A Further Look at Bipolar Disorder Symptoms
Bipolar is a type of a mental disorder that can affect people of any ages but occurs more commonly in teens and adults. Sometimes, bipolar can be hard to self-diagnose most especially that there are a lot of mental disorders that are somewhat identical to bipolar disorder symptoms. Also, bipolar has different types, making it more difficult for people to realize that what they are experiencing are already the symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Depressive Episodes
During a depressive episode comes one of the classic symptoms of bipolar. This is a decrease in pleasure and interest in the activities of daily living. The mood here can be very different to the standard moods and interests of normal individuals. The person with this would feel like he or she is in a state of depression, which can occur with or without causes at all. Sadness or emptiness is additional moods that can be described as in this state. Acting in these ways often calls for ridicules from people around those with bipolar. Another effect that this phase of bipolar disorder has is that it can negatively impact a persons occupational and social functioning. Bipolar symptoms can last for days and even up to weeks depending on the severity of the disorder.
The person will most probably lose weight because the appetite is affected. Other common symptoms are extreme fatigue, loss of energy, decrease in gross motor skill agitation, and sleeplessness. The person may also have feelings of worthlessness and guilt, all which can lead to suicidal attempts and death.
Manic Phase
The manic phase is the opposite of a depressive state. The symptoms experienced here would be the exact opposite to the ones experienced in the depressive state. The behaviors manifested here can also be due to known or unknown causes just like the depressive episode. It may also last from days to weeks depending on the severity of the disorder.
A Mixed Period
The mixed period is a dangerous time. This is where the both bipolar symptoms, depressive episode and manic episode, manifest at the same time. This is considered more dangerous because it could last from a week to a couple of weeks. It can cause more social impairment in the daily functioning and work situations. When they both occur at the same time, it becomes more difficult to treat because of the unpredictable nature and behavior of the person with bipolar.
Other health conditions and substance abuse are often confused in most cases of bipolar disorders. Due to this fact, most cases of bipolar disorders are diagnosed at later stages when the condition has worsened.
It is necessary to know bipolar disorder symptoms in order to treat the disorder once the symptoms are being identified. This type of a mental disorder can be very dangerous because it can lead to suicide and death. To prevent these from happening, it is advisable to visit a psychiatrist at once.
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Written by Ken P Doyle on November 15th, 2009 with
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