Bipolar depression mood

Bipolar depression mood involves periods of excitability (mania) alternating with periods of depression. The mood swings between mania and depression can be very abrupt. Bipolarity includes a presence of at least one manic episode, it is a chronic condition, and the average of episodes without medication is of four episodes in ten years. Bipolarity is linked to depression since it is a unique pattern of mood cycles which include many behaviors such as the ones for depression. Once the pattern has been determined, the manic and depression cycles are predictable.

Bipolarity begins in adolescence and in early adulthood. Many studies state that there is a strong genetic influence. Ken Kendlar, a psychiatrist at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, believes that it is a 50 – 50 split between genetics and environment when it comes to developing a mental disorder.

Signs and symptoms of bipolar and manic depression
Mania: A person in the manic phase may feel indestructible, full of energy, and ready for anything. Other times that person may be irritable and ready to argue with anyone who tries to get in the way.
Unrealistic plans
Less sleep and food than needed
A person can stay up all night without accomplishing anything because he or she was easily distracted.
A person may talk very quickly from subject to subject.
Self-esteem may be inflated.
Decisions regarding business and finances are often made hurriedly and without consideration
Clothing choices may also change, brighter clothes.

Depression: mania alternates with depression, however most people have more depressive episodes than manic ones.
Sadness and crying
People who are depressed may not care enough about personal appearance
These people may sleep too much or have difficulty getting to sleep
No interest in food at all or they eat excessively
People with depression have trouble thinking
They withdraw from friends
Depression brings feelings of hopelessness
People who are depressed may not see a point in living anymore and may actually think about ways to kill themselves.

How is the bipolar depression disorder diagnosed?

Bipolar depression disorder is very difficult to diagnose. It can take almost ten years to be diagnosed correctly. The reason is the dual nature of the disorder. When a person is in the manic stage he/she feels good and full of energy so, for them there is no need to seek for medical advice or help. On the contrary, when a person is in the depressive stage they usually seek help but they are often diagnosed with depression and not with bipolarity. Doctors have a test that helps them find the right disorder. The Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ) is used to find bipolar behavior in patients.

What is the best way to treat bipolar and manic depression?

There are many ways to treat this mind disorder. Medication is necessary, however, it won’t work by itself, most people need to combine it with information about the disease, which are the bipolar symptoms, and which are normal behaviors of your personality. Therapy helps along with healthy lifestyles and to really stick to the treatment. This is a lifelong condition and its ups and downs could be devastating. Bipolar depression mood can be treated but it can’t be cured.