Manic depressive disorder is also known as bipolar disorder and is characterized by severe mood swings, far and above what any normal person would endure on the average day. What are the symptoms of manic depressive disorder/bipolar disorder?
Everyone is subject to mood swings from time to time. It is a normal part of being human, especially if you are female and affected by the monthly rise and fall of female hormones. But although we all have days where we don’t feel like dragging ourselves out of bed, the mood swings experienced by a bipolar patient are far worse and much more erratic.
What are the symptoms of manic depressive disorder/bipolar disorder?
The symptoms of bipolar disorder fall into two main categories: depression and mania. The depression stage of the illness is the “low” phase, whereas the mania stage of the illness is the “high” phase. Each stage can last for a few weeks, or sometimes longer, and the patient can cycle between depression and mania without warning. In some cases, the patient will revert to normal in between stages, but in the more severe cases of manic depression, the patient will be in a constant cycle between depression and manic behavior.
During the depressive stage of bipolar disorder, symptoms include all of the classic symptoms of depression. These are typically feelings of sadness, hopelessness, guilt, worthlessness, despair, and pessimism. The patient will lack energy and start avoiding other people. They may also cry all the time and have suicidal thoughts.
During the manic phase of the illness, the patient is euphoric and happy, full of energy, cannot sleep or eat, is agitated, distracted, and full of grandiose ideas about things they want to do. They are also more likely to make reckless decisions and embark on crazy schemes.
What is rapid cycling?
There are several different ways in which bipolar symptoms can manifest themselves. In some people, the symptoms of manic depression are characterized by more episodes of depression than mania. In others, the stages of depression and manic moods are interspersed by long periods of normal mood. But a small sub-section of patients will experience what is referred to as “rapid cycling”. When this occurs, the patients experiences dramatic mood swings alternating between depression and mania, with no respite period in the middle.
How severe can the symptoms of manic depression be?
There are many different levels of severity of bipolar disorder and at the extreme end of the scale a bipolar patient can experience the symptoms of bipolar psychosis, including hallucinations and delusions. Such symptoms will typically occur during episodes of mania and depression, and once the episode is over, the patient will probably have no recollection of their behavior.
Are the symptoms of bipolar treatable?
There are lots of medications available to those suffering from bipolar disorder, so if you or someone you know might be experiencing the symptoms of bipolar disorder, it is very important that you seek medical help as quickly as possible.
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