The Reality of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a complex psychological problem that affects the human behavior from swinging to depression to mania. The swings in mood can last from weeks to months, and not only affect the person afflicted, but the people around them as well (MayoClinic, 2008). It is a combination of both depression and mania, which causes extreme happiness and extreme sadness, and the symptoms will worsen as time goes by if treatment, which is mostly pharmaceuticals, is not taken on a regular basis.

There are various different symptoms of bipolar disorder, but often times this disorder is hard to diagnose because people confuse the symptoms and do not recognize them for the problem that they are. The first symptom that can be seen is an extremely high irritability Geodon, 2008. The person can be happy and outgoing and then switch to being mad, or sad, and withdrawn or violent. The second symptom that is prevalent is increased activity levels, a sudden rise in energy levels, and restlessness when it comes to normal living conditions. This symptom can affect the afflicted person at work, at home, and in every other type of social situation. The third common symptom of bipolar disorder is the overworking of the brain, mainly thought processes that are constantly evaluating and thinking. This makes it hard for the person to think properly, analyze information correctly, and makes it extremely hard for them to concentrate on one simple task. They have to be constantly doing tasks to keep themselves busy. Being easily distracted is another common symptom of bipolar disorder. This makes it extremely hard for a person to concentrate, no matter where they are, including work, school, and home. The final common problem that is seen is a lack of need for sleep. This, in effect can cause bipolar disorder to get worse, because if the person does not get the required amount of sleep it makes them even more moody, and a vicious downward cycle begins. All of the symptoms described are a precursor to being diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and once the symptoms have been evaluated, and the person is diagnosed as having bipolar, then medication has to be given to prevent a continued struggle within their lives, and the lives of the people around them, to cope with the problem.

Treatment for bipolar disorder begins with self knowledge and awareness. Being educated about the condition is one of the first steps that should be taken (HelpGuide.org, 2008). The more a person knows about the problems and the causes of the mood swings, the more likely that the person can avoid the extremes of the disorder. Monitoring your mood, and keeping it under control, as well as avoiding stress, are also helpful tools that can be used by the person.

The second stage of treatment consists of professional help, including medical and psychiatric help. Psychotherapy should be a regular stop in a person that has been diagnosed with bipolar. This therapy is pointless when the person is in the manic stage, but when in the depression stage can be very useful. The psychiatrist can also evaluate the needs of each individual person, and decide upon which type of medication should be used, which is the next step in the process of living with bipolar disorder. The medications that are mostly used are mood-stabilizing in nature, as well as mild tranquillizers and sleep aids when required. This is why it is important to schedule regular visits with a psychiatrist, so they can monitor your moods and prescribe what is required at the time.

In cases where episodes are becoming harmful to the person, and the people around them, hospitalization is recommended. This is needed in order to keep a constant watch on violent, and self-destructive, people, until the episode has been contained. Being in the hospital allows the person to be under constant surveillance by people that are trained to deal with their condition, and medication can be given as needed without really upon the afflicted person to follow the doctor's orders.

The final help that can be offered to people in a severe manic state is Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), which is commonly known as shock therapy. This procedure is an outpatient procedure which can be carried out at any equipped hospital, and it consists of receiving a small amount of sedation, for relaxation purposes, followed by small amounts of electricity pumped into the brain (University of Maryland Medical Center, 2008). The response to this treatment is usually fast, causing the brain is working to change, and the manic state is altered.

Bipolar disorder is a serious psychiatric problem that needs to be promptly treated after being diagnosed. It is a combination of depression and mania, and causes mental problems within the person afflicted, as well as problems for all the people around them. Long term treatment is the only way to control this disorder, and with psychotherapy, medication, and self awareness most of the time people can live normal lives without any major inconveniences.

Geodon Acute Manic and Mixed Episodes Geodon.com
HelpGuide Understanding Bipolar Disorder HelpGuide.org
MayoClinic Depression: Bipolar Disorder MayoClinic.com
University of Maryland Medical Center Bipolar Disorder umm.edu