Symptoms And Treatment Of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder which is also known as manic-depressive illness. It 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 bipolar disorder are different from the normal ups and downs that everyone experience through from time to time. Bipolar disorder symptoms can result in damage relationships, poor school performance, lost of good jobs and it can even cause suicide. But fortunately bipolar disorder can be treated and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives.

Bipolar disorder often develops in a person's late teens or early adult years. At least half of all cases start before age 25.1 Some people have their first symptoms during childhood, while others may develop symptoms late in life. Bipolar disorder is not easy to spot when it starts. The symptoms may seem like separate problems, not recognized as parts of a larger problem. Some people suffer for years before they are properly diagnosed and treated. Like diabetes or heart disease, bipolar disorder is a long-term illness that must be carefully managed throughout a person's life.

Common signs and symptoms of mania include feeling unusually "high" and optimistic OR extremely irritable, unrealistic, grandiose beliefs about one's abilities or powers, sleeping very little, but feeling extremely energetic, talking so rapidly that others can't keep up, racing thoughts; jumping quickly from one idea to the next, highly distractible, unable to concentrate, impaired judgment and impulsiveness, acting recklessly without thinking about the consequences and delusions and hallucinations.