What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive— able to leap tall buildings in a single bound! When an individual feels like Superman, he or she may be experiencing the manic phase of bipolar disorder, especially, when preceding or following the manic episode, one feels as if they have been doused with a dose of Kryptonite and experiences a time of depression.

Life has its “ups and downs” for all of us, making the symptoms of bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depression) difficult to recognize. However, bipolar disorder is characterized by recurring cycles of severe ups (mania) and downs (depression) that affect not only a person’s mood, but also their energy levels and ability to function normally in everyday life. Left untreated, these cycles tend to escalate, becoming both more frequent and more severe.

Bipolar disorder is an illness that affects over 2 million Americans. Although bipolar disorder most often develops during late adolescence or early adulthood (from late teens to 30s), it may occur at any age from childhood to senior years. The illness affects both men (generally beginning with a period of mania) and women (who generally first experience depression) from all ethnic groups and social classes.

Bipolar disorder differs from other depressive disorders in that individuals experience a manic stage as well as a depressive period. The American Psychiatric Association defines bipolar disorder as an illness that is revealed in cycles of four moods—mania, hypomania, depression, and mixed mood. To further aid in diagnosis and treatment, the medical community has categorized bipolar disorder into several types that vary in severity, frequency, and symptoms.

• Bipolar I disorder
  The classic type of manic-depressive disorder is bipolar I disorder.  Bipolar I is normally diagnosed when an individual has experienced at least one episode of intense mania followed by a period of severe depression.
  
• Bipolar II disorder
  Bipolar II disorder is diagnosed when the patient has experienced a period of depression before or after at least one episode of a milder form of mania, called hypomania.
  
• Cyclothymic disorder
  Less severe than bipolar II disorder, cyclothymic disorder is characterized by irregular cycles of hypomania and depression. Many individuals with cyclothymic disorder eventually develop a more severe form phase of bipolar disorder when the illness goes untreated.
  
• Mixed bipolar state
  A rare type of bipolar disorder, mixed bipolar state occurs when an individual experiences simultaneous episodes of mania and depression.
  
• Bipolar NOS (not otherwise specified)
  When an individual experiences a cycle of mania and depression that don’t fit into another category of bipolar disorder, it is often diagnosed as bipolar NOS.

The best news about bipolar disorder is that all forms of the illness are treatable. However, because symptoms of bipolar disorder are difficult to recognize it is an illness that requires professional guidance in treatment. Although bipolar disorder is a chronic illness and there is no cure, with proper diagnosis and treatment affected individuals can resume a normal life.

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