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Bipolar Disorder Essay

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Bipolar disorder was formerly known as manic-depressive disorder, named after the two “poles” of the condition. Bipolar disorder is the extreme swings of mood and activities level. A person will wing from one pole to the next with no warning. Depressions and lethargy are one end of the spectrum of emotions and extreme elation and hyperactivity is the other end. This disorder is alternate periods of mania. A person could go years without going to either extreme or they could constantly go back and forth from each side of the spectrum. There are about five levels in the spectrum, the two farthest apart are extreme depression and the maniac phase. The next two in are mild depression and some elation and agitation. Right in the middle of the spectrum is the calm, people show no signs of the disorder and carry on like a normal human being. The maniac phase is very wild and uncontrolled, the depression phase is very lonely and painful; although scientists have yet to find the exact cause of the disorder there are treatments that can help this disorder.
The maniac phase of bipolar disorder usually has signs that one is going through it because of their erratic behavior and usually act out about three times a day when they are going through this phase. For it to actually be considered the maniac phase a person must go through this showing multiple symptoms for at least a week if not longer. This phase effects a person’s judgment, normal behavior and takes away their ability to make rational decisions. A person showing signs of the maniac phase shows euphoric energy, hyper-activeness, extreme talkativeness, and are emotionally wound. This is a psychological disorder meaning that their mental health and ability to think rationally are thro...

... middle of paper ...

...niac phase is where they lose the ability to think rationally and they do not make reasonable decisions. They are carefree and can really damage their life. When they settle down and actually realize what they did, they then become depressed. The depression hits them hard like a wave and makes their life seem dark, lonely and bland. Bipolar disorder is thought to be hereditary and caused by a certain gene or combination of genes and environmental factors that a person goes through. The best treatment is the combination of drugs and therapy because it regulates the body and lets the person get out any trapped feelings and express themselves. Talking gives them a chance to clear their mind and if they explain what it is they are going through chances are they will be able to find small steps they can take to work on staying away from the absolute ends of the spectrum.

In this essay, the author

  • Explains that bipolar disorder is the extreme swings of mood and activities level, with depressions, lethargy, extreme elation, hyperactivity, and alternate periods of mania.
  • Explains that the maniac phase of bipolar disorder affects a person's judgment, normal behavior, and takes away their ability to make rational decisions.
  • Explains that the depression phase of bipolar disorder is filled with hopelessness and anxiety and a dark wave of melancholy.
  • Explains that there are various ways to treat and overcome bipolar disorder, including anti-depressants, ssris, and brain imaging studies.
  • Explains that bipolar disorder affects only a small percentage of the world's population.
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      Bipolar disorder, as defined by the Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine, is a mood disorder that causes a person to suffer extreme emotional changes and shifts in mood. Previously known as manic-depressive disorder, bipolar disorder causes alternate periods of mania and depression. To fully understand the effects of this disease, it is important to comprehend the meanings of mania and depression. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines mania as “excitement manifested by mental and physical hyperactivity, disorganization of behavior, and elevation of mood.” Depression, on the other hand, is defined as “a psychiatric disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate, insomnia, loss of appetite, feelings of extreme sadness, guilt, helplessness and hopelessness, and thoughts of death.” (Merriam-Webster). The combination of the two results in emotional chaos.

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      • Explains that bipolar disorder has become one of the leading forms of mental illness in the united states. the negative effects occur due to a lack of proper diagnosis.
      • Explains that bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that causes extreme emotional changes and shifts in mood. it causes alternate periods of mania and depression.
      • Explains that of all psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder is the most common, affecting between one and two million americans.
      • Explains that bipolar disorder is a disease separate from many other types of mental illnesses. bipolar i sufferers experience extreme periods of mania coupled with depression.
      • Explains the second type of bipolar disorder, known as bipolar ii, where people experience recurrent bouts of depression without the psychotic episodes of mania.
      • Explains that medicated mania, or bipolar iii, is the third type of bipolar disorder. it's the direct result of drug treatment or electroconvulsive therapy for depression. misdiagnosis results in the prescription of anti-depressants.
      • Explains that cyclothemia, or rapid cycling, is characterized by intense changes in mood occurring more frequently than what is typically expected in bipolar disorder.
      • Explains the criteria that must be met to properly diagnose bipolar disorder, such as depressed mood, loss of interest in daily activities, insomnia, hypersomnia, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, and recurrent thoughts of death.
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      • Opines that an inspiration to those who suffer from this debilitating disease may be the mentioning of some well-known writers and artists in the past that suffered from what we know today as bipolar disorder.
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      • Describes fireman, bruce, and divalproex's study on suicide risk in bipolar disorder.
      • Opines that bipolar disorder affects about 1 million children, according to the sun sentinel.
      • Explains keith, gwendolyn puryear, ellen mcgrath, nancy felipe russo, and bonnie r. strickland's women and depression: risk factors and treatment issues.
      • Analyzes dr. thomas stuttaford's "mania that inspired a genius." the times, 29 may 2003.
      • Describes the strengths and limits of a bipolar/unipolar self-help group.
      • Explains wurztel, elizabeth, prozac nation: young and depressed in america, new york: houghton mifflin company, 1994.
      3510 words
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    • Psychiatric Evaluation and Diagnosis of Virginia Woolf
      analytical essay
      Bipolar disorder is a lifelong mood disorder characterized by periods of mania, depression, or a mixed manic-depressive state. The condition can seriously affect a person’s reasoning, understanding, awareness, and behavior. Acco...

      In this essay, the author

      • Describes uebelacker, miller, keitner, ryan, and solomon, d. a. (2006). the impact of family treatment on family functioning in bipolar i disorder.
      • Chooses to write about virginia woolf, a british novelist who wrote a room of one's own, to the lighthouse, and orlando.
      • Analyzes how virginia woolf lived a life that lacked information and resources about her disorder. although her life ended tragically with suicide, she was married, had long-term relationships, and published incredibly successful novels.
      • Summarizes the american psychiatric association's diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders.
      773 words
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    • Bipolar and Obsessive Compulsive Disorders in Literature
      analytical essay
      Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function.

      In this essay, the author

      • Explains that bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsively disorder are two diseases that three authors have given to their characters to develop a great story.
      • Explains that blanche dubois, hamlet, and may all suffer from bipolar disorder in their own way.
      • Analyzes how the symptoms of bipolar disease explain hamlet's behavior. bipolar means the sharing of two poles, or high and low, having to do with mood.
      • Analyzes how may suffers from bipolar disorder, the brain disorder that changes a person's mood in his/her own way.
      • Analyzes how blanche dubois suffers from ocd because she tells lies throughout the play. she wants everyone to believe that she is a great and wonderful person.
      • Explains that hamlet's obsession with revenge on claudius goes too far when he kills the wrong person. may is considered to have ocd because she is obsessed with the problems that are occurring around her.
      • Explains that tennessee williams, william shakespeare, and sue monk kidd all give their characters bipolar and obsessive compulsively disorder.
      1890 words
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