a generally symptom of Bipolar II disorder and Cyclothymia. It is an intense form of mania in which a person feels intense energy and euphoria. Such person is assumed to be in state of Hypomania and fluctuates between normal mood and maniac condition.

Common symptoms of Bipolar Depression

Feeling hopeless, sad and irritabilityInability to experience pleasureFatigue and physical and mental sluggishnessLoss of AppetiteLack of concentration and memory lossFeelings of worthlessnessThoughts of death or suicide

Mixed Disruptions

In mixed episodes, person shows intense fluctuation in moods, including mixed episodes of mania and depression. In such a state of mind, a person expresses either too energy and euphoria or severe depression and hopelessness.

Bipolar Disorder Treatment

Any psychological disorder needs psychological assessment by trained professionals. It is difficult to distinguish symptoms of Bipolar disorder from other problems such as major depression and personality disorder. It is advisable to take help of only experienced psychiatrist and not your family doctor or general physician, in case, you or any of your loved one shows such abnormal pattern of emotional behavior. Only such professionals can correctly detect and treat the problem. The earlier you see the doctor; the better will be the chances of getting cured.

The Bipolar disorder treatment generally emphasizes on relieving symptoms and reducing the frequency and intensity of manic and depressive episodes. The treatment is generally combination of medications, psycho- therapies and counseling of the patient. A variety of medications are used to treat Bipolar disorder. Lithium, anticonvulsants, Valproic acid, Carbamazepine and Lamotrigine are mood stabilizers usually provided under treatment. These are given to patient for preventing or controlling episodes of mania or depression.

Any psychological disorder needs counseling and psychotherapies to be performed by expert psychiatrist for effective treatment. However, love and support of family and friends is the most important requirements for bringing back positive attitude towards life in patients.

About the Author

Jeff Waplak is an experienced Content writer and publisher for Business Development. Visit at http://stevensonwaplak.com to know more about therapeutic boarding schools and foster care.

Tagged with: About • Bipolar • Disorder • Facts • know • Treatment

Filed under: Bipolar Disorder Mood Swings

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