Understanding Depression Article

What is Bi-polar?

Bi-polar disorder, otherwise referred to as manic-depressive disorder, is something that millions of people all over the world suffer from on a daily basis. It is a disorder of the brain, wherein the chemicals are imbalanced. This generally causes mood problems for the sufferer, such as being very happy, excited, and energetic one minute, to being severely depressed and having lack of motivation and energy the next. One of the most distinguishing features of this disorder is that the person has no idea or cause for their mood to change - it just does so for no external reason whatsoever.

For those who have bi-polar disorder, it is extremely rare for the person to recover from it on their own. This disorder requires anti-depressant medication, which must be taken even after symptoms subside in order to keep the brain chemicals balanced. Most people who have bi-polar disorder must take these medications for the rest of their lives.

One may not think that having mood swings is something to get upset about, but many people simply do not understand the degree to which the moods change and the side effects of those mood changes. At the worst, when a person swings into a depressive state, the risk of that person becoming suicidal is extremely high. In a manic state, they may be so elated that they do things that they would never otherwise do, and sometimes have no recollection after the fact of what they have done. Someone suffering from bi-polar disorder is often lucky to have just a normal day.

When a person is in a manic state, they often find their mind racing so quickly from one thought to another that it is impossible to focus on any one thing for any length of time. They can become aggressive and violent. Impulsiveness and the inability to think clearly can send the sufferer doing things that they would never do otherwise.

The depressive state, on the other hand, is equally frustrating and difficult to deal with. Those with this disorder find themselves feeling sad and alone for seemingly no reason. This in and of itself lends to a lack of motivation and determination, and the sufferer finds it difficult to get out of bed in the morning, much less do anything else throughout the day. They will usually have problems sleeping, whether it be sleeping too much, or not able to sleep at all. Maybe the worst part is the unexplained body pain.

The only way to determine whether a person has bi-polar disorder is through asking questions and subjecting the patient to a series of written tests. Obviously, this method can lead to misdiagnosis of other similar illnesses, but it has and does manage to get many people treated for this potentially dangerous disorder.

If you or someone you know has symptoms that you think might be associated with bi-polar disorder, make sure to see a healthcare professional as soon as possible.