By Clive Jenkins

Many will be more familiar with this mental health condition as manic depression, but these days it is commonly referred to as bipolar affective disorder. In the very essence of the term, bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that causes mood swings way beyond what may be categorized as normal. Symptoms will alternate from severe low depression to feelings of being on a tremendous high. Each instance however, commonly changes between individuals.

To date, it is still unclear how bipolar affective disorder is actually come by. Professional's institutions and the like believe that the condition is down to hormonal and genetic levels but there is still much more to consider when we look at this. The experiences and emotions that are felt with bipolar affective disorder occur daily and frequently this is what sets off the mood swings. Trying to deal with the occurrence of elated feelings and then unpleasant feelings can without doubt put one suffering with bipolar affective disorder in greater jeopardy for manic depressive instances.

A number of instances may set off the mood swings which include: inadequate sleep, drug abuse, not taking medications, illnesses, fall outs with family and friends, bereavements etc. It's also common to trigger mood swings when placed in a new environment such as starting a new job or going to university. If your G.P has examined you and confirmed that indeed you do have bipolar affective disorder, you will soon be able to understand and know what can trigger the mood swings you are experiencing. You may also find it useful to consult your G.P and ask to be referred to a therapist who can help you put a mood chart together. This is an immense help as it will help you to learn to take note of your emotions and aid in avoiding some of the recurring triggers. Speak to you friends and family about this also and try to explain more about your triggers so they may also help you with your battle against this condition.

The condition of bipolar affective disorder can actually go unannounced for years without anybody knowing about it. The way many other illness will have a standard test that is conducted to firmly establish the cause of that ailment, bipolar works completely different to this and any practitioner who may suspect bipolar will make his further investigations by way of a questionnaire made up of a predefined checklist.

Medication is available for bipolar affective disorder so help is at hand. Typical medications for the condition are antidepressants, mood stabilizers and also what is not really a medicine as such but rather a therapy, electroconvulsive therapy or more commonly referred to as ECT.

There is really no guarantee that medication will totally eradicate the bipolar affective disorder symptoms, but they can be controlled and made to help you cope easier with particular situations.
Bipolar affective disorder is not uncommon and it is important to remember that it is not just the patient who is affected by it. We must also consider the sufferers family and friends too. If you suspect you may have bipolar affective disorder then please don't panic as help is always available. With the correct treatment there is no reason why the condition can't be effectively controlled.

 

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By Li Ming Wong

Bipolar affective disorder, also known as bipolar disorder or manic depression, is a mental illness in which the patient has mood swings or mood cycling. The mood cycles between depression, mania, and normal behaviors. Depression episodes are typically accompanied by extreme sadness and feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness, decreased energy, and sleeping too much. Manic episodes are typically accompanied by extreme happiness, inability to sleep, increased energy, racing thoughts, and distractibility. Mixed episodes, in which the patient shows symptoms of both mania and depression at the same time, can also occur.

Bipolar affective disorder is caused by a combination of neurological, biological, emotional, and environmental factors. The true causes of bipolar affective disorder are not fully understood. However, researchers and doctors are continually making advances in this area.

There are two types of bipolar affective disorder. The first type involves an almost constant state of minor mania, with alternating periods of extreme mania and depression. The second type of bipolar affective disorder involves an almost constant state of depression, alternating with small, minor bouts of mania.

Before bipolar affective disorder was fully understood, people with the first type of the illness were often misdiagnosed as schizophrenic. This is due to the fact that many with type one bipolar affective disorder have tendencies to lose touch with reality, have hallucinations, or have delusions during more severe manic phases.

The second type of bipolar affective disorder is often misdiagnosed as clinical depression. This is because the patient is most often depressed, and does not complain about being happy during their manic episodes. The diagnoses is usually corrected after medication treatment has begun for depression. Anti-depressants used with bipolar patients tend to throw the patient into a manic phase. If this happens, the doctor will immediately realize their error and switch the patient to a mood stabilizer.

There are many treatment options for bipolar affective disorder. The most common treatment for bipolar affective disorder is a combination of medication and therapy, or counseling. Medication options include mood stabilizers, anti-depressants, and anti-psychotics. Therapy options include traditional counseling methods, cognitive behavioral therapy, emotive behavioral therapy, and rational behavioral therapy. CBT, EBT, and RBT are fairly new forms of bipolar affective disorder therapy treatments, that have been found to be extremely successful. Patients who are not candidates for medication can often have successful results with CBT, EBT, or RBT therapy alone.

While bipolar affective disorder is not a new illness, there is still very little known about the subject. As doctors and researchers learn more about the brain and how it functions, the more likely a cure for bipolar affective disorder will be found. In the meantime, people who feel that they may show symptoms of bipolar affective disorder should contact a mental health professional for diagnosis and treatment options. Family or friends who notice these symptoms in others should also seek to help that person find help for their mental illness. Bipolar affective disorder does not have to control your life, if you are willing to undergo treatment to control it.

To learn more, check out Bipolar Disabilities Guide.