Bipolar Disorder A Medical Condition - 1022 Words

BIPOLAR DISORDER 1 Bipolar Disorder, often called Manic Depression, is a medical condition that involves severe mood swings in an individual. It is a lifetime condition that needs to be treated to keep it in remission (APA). It is not just a mental illness, but a medical disease involving the brain. 2 The disease progresses as the years pass and the frequency of mood changing episodes becomes more frequent (MHN). Bipolar Disorder involves depressive and manic phases. With the symptoms presented, clinicians often misdiagnose patients as schizophrenics (Shalala). 3 Bipolar affects an individual’s thoughts, feelings, health, behavior and ability to function. The disease is not a result of a weak personality, as many people believe.†¦show more content†¦Cycling is defined by the shifts from one phase to another. Women are more prone to the more rapid cycling. This is due to the different hormone changes in the female body. A male is apt to cycle every two to four years, while a female may cycle four or more times annually (Shalala). 6 The best way to understand bipolar is to learn about the different phases that an individual experiences. There are four different phases: depressive, manic, hypomania and mixed episode (APA). 7 The depressive phase can last for several months. The patient will show depressed behavior daily, weight loss, diminished pleasure, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, lack of concentration, restlessness, insomnia or hypersomnia (over sleeping), impaired functioning and suicidal thoughts. These symptoms are present without any evidence of drug or alcohol abuse (Long). Any thoughts of death or suicide should be taken seriously. 8 The word mania comes from the French and means crazed or frenzied (Shalala). In the manic phase, the individual sleeps only a few hours, yet is feels perfectly rested. They tend to be talkative, distracted and overly goal-oriented. Unfortunately, they seldom follow through with their goals. Pleasurable activities become very important, particularly those that involve high risk. The ego becomes inflated beyond reality and their thoughts and ideas race continuously (Long). 9 Hypomania is a much milder form of mania. In this