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| Bipolar Disorder |
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Everybody experiences various highs and lows in mood. The average person experiences a wide range of emotions throughout each day, as the brain reacts to the incredible amount of stimuli and events that we each confront as we go through our lives. For the average person, these swings in mood are natural responses to our experiences, easily recognized, and easily managed. For millions of people around the world, however, mood swings can be much more dramatic, and difficult to manage - particularly for those who suffer from bipolar disorder.
Once known as manic depression, bipolar disorder is a psychiatric condition that results in extreme mood swings and major lifestyle disabilities. The more extreme cases of bipolar disorder can so dramatically affect a patient's life that it even impacts upon health. An individual suffering from this condition will see their emotions and mood run the gamut from the heights of happiness and joy to the depths of sadness and despair - often in a very short span of time. In some cases, the patient can suffer from both extremes simultaneously.
Between these two extreme states, most individuals with bipolar disorder are able to live relatively normal lives. They maintain their families, work at their jobs, and engage in normal societal functions. Their bipolar episodes occur in cycles, often with no trigger event or emotion. These cycles become more and more frequent and pronounced in severity as the patients get older. Typical bipolar disorder behavior involves high-risk activities that can be devastating to the individual's family and financial life and even life-threatening as many patients suffer from thoughts of suicide when in the grips of their depressive cycle.
At present, it is estimated that approximately 6 million people in the United States are afflicted with bipolar disorder. It affects both men and women, rich and poor, and cuts across all racial and ethnic lines. One of the most difficult aspects of bipolar disorder lies in its diagnosis. While there have been attempts to diagnose teenagers with extreme behavioral issues, these attempts usually result in a misdiagnosis - since risk taking and emotional extremes are a prevalent factor in the teen years. Most experts agree that it is almost impossible to accurately diagnose the disorder until the patient is in his or her mid 20s.
Despite the difficulty in diagnosing bipolar disorder, it is important that it be identified early. In fact, early diagnosis is one of the most critical aspects of treatment, as the condition will only get worse over time without proper care. Treatment of bipolar disorder varies from individual to individual, but generally relies upon a combination of medications to control the extreme mood swings, as well as therapeutic counseling and a strong support network of family and friends.
With the proper care and treatment, most individuals with bipolar disorder can go on to live productive lives without the uncontrollable emotional swings that would occur absent medication. Early detection of the condition is the key to effective diagnosis and treatment, and with the support of the patient's loved ones, he or she can enjoy a normal quality of life.
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