Understanding Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is often hard to tell apart from any other types of mood disorders because of related symptoms’ that they have in common.

Understanding all of the different symptoms of each of the mental illness and mood disorder can help you distinguish which mood disorder you may have. A through study of your symptoms is important in evaluating and recognizing what you may be feeling is necessary for the doctor to be able to develop a treatment which is varied by each individual. You need a diagnosis for which disorder you may have but by understanding the symptom and disorder can assist you in discussing it with the doctor and prepare you for the interview. Use the information that you find to help determine which signs and symptoms you are experiencing.

Give the doctor your opinion about the research you have done and any to the symptoms you are experiencing.

A journal kept daily can help the you and your doctor to understand the different symptoms and when they are occurring this will be of assistance to the doctor and the treatment plan can facilitate the doctor in giving you the correct treatment and diagnosis you need..

There are several types of bipolar disorder; all involve episodes of depression and mania. They include bipolar I, bipolar II, cyclothymic disorder, mixed bipolar, and rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.

A person with bipolar I disorder has had at least one manic episode in his or her life. A manic episode is a period of abnormally elevated mood, accompanied by abnormal behavior that disrupts life.

Bipolar II is similar to bipolar I disorder, with moods cycling between high and low over time. But in bipolar II disorder, the highs or elevated moods never reach euphodria or a full blown mania.

In rapid cycling, a person with bipolar disorder experiences four or more episodes of mania or depression in one year. People with bipolar disorder who have rapid cycling are not that commonly seen.

In most bipolar disorders, moods alternate between elevated and depressed over time. But with mixed bipolar disorder, a person experiences both mania and depression simultaneously or in rapid sequence.

Cyclothymia is a fairly mild mood disorder. People with cyclothymic disorder have milder symptoms than in full blown bipolar disorder.

Whichever disorder you may think you may or show symptoms that are similar to what you may be experiencing it need to be treated.  The life is never easy for bipolar but educating yourself can be the first steps to recovery