How to Recognize Bipolar Disorder
Posted by Administrator in Mental Health.It’s not always easy to recognize bipolar disorder. After all, life has its ups and downs, and occasional mood swings are normal. However, if a loved one experiences extreme mood shifts and is acting differently, you’re right to be concerned.
SYMPTOMS of mania and depression:
A person with bipolar disorder swings between two “mood states”: mania (highs) and depression (lows). Episodes of mania and depression can be either mild or severe. If your friend or family member is having a mood episode, one of the scenarios below may sound familiar to you:
MANIA
* “She seems irritable and scattered. She hasn’t slept much lately. Her thoughts seem to be racing and she’s talking faster than usual.”* “She’s elated and excited, and can’t stop talking. She’s been sleeping very little, but seems jumpy and agitated. She just ran up her credit card buying things she doesn’t really need.” * “The things she says don’t make sense, and even seem delusional. She hasn’t slept in a while, either. She’s beginning to scare me.”
DEPRESSION
* “He’s very down lately. He sleeps all the time and doesn’t want to see his friends. And he’s not taking care of himself anymore. He says he feels hopeless.” * “He seems really out of it—he can’t seem to concentrate on anything or make a decision. His eating habits haven’t been healthy, and he has these aches and pains.” * “He’s been drinking a lot, so it’s hard to tell how he feels.”