Bipolar Disorder - What Is It Exactly?

What exactly is bipolar disorder anyway? What used to be called manic depression is now called bipolar disorder. It is a mood disorder, a chemical imbalance of the brain, often times a very severe mental illness. You can go from one extreme to the other. You never know when that can happen, it just happens. From happiness and euphoria to slumbering sadness and sorrow. Within months, weeks or even hours. Depending on what kind of cycle you are going through.

There are three types of bipolar.

• Bipolar I Disorder : This involves at least one or more manic or mixed episode/rapid cycling, and often one or more major depressive episodes. A depressive episode may last for several weeks or months. Your mood changes may also be related to the seasons and weather. A manic episode is a period of abnormally elevated mood, accompanied by but not limited to hallucinations, grandiose feelings, and increased sexual desire.

• Bipolar II Disorder: One or more major depressive episodes with at least one hypo-manic episode. Hypo-manic episodes have symptoms similar to manic episodes, but are not as severe. Other forms of mania may include behaviors such as unexplained irritability, insomnia, and unacceptable social behavior.

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  Cyclothymic Disorder: Is a mood disorder with repeated periods of mild depression, and periods of normal or slightly elevated mood. Lasting at least 2-years. It is the mildest form of bipolar.
  
  If you are lucky, the medications you are prescribed will work, most times you cycle through a menagerie of medications to get the right one, sometimes two or three. You and your doctor can decide how many you need to become stable. Then there is the miserable side affects that you may have to endure so you can find out which medication will give you the ever elusive stability. And live a normal or (regular) lifestyle. Which believe it or not can be achieved.
  
  Sometimes you are so depressed all you can think about is suicide. You can't get out of bed for days on end. You pay absolutely no detail to hygiene, or eating. You lock the door and lay in bed knowing the world has come to an end. Nothing matters, nothing exists. Because your brain tells you life isn't worth living. Your just a big lump laying there waiting for the hole in the floor to suck you in. Wanting to die because there is no other way. Your convinced nobody likes you anyway. So why bother?
  
  Then there is the manic phase. You think your The President of The United States. You are invincible. You can fly if you so desire. You have a unrelenting sex drive, you have the need to jump on a flight to another country for no other reason than you just know you have to. Your mind races so fast you can't keep up. The thoughts keep coming until they turn into voices you can't understand. You want to spend money, shop for things you know you don't need.
  
  The thing is that bipolar can affect anyone. It is a serious mental illness that affects approximately 1% of the world population according to The World Health Organization.
  
  There are treatments such as mood stabilizing medications, anti-depressant medications and when necessary, anti-psychotic medications, psychotherapy and as a last resort there is electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). But the most popular is mood stabilizing medications such as , Seroquel, Lamictal, Abilify, Depakote, and Tegretol to name just a few.
  
  Bipolar also brings along stigma that paralyzes some of those diagnosed to seek treatment because they are afraid of what others might think of them. There is the fear of losing a job because of preconceived idea of what bipolar means or what the bipolar person might do. It is a mental illness that can be treated with medication and therapy. It is possible to lead a normal life if the person suffering is treated and follows a treatment plan.
  
  Of course along with stigma comes the mistakes and wrong-doing the bipolar person has done. Such as trouble with the law, unable to keep relationships, thus creating shame and more stigma. Bipolar is nothing to be ashamed of, but one does not have to be stigmatized because there are treatments and support groups to help you work towards stability and wellness.
  
  You are not alone. Keep track of your triggers. Recognize what stresses you out. Take notes on patterns that cause you to have mood swings. With this information you can try to avoid your negative triggers.
  
  Keeping your regular doctor and therapy appointments. Going off bipolar meds or changing them without talking with your doctor can cause episodes to return or get worse. With proper medicine, education, and support, bipolar disorder can usually be managed with therapy, support groups, family, and friends.