{"id":35678,"date":"2013-06-13T09:25:53","date_gmt":"2013-06-13T09:25:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dherbs.com\/uncategorized\/bipolar-disorder\/"},"modified":"2024-02-27T03:17:10","modified_gmt":"2024-02-27T10:17:10","slug":"bipolar-disorder","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dherbs.com\/articles\/general-topics\/bipolar-disorder\/","title":{"rendered":"Bipolar Disorder"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bi-polar disorder<\/strong>, also known as manic-depression<\/strong>, is most commonly recognized by extreme swings in mood. Someone can feel happy or euphoric, and then suddenly feel hopeless and suicidal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bipolar disorder is medically defined as:
“A major mental disorder characterized by episodes of mania, depression, or mixed mood. One or the other phase may be predominant at any given time, one phase may appear alternately with the other, or elements of both phases may be present simultaneously. Characteristics of the manic phase are excessive emotional displays, such as excitement, elation, euphoria, or in some cases irritability accompanied by hyperactivity, boisterousness, impaired ability to concentrate, decreased need for sleep, and seemingly unbounded energy. In extreme mania, a sense of omnipotence and delusions or grandeur may occur. In the depressive state, marked apathy and under-activity are accompanied by feelings of profound sadness, loneliness, and lowered self-esteem. Causes of the disorder are multiple and complex, often involving biologic, psychological, interpersonal, and social and cultural factors<\/a><\/strong>.<\/em>”
Mosby’s Medical Dictionary, 5th edition (1998), pg. 196.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is usually a long-term psychiatric condition that may need one or more therapies to manage symptoms so the sufferer can engage in every-day life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Causes and Risk Factors<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bi-polar disorder is attributed to several instances such as hormonal imbalance, genetics, neurotransmitter imbalance, changes to the brain (either due to injury or other factors). Stress, abuse, traumatic loss can also contribute to the development of Bi-polar disorder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other emotional, psychological, or health issues can can make the diagnosis of the disorder difficult. Conditions that commonly occur with Bi-polar disorder include anxiety, ADD\/ADHD, addiction or substance abuse, heart disease, thyroid disease<\/strong><\/a>, and obesity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People suffering from Bi-polar disorder experience symptoms at both ends of the spectrum: the highest highs and the lowest lows. Some symptoms are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n