Manic Depressive Disorder

Concept

Manic depressive disorder is a chemical imbalance within the brain. This disorder disrupts you mood and causes your emotions to fluctuate. Mood swings. The disorder causes one to experience extreme depression and mania. The intensity of the mood swings vary going from mild, moderate, and severe. Without treatment the severity and frequency of the illness builds up over the years. Non-professionals normally call this disease "manic-depressive illness". Those in the psychiatric field refer to it as "bipolar disorder". Bipolar is a name given to this disorder because it refers to the two poles that range from depression on one end and mania on the other.

One who has bipolar will experience severe depression. They lose interest in activities and hobbies. The loss of interest in things and people cause them to see things as meaningless. Hopelessness, worthlessness, sadness, and guilt are only a few of the feelings one is overwhelmed with. Most find it extremely difficult to concentrate, make decisions, and think. They are preoccupied with failures, loss of self-esteem, and can't stop certain thoughts from intruding. Hallucinating, hearing voices, and delusions plague the person. 15% of untreated patients commit suicide. They experience changes in their weight. Most will lose weight but about 40% gain. Many experience insomnia. They will feel really tired, irritable, and restless. Change of behaviors includes the following: withdrawal from people and social events. The symptoms of mania start with feelings of happiness and joy and progress to the person feeling "on top of the world". They feel like

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they can do anything. They are creative, work more, and barely sleep. They've reached mania when these symptoms interrupt their normal functions.

There is no known single cause of the disorder. It seems to run in families. The treatment of Bipolar Disorder depends on the severity of the persons symptoms. Treatment may include medication, ECT, and psychotherapy. If a person is properly treated and medicated they can often lead pretty normal lives. It takes a lot of work though.

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