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onsdag 26 augusti 2009

How Bipolar Disorder Affects The Life Of A Manic Depressive Patient

By Sheila Wilson

Manic depression is a common term for bipolar disorder. Life of a manic depressive patient is often impacted by the disorder. Some people with manic depression may have severe symptoms while others may only have mild symptoms.

Bipolar disorder causes mood disturbances known as mania and depression. The mood disturbances may not be severe enough to be called true mania or depression. Hypomania is a milder form of mania, while dysthymia is persistent, mild depression.

Mania and depression can be stressful and sometimes overwhelming. Mania can cause a decreased need for sleep, impulsively, euphoria, and irritability.

Depression associated with bipolar disorder can be severe and lead to suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. Someone who constantly deals with a mood disorder like manic depression may begin to distrust their feelings. If a person with bipolar disorder feels good, they may question whether they are beginning to have a manic episode.

Mixed episodes caused by manic depression have symptoms of both mania and depression. A mixed episode can be very frustrating. During a mixed episode, the person may feel irritable one minute, severely depressed later that day, and invincible and euphoric minutes later.

During episodes of mania or depression, the person may do things that they would normally not do. For example, a person who is financially responsible may waste hundreds of dollars during a manic episode. This can cause a great deal of frustration for the person with the disorder and their families.

Life for a manic depressive patient may be focused on managing the disorder and trying to control symptoms. The symptoms may be severe enough to inhibit the person from maintaining gainful employment. This disorder can also interfere with a person's interpersonal relationships.

Unfortunately, there is no medical testing to determine which medication will effectively manage the symptoms. The right combination of medications must be found by trial and error which is a process that could take years.

Many people with bipolar disorder benefit from therapy. Often, a person with bipolar disorder needs ongoing help coping with their symptoms.

Late adolescence and early adulthood are the typical age of the onset of bipolar disorder. Sometimes, the onset of the disorder interferes with person's ability to attend college or focus on their career. Bipolar disorder can be a life-altering illness.

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