| Bipolar disorder is serious. It is an illness | | | | them. |
| that can affect relationships, careers, and | | | | |
| lives. People with bipolar disorder may | | | | A medical doctor, psychiatrist and/or |
| exhibit manic moods like high energy, being | | | | psychologist will prove to be a qualified |
| very talkative, restless or reckless one | | | | team to affectively monitor and prevent the |
| minute and being depressed showing signs of | | | | illness from worsening. |
| sadness, crying, and lack of energy the next | | | | |
| minute. It is this "swing" that gives the | | | | Unfortunately, there is no way to prevent |
| disorder its name. | | | | BPD. The best thing to do is begin treatment |
| | | | as quickly as possible. To do that, you must |
| Bipolar can occur in men and women equally | | | | be familiar with the symptoms. Symptoms of |
| and currently affects over 2 million people. | | | | BPD include: |
| Symptoms of bipolar are often seen in early | | | | |
| childhood, although the onset is usually | | | | • Excessive happiness or hopefulness |
| during the early 20s. Connections have even | | | | |
| been found between bipolar disorder (BPD) and | | | | • Restlessness coupled with a need for |
| ADHD. | | | | less sleep |
| | | | |
| BPD is hard to diagnose in young children, | | | | • Distractibility |
| because BPD and ADHD have similar symptoms. | | | | |
| It is just as difficult to diagnose | | | | • Racing thoughts |
| adolescents due to the many hormonal changes | | | | |
| in the overall development which cause | | | | • High sex drive |
| unbalance. It is difficult to discern if the | | | | |
| adolescent is acting normally or if the mood | | | | • Inflated self-esteem |
| swings are symptoms of BPD. In adults, other | | | | |
| problems that will most often occur in | | | | • Tendency to make larger than |
| conjunction with BPD, making it easier to | | | | attainable plans |
| diagnose. Some of the problems that can occur | | | | |
| with BPD include drugs and/or alochol use or | | | | • Change in appetite causing weight |
| abuse, seasonal depression and anxiety | | | | loss or gain |
| disorders. | | | | |
| | | | • Thoughts of death or suicide |
| After diagnosis, there are ways to treat BPD. | | | | |
| The most popular methods are with mood | | | | • Suicide attempt |
| stabilizing drugs and psychotherapy. Before | | | | |
| taking any medications, a few considerations | | | | If you or someone you know may have BPD , it |
| need to be taken. Children and young adults | | | | is important that you note the severity of |
| sometimes have higher suicidal thoughts and | | | | the symptoms listed above and how long they |
| tendencies while on mood stabilizing drugs. | | | | last. The most telling symptom of BPD |
| Medications should be used under extreme | | | | however, is in the extremity of the mood |
| caution, or other measures of control should | | | | swings – extreme highs and lows that do |
| be put into practice for younger people | | | | not follow a set pattern. Do not attempt to |
| diagnosed with BPD. Continuous therapy (both | | | | self-diagnose BPD. If you suspect BPD, seek |
| drug and psycho) should be used even when the | | | | medical attention as soon as possible. Your |
| "cured" feeling sets in. In other words, the | | | | medical doctor can assess your situation and |
| drugs and therapy may be for life or until | | | | help you find a psychiatrist or psychologist |
| such time as your doctor feels it is | | | | to aid in your treatment. |
| medically necessary to remove or discontinue | | | | |