Facts on Bi-Polar Disorder (Depression)

Unusual changes in a person’s state of mind and feeling, moods, and vitality might be symptoms of Bi Polar disorder. Compared to what’s happening to a normal person, these symptoms are much more severe. It affects the person’s performance in school and at work, and might even cause him to become suicidal at times.

Bi polar disorder is otherwise known as bi polar mood disorder, bi polar affective disorder, manic depression, manic-depressive illness and manic-depressive disorder. It is also classified into four types: Bi polar I, Bi polar II, Cyclothymic Disorder, or Bi polar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. The reason why it comes in classifications is that different symptoms show up on different people.

By determining the type of bi polar disorder that a person has, applying the right kind of treatment will be easier because doctors will know and they can focus on the patients’ specific needs. Men and women alike can be affected by Bi Polar disorder. Symptoms usually start to show during early twenties although research proved that they can occur at an earlier age, particularly during their teenage years. Sometimes, even children can be affected. Teens and kids with the disorder do not show the same behavior and the signs on them may vary.

In the US, around 5.7% adults are affected by the bi polar disorder. People with ages 18 and above or about 2.6% do have the disorder too. It may have developed during childhood or at a later age. Many do not know that it is a disease and usually fail to recognize it. Therefore, bi polar patients usually suffer for a long time without being diagnosed and treated.

Bi polar disorder is similar in a way to diabetes and heart disease. Just like those, it is a long term disease that needs special attention and should be well-managed throughout a person’s life. If it will remain untreated, the tendency will be it will occur repeatedly. It can even result to death by suicide. It is in fact, the third primary cause of death among people between 15 to 24 years old. It is also the 6th leading cause why people in developed countries which are between ages 15 to 44 suffer from disability and lose the chance to live a healthy life.

Some people with this emotional disorder resort to drugs and alcohol to remedy themselves. This however results to substance dependence and abuse. The real cause of bi polar disorder remains unclear although researchers believe that the cause is brought about by many factors which may have been acting together. It can also be passed on from parents to their offsprings. If one member of the family has the disorder, his other family members can inherit it, particularly his kids. If he has an identical twin, that twin can become more affected by the disease. However, there are also environment factors that can cause the disease alongside the generic factors.

What can trigger the beginning of bi polar disorder in a person is stress. Sleep also has an important connection to this disease. In fact, many creative geniuses in the world have bi polar disorder because they usually suffer from sleeping disorders - something which is common among bi polar patients.

By: hersmart4ever
Published: 02/24/08