Bipolar Disorder Symptoms Tips

FAMOUS PEOPLE WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER

2009-03-08T12:45:00.000-07:00

See All The Famous People In The World With Bipolar Disorder
00:10 President - Abraham LINCOLN
00:17 Musician - Adam ANT
00:25 Actor - Ben STILLER
00:30 Actor - Burgess MEREDITH
00:34 Astronaut - Buzz ALDRIN
00:44 Author - Charles DICKENS
00:48 Nurse - Florence NIGHTINGALE
00:53 Director - Francis Ford COPPOLA
00:57 Boxer - Frank BRUNO
01:02 Scientist - Isaac NEWTON
01:06 Actor - Jean Claude VAN DAMME
01:10 Musician - Jimi HENDRIX
01:14 Actor - Linda HAMILTON
01:19 Composer - Ludwig Van BEETHOVEN
01:27 Prime Minister - Winston CHURCHILL
01:32 Music Producer - Phil SPECTOR
01:36 Director - Tim BURTON
01:41 Actor - Richard DREYFUSS
01:46 Musician - Ray DAVIES
01:50 Model - Sophie ANDERTON
01:53 Musician - STING
02:00 Musician - Kurt COBAIN
02:04 Actor - Ned BEATTY
02:14 Musician - Ozzy OSBOURNE
02:18 Actor - Jim CAREY
02:22 Actor - Robert DOWNEY JR
02:28 Actor - Robin WILLIAMS
02:31 Actor - Spike MILLIGAN
02:36 Actor - Stephen FRY
02:41 Artist - Vincent VAN GOGH

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Rapid Cycling Bipolar - Understanding Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder

2009-02-27T08:14:00.000-08:00

Many people are familiar with the mental illness called bipolar disorder. Some individuals go through what is referred to as rapid cycling. They have to very extreme moods and the go in a full circle back and forth from depression to mania over and over again. The speed at which a person goes through rapid cycle bipolar is different for everyone. It can also change depending on the medications the person takes and any stress taking place at a specific time.

Rapid cycling bipolar disorder can be the result of a hereditary mental health issue. It can also be triggered by emotional trauma that affects the person in adverse ways. To be classified as rapid cycling bipolar disorder the person must complete at least four cycles per year. For some people they complete four or more cycles in only one month or even in just one week. These types of cases are often called ultra rapid cycling bipolar disorder.

It is hard to fully define the behaviors of someone who is going through rapid cycling bipolar disorder. They may exhibit normal behaviors and then move into depression and mania again. Others continually move from one extreme to another. Still yet other individuals experience a slow and gradual movement from one end of the spectrum to the next.

If a person moves from mania to depression with nothing in between it is called a switch. There can be as few as two switches per year or as many as two per month for more sever cases. There are so many different patterns of behavior that can take place during rapid cycling bipolar disorder that it is hard to find the right treatment for them initially.

Since there are so many variables with rapid cycling bipolar disorder people often classify it incorrectly. Only a doctor who is able to monitor the patient can correctly identify the level of cycling and the right way to treat it. This is often done after carefully assessing the individual. This is one area of mental illness that still has plenty of research to be completed.

If you found this information on Rapid Cycling Bipolar useful, you'll also want to read about Bipolar Divorce.

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Types of Bipolar - Bipolar I Disorder and Bipolar II Disorder

2009-02-24T19:08:00.000-08:00

When diagnosing bipolar disorder there are two main types of bipolar that medical professionals refer to.

They are known as bipolar I and bipolar II but you may also see them referred to as:
-bipolar 1, bipolar i, bipolar type 1, or bipolar i disorder
-bipolar 2, bipolar ii, bipolar type 2, or bipolar ii disorder.

If you are interested in what bipolar disorder is, some common symptoms, and what the differences are between the two main types of bipolar they can be differentiated as follows:

Bipolar Type 1 (I)
Bipolar I, indicates that a person experiences mania, the more marked form of mood elevation.
Mania in bipolar I disorder is a period of elevated mood or a "high" mood swing that lasts for at least a week. During an episode of mania, a person becomes very self confident, needs less sleep, and pursues goals and projects or may become totally preoccupied with activities that they find pleasurable.

Energy and drive is increased. This can be expressed by spending sprees, overt self-confidence, sexual indiscretion and increased activity in pleasurable activities. The high mood of mania is also accompanied by racing thoughts and speech.

Manic episodes can also involve irritability or periods of psychosis (a loss of touch with reality). The mood swings of mania can be so severe that hospitalization is required.
For Type I bipolar disorder an episode of elevated mood (mania) impacts significantly on life, such that continuing work and maintaining relationships when unwell can become very difficult.

Bipolar Type 2 (II)
Bipolar II also involves episodes of elevated moods, but this mood elevation is of a lesser severity and for a shorter period (around 4 days), than in bipolar I. While these periods are clearly different from what is normal for the person, impairment in behaviour does not occur, in contrast to mania.

Bipolar II characteristically involves periods of depression where the person can lack energy and motivation, feel sadness and perhaps guilt over things that they are not responsible for. There can also be changes to sleep patterns and appetite.

So for those with Bipolar I, depression may or may not be a part of the symptoms experienced but to be diagnosed with Bipolar II a person must also experience episodes of depression.

If you are asking yourself, "Am I bipolar?", or if you feel that you are experiencing bipolar behaviours then please seek the advice of a doctor.

For more articles on Bipolar Disorder and for an Online Bipolar Self-Help Program visit MoodSwings.

Sue Lauder is a psychologist who has worked in the area of bipolar disorder for the past 6 years.

She has worked on the development and implementation of a group program for bipolar disorder and is a co-author of Living with Bipolar published by Allen and Unwin.

MoodSwings adapts the effective group program to an online format and is the basis for her PhD.

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What is Bipolar Disorder?

2009-02-20T10:58:00.000-08:00

Bipolar Disorder is disease hereditary innately of previous generation.There is no known cure, but there is treatment to lessen the effects. Bipolar disorder is brain disease which possess symptoms with schizophrenia; this leads to mistaken diagnoses, especially in children. Either signs bipolar disorder was psychotic symptoms, never meet the full diagnostic criteria for schizophrenia. Bipolar disorder is a recurrent illness, and patients who go untreated can suffer tremendously both personally and professionally. What's more, among untreated sufferers 50 percent turn to drug and alcohol abuse.
1-3% adult group experience effect from bipolar disorder,however children and adolescents also involved with this disease. Untreated, bipolar disorder is associated with greater risk of drug and alcohol addiction, of interpersonal relationship difficulties, work problems, engaging in risky behaviors and of suicide.Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that will cause mood, energy and intellectual processes to cycle. 3% to 5% American citizen also have bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disorder is a serious mental illness that affects a child's or adolescents mood and behavior. Young people with bipolar disorder have dramatic changes in their moods, alternating between feeling very depressed and feeling high or manic.
Bipolar disorder is fairly well-understood and readily treated with a combination of medications and psychotherapy. People with bipolar disorder tend to have to remain on maintenance doses of medication for the rest of their lives. Bipolar disorder is just as prevalent among women as men although their symptoms may vary. Bipolar disorder is a condition that is defined by certain behaviors and thought patterns, some of which are the opposites of one another, yet can exist at the same time. Although the core troubles of bipolar disorder are the same for children as they are for adults, often the specific behaviors are different, and vary according to the age and developmental level of the child. The age and developmental level of the child usually influence their specific behavior.
Bipolar disorder is associated with a number of other dangers. . These dangers include problems with the legal system due to poor judgment during manic episodes. Bipolar disorder is all about highs and lows. Bipolar disorder patient in high level will feel himself is king. Bipolar disorder is the result of a malfunction in the brain's ability to communicate.
The World Health Organization 2002 report, states that of all the neuro psychiatric conditions, bipolar affective disorder is the fourth cause of disability worldwide (The World Health Organization, 2002). Bipolar disorder is a long-term illness that must be carefully managed throughout a person's life. The risk of suicide including teen suicide is high in untreated cases. Bipolar Disorder is in the same family of illnesses (called "affective disorders") as clinical depression. However, unlike clinical depression which appears more frequently in women than in men, bipolar disorder appears to affect both men and women in equal numbers.

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