Bipolar disorder is a serious illness. It can make a person’s normal moods seem extreme. It used to be called manic depression.
People with bipolar disorder have mood swings. Their moods can swing from very low (depression) to very high (mania). Bipolar disorder sometimes is confused with other types of depression.
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong illness. But today there are many treatments. People with bipolar disorder should ask their healthcare provider about the best way to keep their moods from swinging too far one way or the other.
In bipolar disorder, or manic depression, each mood swing is called an “episode.” There are 4 main types of mood episodes that people with bipolar disorder can have:
Depression — Depression is when people with bipolar disorder feel very sad. Sometimes this can go on for a long period of time. They may not even want to get out of bed or eat. They don’t enjoy doing things they used to do.
Mania — Mania is the other side of bipolar disorder. Mania may start with a good feeling, almost like a “high.” Or it may make a person feel very irritable and angry. People with mania may do very risky things.
Hypomania — Hypomania is a milder form of mania. It can make people feel good. They may think they are getting more things done. But the “feel good” stage can change into mania or depression. Hypomania is different from mania because it doesn’t get in the way of things like work or family. It sometimes is not even noticed as a problem.
Mixed mood — This is when feelings of mania and depression go back and forth quickly, sometimes even in the same day.

INFORMATION SOURCE SITE :http://www.bipolar.com/what_i s_bipolar/about_bipolar_disord er.html

Answered by Sanya Tahir , an ibibo Master, at 9:27 PM on September 09, 2008

Bipolar disorder goes by many names: manic depression, manic-depressive disorder, manic-depressive illness, bipolar mood disorder, and bipolar affective disorder are medical terms for the same condition.

Bipolar disorder is classified into four different types: Bipolar I, Bipolar II, Cyclothymic Disorder, or Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. Mental health experts separate the condition into these four types because the symptoms of bipolar disorder show up differently in different people. When doctors know what type someone has, they can tailor treatment to that person's specific needs.

Bipolar disorder affects both men and women. For many people, the first symptoms show up in their early twenties. However, research has shown that the first episode of bipolar disorder is occurring earlier: It often shows up in adolescence, and even children can have the disorder.

Recent research suggests that kids and teens with bipolar disorder don't always have the same behavioral patterns that adults with bipolar disorder do. For example, kids who have bipolar disorder may experience particularly rapid mood changes and may have some of the other mood-related symptoms listed below, such as irritability and high levels of anxiety. But they may not show other symptoms that are more commonly seen in adults.

Because brain function is involved, the ways people with bipolar disorder think, act, and feel are all affected. This can make it especially difficult for other people to understand their condition. It can be incredibly frustrating if other people act as though someone with bipolar disorder should just "snap out of it," as if a person who is sick can become well simply by wanting to. Bipolar disorder isn't a sign of weakness or a character flaw; it's a serious medical condition that requires treatment, just like any other condition.

Answered by YourS , an ibibo Specialist, at 5:01 PM on September 09, 2008

Well Rinku,

Bipolar disorder is not a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated mood, clinically referred to as mania. Individuals who experience manic episodes also commonly experience depressive episodes or symptoms, or mixed episodes in which features of both mania and depression are present at the same time. These episodes are normally separated by periods of normal mood, but in some patients, depression and mania may rapidly alternate, known as rapid cycling. Extreme manic episodes can sometimes lead to psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. The disorder has been subdivided into bipolar I, bipolar II, Bipolar NOS, and cyclothymia based on the type and severity of mood episodes experienced.

Also called bipolar affective mood disorder until recently, the current name is of fairly recent origin and refers to the cycling between high and low episodes (poles); it has replaced the older term manic-depressive illness coined by Emil Kraepelin (1856–1926) in the late nineteenth century.[1] The new term is designed to avoid the social stigma associated with the conflation of "manic" and "depression."

source site :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipol ar_disorder

Answered by Priyanka C , an ibibo Master, at 11:18 PM on September 05, 2008

The cause is not known. Could be genetic. It is some disturbance in the area of the brain.During mania a patient may behave in an unruly manner with a feeling of megalomania.Depression, anxiety, low self esteem are some of the causes.Most of the web sites state that they give medicines to control mood swings.As far as i know, or in keeping with the little i know, I feel that they are only give sedatives and putting them to long hours of sleep ., to keep the peace if the environment.

Answered by Vida Writer , an ibibo Master, at 6:10 PM on September 05, 2008

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. But there is good news: bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives.

About 5.7 million American adults or about 2.6 percent of the population age 18 and older in any given year have bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood. However, some people have their first symptoms during childhood, and some develop them late in life. It is often not recognized as an illness, and people may suffer for years before it is properly diagnosed and treated. Like diabetes or heart disease, bipolar disorder is a long-term illness that must be carefully managed throughout a person's life.

"Manic-depression distorts moods and thoughts, incites dreadful behaviors, destroys the basis of rational thought, and too often erodes the desire and will to live. It is an illness that is biological in its origins, yet one that feels psychological in the experience of it; an illness that is unique in conferring advantage and pleasure, yet one that brings in its wake almost unendurable suffering and, not infrequently, suicide."


http://www.medi cinenet.com/bipolar_disorder/a rticle.htm

Answered by Uttam , an ibibo Master, at 1:53 PM on September 05, 2008

well rinku!
Bipolar disorder is not a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated mood, clinically referred to as mania. Individuals who experience manic episodes also commonly experience depressive episodes or symptoms, or mixed episodes in which features of both mania and depression are present at the same time. These episodes are normally separated by periods of normal mood, but in some patients, depression and mania may rapidly alternate, known as rapid cycling. Extreme manic episodes can sometimes lead to psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. The disorder has been subdivided into bipolar I, bipolar II, Bipolar NOS, and cyclothymia based on the type and severity of mood episodes experienced.

Also called bipolar affective mood disorder until recently, the current name is of fairly recent origin and refers to the cycling between high and low episodes (poles); it has replaced the older term manic-depressive illness coined by Emil Kraepelin (1856–1926) in the late nineteenth century.[1] The new term is designed to avoid the social stigma associated with the conflation of "manic" and "depression
for more check http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipola r_disorder

Answered by sanjay , an ibibo Guru, at 1:23 PM on September 05, 2008

well,Everyone has feelings of happiness and sadness once in a while. Feeling high and feeling low are part of life.

But for someone with bipolar disorder (sometimes called manic depression), these feelings can be extreme:

* These ups and downs can be too much for a person to cope with.
* They can interfere with daily life.
* Sometimes they can even be dangerous.

The ups and downs

One day you may feel so depressed that you can't get out of bed. Work may seem impossible.

On another day you may feel great and full of endless energy. You may feel like you’re getting a lot done. But other people might think that what you are doing is dangerous and out of control.

Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition. It can be hard for healthcare providers to diagnose. But it's nothing to be embarrassed about. Learning more about how to manage the condition can help.

In this section:

* Learn about this illness in About Bipolar Disorder
* Recognizing Bipolar Disorder talks about symptoms and diagnosis, and includes a questionnaire that can help healthcare providers pick up symptoms of bipolar disorder.
* Learn about the 4 main kinds of bipolar disorder in Types of Bipolar Disorder
* Read Causes and Risk Factors to find out why bipolar disorder can happen.
* Find out what can cause mood swings in Recognizing Triggers
* Facts and Myths shows why some common beliefs about bipolar disorder aren’t true.
source:www.bipolar.com/what_ is_bipolar/what_is_bipolar.htm l

Answered by Debashis , an ibibo Master, at 1:04 PM on September 05, 2008

well, Bipolar disorder is not a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated mood, clinically referred to as mania. Individuals who experience manic episodes also commonly experience depressive episodes or symptoms, or mixed episodes in which features of both mania and depression are present at the same time. These episodes are normally separated by periods of normal mood, but in some patients, depression and mania may rapidly alternate, known as rapid cycling. Extreme manic episodes can sometimes lead to psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations. The disorder has been subdivided into bipolar I, bipolar II, Bipolar NOS, and cyclothymia based on the type and severity of mood episodes experienced.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B ipolar_disorder

Answered by Satya ~ , an ibibo Master, at 12:33 PM on September 05, 2008

Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is a mental illness that features extreme changes in mood. A person's mood alternates between manic highs and depression. These mood changes can last for days, weeks, months or even years.
More than 2.5 million Americans have the condition. Usually the condition starts in late adolescence, although bipolar can affect children. The disease afflicts people of all races, ethnic groups and social classes. You must get treatment. Bipolar disorder can devastate your life, damage relationships with family and friends, and hurt your career.
Bipolar I is the classic form, which involves recurrent episodes of severe mania and depression.
Some with bipolar never develop severe mania but instead have milder episodes of hypomania alternating with depression. This is bipolar II disorder. These "hypomanic" episodes are similar to mania but are less severe. These episodes must be clearly different from a person's non-depressed mood. For some, hypomania is not bad enough to cause problems in social activities or work.
Four or more episodes of illness occurring within a 12-month period could mean rapid-cycling bipolar disorder. People with that form of the condition may have several episodes within a single week or even within a single day.
Doctors now consider bipolar disorder to be a spectrum disorder (or continuous range). That means the person is always in a particular level of the condition. Different levels include: severe depression, moderate depression, mild low mood, normal or balanced mood, hypomania and severe mania.

Answered by alok , an ibibo Master, at 11:54 AM on September 05, 2008