Skip to main content

Bipolar Depression and Bipolar Affective Disorder - How Are They Related?

 

bipolar depression

Bipolar affective disorder, sometimes referred to as manic-depressive illness, is a complex and chronic disease of the brain that is characterized by an interplay of hypomanic (mixed) bipolar disorder, mania and depressive (or bipolar depression) phases, with significant emotional and physical subsyndromals that often present between major depressive episodes. In addition, bipolar affective disorders can have specific types or phases. The classic type is depression, which affects about one in five Americans, and is characterized by sadness, usually lasting for longer than two weeks. This type of depression has a poor prognosis, and patients who are diagnosed with it are at high risk for suicide. The bipolar type of depression is characterized by either brief periods of mania lasting several months or the development of hypomania. In some patients, either phase of bipolar depression can be triggered by stress; others to develop the condition due to traumatic life experiences.

Manic episodes of bipolar depression occur when the patient experiences an elevation in energy (that is, euphoria) as well as an increase in his or her moods. This may result in excessive activity (that is, an increased heart rate), impaired judgment, impaired memory, or increased sexual dysfunction. During these episodes, symptoms such as paranoia and hypochondria may occur. The manic episode usually lasts for about two weeks, after which symptoms subside. However, because symptoms do not subside naturally, many patients must endure long periods of either mania or depression, which can cause serious health complications and impair their ability to carry on their daily lives.

The depressive episodes of bipolar disorder occur during the times when the patient experiences normal mood fluctuations between hypomania and depression. For instance, a week may go smoothly, with no major depression or hypomania symptoms. Then, the next week a manic episode may occur, causing symptoms such as paranoia, sadness, and increased sexual stimulation. If left unchecked, bipolar depression can rapidly degenerate into major depression. When this happens, people find it difficult to resume a normal lifestyle. In fact, major depression often precludes people from driving and other important daily tasks, making them feel incapable of handling life as usual.

Unlike major depression, patients with bipolar disorder experience brief depressive episodes that may last anywhere from a few minutes to several days. The episodes are not characterized by the intense feelings of sadness and hopelessness typical of major depression. Instead, they are typically elated and self-esteem low, having little to no reflection on the reality of their situation. Although these episodes do not last very long, when they occur they are extremely disruptive to the lives of patients and can greatly interfere with their ability to function normally. That is why it is so critical that patients suffering from bipolar depression be treated promptly.

When a person is suffering from bipolar disorder, there are two distinct forms of mood disorders. In one form, there is an unpredictable change of moods. In this form, patients report feeling irritable, angry, anxious, or depressed, all of which can be incredibly disruptive to everyday functioning. In another form, patients experience a milder form of bipolar disorder and report feelings of elation, anxiety, and irritability. In between the two forms of the condition, patients may also experience mixed episodes in which they experience both irritability and elation, or a state of mixed feelings.

Bipolar depression and mania are often linked because of the extreme levels of energy and enthusiasm that characterize the manic state. When someone is in a manic state, they often find themselves pursuing goals that were out of reach or impossible during regular times. They may think nothing about anything, and their enthusiasm can be overwhelming. The same can be said for those who are in a depressed state; they may feel depressed and have zero energy to do anything, as if they have been left alone by everyone.

In addition to bipolar disorder and depression, other personality disorders can be associated with these conditions. These include bipolar disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, adjustment disorder, social phobia, and generalized anxiety disorder. The symptoms associated with bipolar disorder and mania are very similar, so the symptoms will often overlap. However, patients who are suffering from bipolar disorder and mania may also have symptoms of depression and anxiety, but these will be much less severe. That's why it's important to note that not everyone who have depression and/or mania experience bipolar disorder and mania and not everyone who goes through a depressive state will also go through a manic state.

Manic episodes and depressive states that last longer than seven days have been linked to lithium use, which can be found in the pharmaceutical form of lithium carbonate. While there isn't definitive evidence, researchers believe that lithium use may help to prevent bipolar mania and depression. Other studies show that mood stabilizers increase the chances of experiencing depression. Mood stabilizers may help to alleviate the symptoms of depression that occur when bipolar affective disorder and bipolar disorder are present. But they do not cure or alleviate the condition.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Compass Signs in Military Operations

The angle of depression refers to the angle between an object and the horizontal line of sight. This angle is measured with a graph and is called the angle of tilt. An object that sits straight up on the table is at zero degrees from the angle of depression, while objects that are curved are tilted up. For example, an imaginary object is sitting on the table at an angle of -angles of depression equal one radii. The angle of tilt can be calculated using the formula: T/D where T is time (distance traveled) D is distance (distance remaining) T angles are right angles. T is divided by the tangent of the triangle formed by the vectors T and D to get the tangent of the circle. The other components are usually just zero. The formula is often used in calculating angles of banking. Banking is a normal function of angle of depression. An object that is lying along a horizontal surface is parallel to the viewing angle and therefore represents a right triangle. It can be seen as a straight line th...

Depressed Poem to Help You Fight Your Depression

Depression poetry is an extraordinarily powerful healing art form. It is an extremely effective form of therapy for an extremely debilitating condition that robs us all of the quality life that they deserve and yet cannot be cured. Poetry and other creative works are also a highly effective form of alternative and complementary medicine (CAM) for the reduction and elimination of symptoms related to depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia. The work of poets such as Charles Dickens and William Wordsworth can be used as a model for many forms of CAM. The most common forms of CAM include massage, biofeedback, and EMDR (electro-dermal magnetic stimulation). These treatment options vary in effectiveness. Massage is effective for mild to moderate cases of depression, but is not recommended for anyone with a greater than "minor" depression. Biofeedback is useful for those with more severe depression and those who are severely manic. EMDR is recommended for ...

Find a Therapist for Depression

  When it comes to depression, the first thought that comes to mind is a therapist. But are there any other therapists who can help those with depressive symptoms? Not many, actually. The psychotherapy community has come a long way in recent years, but there are some aspects of treatment that still need to be improved upon and tested. One of the most difficult aspects of treating depression is getting depression therapist help. You might find that your insurance company won't cover the cost of therapy, and you don't have access to many of the qualified professionals in town. This means that you will probably have to turn to friends and family for help. Even then, you might only get part of the total cost, which can be frustrating. If you're experiencing symptoms of depression, then you know how much worse off you can feel when you don't get the right amount of sleep, or if you're eating the wrong foods. These are common signs of depression, but they're not enoug...

What Are The Symptoms Of Cancer?

Cancer is a disease that can strike at any point in your life and can be treated, but you have to know what are the symptoms of cancer so you can identify them and make sure that they do not develop into something worse. You should never take the existence of any symptoms for granted because every cancer patient experiences different kinds of symptoms. There are a number of warning signs that are associated with different types of cancers and knowing these signs will allow you to identify them and seek the proper medical care as soon as possible. If you are aware of what are the symptoms of cancer before it occurs, you may actually save your life. For instance, prostate cancer patients will often experience swelling of the lower rectum or the anus. This swelling will feel like a lump underneath the skin and may cause discomfort when having bowel movements. Some people may experience blood in their stool or urine. A small lump might be present, which is quite painful when squeezing your...