Bipolar Disorder or Manic-Depressive is a brain disorder that causes fluctuations in one’s mood, appetite, energy levels and ability to function. A person with Bipolar Disorder experiences unusually intense emotional states that occur in distinct periods called "mood episodes”, according to the National Institute for Mental Health. There are three types of this disorder Bipolar I, Bipolar II and rapid-cycling. Most people with bipolar are not diagnosed with the disorder until their late teens to early adult hood, some may even experience the disorder in childhood.

The symptoms of bipolar are severe and not like normal ups and downs that everyone goes through. There are several signs that a person can recognize, a diagnosis can be made by looking at family history, symptoms, and length of illness, and finally there is medication and therapy that can manage and treat the disorder.

To begin one must look at the symptoms one is experiencing and track their fluctuations with a mood chart which can help in the diagnosis. With a licensed psychiatrist, diagnosis can be found more readily. You can find a list of symptoms on Mahalo’s topic page for Bipolar Disorder by clicking the phrase in this sentence.

This guide on how to recognize signs of bipolar disorder will walk you through the process of looking at your behavior, recognizing symptoms of Bipolar and finally, seeking treatment for the disorder if you determine you may be bipolar.

The first step is to look at your behavior by recording it in a journal or a mood chart, which can be found free on the internet. For an example see the source to this sentence.http://www.healthyplace.com/images/stories/bipolar/hp-mood_chart_blank.pdf. The idea is to record one’s everyday feelings so as to track up and downs in mood. This makes it easier to recognize a pattern or common occurrence in behavior that might indicate a disorder. These journals can also help identify the type of bipolar disorder, and even other disorders a person may have. It is best to bring these journals to a trained professional if you suspect a problem.

The hardest part about Bipolar is getting the diagnosis. Many who suffer from Bipolar Disorder often do not recognize the mood fluctuations they encounter. Depending on what type of Bipolar a person has the symptoms will vary. For example, one might experience severe cases of mania but will not suffer from depression. In addition, the mental illness cannot be diagnosed physiologically; a person or professional must look at their behavior over time to recognize symptoms.

The second step is to seek a physician and present him or her with the symptoms you are feeling. The signs and symptoms for mania, depression, hypo-mania and psychosis vary. The following symptoms were provided by the Department of Health and Human Services: www.hhs.gov

• Mania is characterized as having increased energy, activity, and restlessness. One will have excessively “high”, overly good, euphoric mood along with racing thoughts and speech, little sleep is needed, and finally the denial that anything is wrong. This denial makes close family and friends important because they may identify these symptoms while a Bipolar person wouldn’t.

• Hypo-mania is a moderate level of mania which makes the person feel good and productive but can create mania or depression.

• Depression episodes are lasting sad, anxious, or empty moods. One has feelings of hopelessness, guilt, worthlessness, and loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. Depression can cause insomnia, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. You can read more about depression by clicking the phrase in this sentence.

In some cases, severe episodes of mania or depression can create symptoms of psychosis (psychotic symptoms). Common psychotic symptoms are hallucinations (hearing, seeing or sensing the presence of things not actually there) and delusions (false, strongly held beliefs not based in logic or explained by a person’s usual cultural concepts). Medications can be prescribed to prevent reoccurring episodes. There are ways to manage Bipolar Disorder once a person has been diagnosed. This information was provided by a pamphlet by the U.S. Health and Human Services Dept found in the source to this sentence. www.hhs.gov

In this final step, seeking treatment is the main focus after being diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. A Bipolar person can achieve stabilization through long-term preventative treatment. This involves seeking a psychiatrist (medical doctors with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders) who can prescribe medication and a therapist to provide counseling is key to managing the disorder.

Mood stabilizers are usually prescribed including Lithium, effective in controlling mania and depressive episodes, Anticonvulsant medications like valproate or carbamazepine or newer anticonvulsant medications such as, lamotrigine and gabapentin for more difficult to treat bipolar episodes. Both lithium and anticonvulsant medications can be used for the best results. This information came from a pamphlet by the U.S. Health and Human Services Department that can be found in source to this sentence.http://www.hhs.gov/

Depression is usually treated with antidepressant medications and psychotherapy. You can read more about common treatments for depression by clicking the phrase in this sentence.

By working closely with the psychiatrist and openly communicating concerns can be very effective treatment. Creating a support group for oneself, either through community Bipolar support groups or with family and friends may help. Physical therapy and psychotherapy are both conducive to mental health. /http://www.mahalo.com/physical-therapyhttp://www.mahalo.com/psychotherapy

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact a doctor before using the information presented here.