What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar Disorder is a serious mental health problem involving extreme swings of mood (highs and lows). It is also known as Manic Depression or Bi-polar Affective Disorder. Both men and women, of any age from adolescence onwards and from any social or ethnic background, can develop manic depression. It often first occurs when work, study, family or emotional pressures are at their greatest. In women it can also be triggered by childbirth or during the menopause.
The illness is episodic (occurs in phases). It is possible to remain well for long periods. Typically the key to coping with bipolar disorder is an early diagnosis and acceptance of the condition. From this point, self management, health care, therapy and medication can be taken up as appropriate. Severe and/or untreated episodes of bipolar disorder can be very damaging for all affected.
Mania (high)
Someone experiencing mania may not recognise it is happening. Incoherent, rapid or disjointed thinking or being easily distracted are common features of an episode of mania. Other symptoms may include paranoia and hallucinations affecting vision, hearing or perception. Grandiose delusions or ideas can occur where a sense of identity and self has been distorted by the illness. Sometimes the term psychosis (losing touch with reality) is used to describe these symptoms when they are severe.
Depression (low)
Most people who have a diagnosis of bipolar Disorder will experience a severe depression at some time. Usually this will follow an episode of mania where the trauma of the manic episode can sometimes compound the depression. For some people depression will be more likely to occur in the winter months. Symptoms, which are commonly experienced, include a feeling of emptiness or worthlessness (as opposed to sadness), loss of energy and motivation for many (or all) everyday activities, pessimism and negativity about most things (or everything). Thoughts of death and suicide can be common but may be hard to discuss.
Hypomania
Quite often hypomania is explained as a less severe form of mania. Someone who is experiencing hypomania may seem very self-confident and euphoric but may react with sudden anger, impatience or become irritable, sometimes for the slightest reason. S/he may have more ideas than usual, be unusually busy, work too much or be very creative, but not be able to focus on anything for long or switch off and relax. S/he may become more reckless than usual, which might mean errors of judgement at work or in relationships, or be more talkative or challenging with people.
Is there a cause and is there a cure?
Although much progress has been made in understanding bi-polar disorder and how it can be managed, research has still not led to either a consensus on the cause or cure. Some research suggests that there is, if not a known genetic link, then certainly an inherited predisposition to developing manic depression. It is also known that stressful life events may often precede an episode of mania or depression. As our understanding of the function of the brain increases, more insight can be gained about mood and mental health, and better medications are developed. MDF The Bipolar Organisation keeps up with new developments in various research fields and campaigns for more effective research on behalf of those whose lives are affected by bipolar disorder.
