Ricky Luckett
Mrs. Debra Jordan
English IV
18 March 2013
The Bipolar Disorder Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. Symptoms of the bipolar disorder are very severe. What makes them so sever is that they are not easy to notice early on. Causes of this disease can be genetic, physiological, or environmental. Most people are diagnosed with the bipolar disorder in their childhood. Some people have the disorder but haven’t been diagnosed with it yet. Bipolar disorder is a complex illness. There are many different symptoms and several different types of bipolar disorder. The primary symptoms of the disorder are dramatic and unpredictable mood swings. The various types of bipolar disorder range from mild to severe. Symptoms may also include excessive happiness, excitement, irritability, restlessness, increased energy, less need for sleep, racing thoughts, high sex drive, and a tendency to make grand and unattainable plans. There are different types of the bipolar disorder. They include bipolar I, bipolar II, cyclothymic disorder, mixed bipolar, and rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. A person affected by bipolar I disorder has had at least one manic episode in his or her life. Bipolar II is similar to bipolar I disorder, with moods cycling between high and low over time. In rapid cycling, a person with bipolar disorder experiences four or more episodes of mania or depression in one year. About 10% to 20% of people with bipolar disorder have rapid cycling. The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, but several factors seem to be involved in causing and triggering bipolar episodes. Factors include hormones, inherited traits, and the environment. Imbalanced hormones may be involved in causing or triggering bipolar disorder. Stress, abuse, significant loss or other traumatic experiences may play a role in bipolar disorder. The aim of treatment for bipolar disorder is to minimize the frequency of manic/depressive episodes and to reduce the severity of symptoms. If the patient is treated regularly then improvements should be seen in up to 3 to 4 months. Treatment can include hospitalization, initial treatment, continued treatment, and substance abuse treatment. Your doctor may have you hospitalized if you are behaving dangerously, you feel suicidal or you become psychotic.
You’ll need to begin taking medications to balance your moods right away. Once your symptoms are under control, you'll work with your doctor to find the best long-term treatment. Maintenance treatment is used to manage bipolar disorder on a long-term basis. People who skip maintenance treatment are at high risk of a relapse of symptoms or having minor mood changes turn into full-blown mania. If you have problems with alcohol or drugs, you'll also need substance abuse treatment.