Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, once known as manic-depression, is a diagnosis in psychiatry referring to periods of extreme, often inappropriate, and sometimes unpredictable mood states.

Bipolar individuals generally experience mania, hypomania or mixed states alternating with clinical depression and euthymic or normal range of mood over varied periods of time. There are many variations of this disorder. Generally, however, a person with bipolar disorder tends to experience more extreme states of mood than other people, moods which can change quickly or last for months. Mood patterns of this nature are associated with distress and disruption, and a relatively high risk of suicide. Bipolar disorder is also associated with a variety of cognitive deficits, in particular, difficulty in organizing and planning. The disorder may also skew the ability to judge other's emotion, and alter sense of awareness. Bipolar individuals can be overly observant and analytical of their environment, and in some cases paranoid of others.

Bipolar disorder has not currently been cured but it can be managed. The emphasis of the treatment of bipolar disorder is on effective management of the long-term course of the illness, which can involve treatment of emergent symptoms. Treatment methods include pharmacological and psychological techniques.

A good prognosis results from good treatment which, in turn, results from an accurate diagnosis. Because bipolar disorder continues to have a high rate of both under-diagnosis and misdiagnosis, it is often difficult for individuals with the illness to receive timely and competent treatment.

Bipolar disorder is a severely disabling medical condition. In fact, it is a leading cause of disability in the world, according to the World Health Organization. However, with appropriate treatment, many individuals with bipolar disorder can live full and satisfying lives. Persons with bipolar disorder are likely to have periods of normal or near normal functioning between episodes.

Ultimately one's prognosis depends on many factors, which are, in fact, under the individual's control: the right medicines; the right dose of each; a very informed patient; a good working relationship with a competent medical doctor; a competent, supportive, and warm therapist; a supportive family or significant other; and a balanced lifestyle including a regulated stress level, regular exercise and regular sleep and wake times.

There are obviously other factors that lead to a good prognosis, as well, such as being very aware of small changes in one's energy, mood, sleep and eating behaviors, as well as having a plan in conjunction with one's doctor for how to manage subtle changes that might indicate the beginning of a mood swing. Some people find that keeping a log of their moods can assist them in predicting changes.

...More at Wikipedia

Related Links:

• National Institute of Mental Health
• US National Library of Medicine
• Mayo Clinic

Recent Hope Cube Blog Entries For Bipolar Disorder

• Secret out Fri, August 01, 2008 - [view]
  My parents found out that I smoke. I don't feel guilty about that, I know I will if they start throwing it on my face all time or if I hear them coughing.
• Brother Fri, August 01, 2008 - [view]
  I have a brother that is in prison and I always wait too long to write him back. I don't know why. He's very important to me because it means so much that I do write. When I do write to him it makes me feel really guilty that he's been waiting for my response. I think I am oblivious to when I am depressed. There was a time were I would write to him almost everyday, I was hypomanic. And it makes me feel even worse to know that it really means a lot to him that I do write. I started to write to him but I don't know what to say anymore. I typed it as as a journal. so far I have two days. I feel even more guilty that I find it more comfortable writing blogs than it is to write to my own brother. =/
• I think I am... Wed, July 23, 2008 - [view]
  Depressed.  I know I'm sad, and I still have a hard time deciding what is a normal case of the blues, and what is a warning sign of depression.  The depression that is the opposite of mania is a black hole.  I've been there enough and don't want to go back.  Depression scares me, and it makes it hard for me to allow myself  to be sad.  I often find myself on the edge of tears, so sad or hurt, but stopping the feelings with an iron resolve because of the fear.  It sometimes seems as if I can't just let it go so that it doesn't build into a tumultuous storm.  Then, for no real reason, I can not hold back, and I'll splinter into fragments.  I can't do that right now, it's kind of hard to explain to a 4 year old...
• not so personal anymore Thu, July 10, 2008 - [view]
  ..::From an email to myself::..i have been wanting to write on my blog but i refuse to.. it gets too personal ya know. i was thinking that maybe it would be a great idea to just go back to therapy. smoking is a bad habit and i didnt smoke when i was on my meds. i hate the fact that i have to take them. i depend on them. i dont like that. im in pain physically and emotionally. i cried yesterday and i was simply doing my work. i was organizing the periodicals for fuck sake!!! nothing on them was depressing (pictures). however i do find happy people depressing. i wonder what does that tell me.
• Your not alone! Sat, July 05, 2008 - [view]
  I have just stumbled upon this web-site and I am very grateful to have found it.  For any of us suffering from shame or embarresment of bi-polar behaviors- please take heart and read some of these blogs.  It's very helpful to know that you don't have to suffer in silence.  I've suffered from bi-polar all of my life and have literally put my family through hell.  I've had many hospitilazations and I realized I was way over medicated which had it's own set of problems.  Now that my medication has been cut back some I can think clearer and recognize all these crazy symptons associated with bi-polar.  I look forward to hearing from anyone who feels they have something they'd like to share.