Bipolar

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder (pronounced: bye-poh-lar dis-or-der), also known as manic-depressive illness, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).

Etymology

The term "bipolar" is derived from the Greek words "bi" meaning two and "polus" meaning pole. This reflects the dual nature of the disorder, which is characterized by two extreme emotional states.

Symptoms

Bipolar disorder is characterized by periods of unusually intense emotion, changes in sleep patterns and activity levels, and unusual behaviors. These distinct periods are known as mood episodes. Mood episodes are drastically different from the moods and behaviors that are typical for the person.

Mania

During a manic episode, an individual might feel very happy, have lots of energy, have increased activity levels, feel jumpy or wired, have trouble sleeping, become more active than usual, talk really fast about a lot of different things, be agitated, irritable, or touchy, have racing thoughts, and do risky things.

Depression

During a depressive episode, an individual might feel very sad, have a decreased or lack of energy, have difficulty sleeping or sleep too much, feel like they can't enjoy anything, have difficulty concentrating, forget things a lot, eat too much or too little, feel tired or slowed down, think about death or suicide.

Causes

The exact cause of bipolar disorder isn’t known, but a combination of genetics, environment, and altered brain structure and chemistry may play a role.

Treatment

Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition. Treatment is directed at managing symptoms. Depending on your needs, treatment may include medications, psychotherapy, and lifestyle changes.

Related Terms

• Mania
• Depression
• Mood episodes
• Medications
• Psychotherapy

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Bipolar
• Wikipedia's article - Bipolar

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