What are the different types of bipolar disorder?
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Bipolar disorder is also called manic-depression. People with bipolar disorder experience mood swings from "high" episodes of mania to "low" periods of depression. When between these "highs" and "lows", people with BP often have the normal range of moods. In most cases, people with bipolar disorder experience more periods of depression than periods of mania. Bipolar disorder can be either severe or mild, and can have either frequent or infrequent mood swings. Depending upon their symptoms, bipolars are diagnosed as having bipolar I, bipolar II, or cyclothymic disorder.
Bipolar I and Mania
Most people with bipolar I have episodes of both depression and mania. In very rare cases, they experience only mania. Bipolar I is distinguished from bipolar II by the severity and duration of the manic phase, which can last anywhere from a week to several months, and the experience of delusions. Risky behavior is common in manic episodes and patients often require hospitalization for their own safety.
The symptoms of mania can include rapid speech, insomnia, disconnected thoughts, grandiose ideas, hallucinations, extreme irritability, feelings of omnipotence, paranoia, violent behavior, a marked increase in strength, and openly promiscuous activity. (see Bipolar Screening)
Bipolar II and Hypomania
People with bipolar II suffer primarily from episodes of severe depression with occasional episode of "mild" mania, called hypomania. Hypomania differs from mania in that no delusions are experienced.
Like mania, hypomania can cause severely impaired functioning. The hypomanic episode often feels so good that bipolar patients often discontinue their medication in quest of a hypomanic episode. This is especially problematic because symptoms that come back after stopping drug treatment are often much harder to get back under control a second time.
While Bipolar II has sometimes been described as a "milder" form of bipolar disorder than Bipolar I, the suicide rate among people suffering form Bipolar II is actually higher than that for those suffering from Bipolar I.
Cyclothymic Disorder
People with cyclothymic disorder alternate between hypomania and mild depression. It is not as severe as bipolar I and II, but persists for longer periods with no break in symptoms. Cyclothymic disorder can later become full-blown bipolar disorder in some people, or can continue as a low-grade chronic condition.
Rapid Cycling
Most people with bipolar disorder have an average of 8 to 10 manic or depressive episodes over a lifetime. Some, however, experience much more severe symptoms called rapid cycling. They can swing (cycle) between "highs" and "lows" many times in one day. To be considered a rapid cycler, you must have at leat 4 mood swings in a year.
Mixed Episode
During a Mixed Episode, symptoms of both mania and depression occur at the same time. The excitability and agitation of mania is coupled with depression and irritability. This combination of high energy and agitation along with depression makes the mixed episode the most dangerous for risk of suicide.
Symptoms & Types
Font SizeA A A There are many different symptoms of bipolar disorder -- and several different types -- of bipolar disorder.
Symptoms
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Types
Types of Bipolar Disorder
There's more than one type of bipolar disorder. Here's a brief guide.
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Bipolar disorder results from disturbances in the areas of the brain that regulate mood. During manic periods, a person with bipolar disorder may be overly impulsive and energetic, with an exaggerated sense of self. The depressed phase brings overwhelming feelings of anxiety, low self-worth, and suicidal thoughts.
There are two primary types of bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder I have had at least one fully manic episode with periods of major depression. (In the past, bipolar disorder I was called manic depression.)
People with bipolar disorder II seldom experience full-fledged mania. Instead they experience periods of hypomania (elevated levels of energy and impulsiveness that are not as extreme as the symptoms of mania). These hypomanic periods alternate with episodes of major depression.
A mild form of bipolar disorder called cyclothymia involves periods of hypomania and mild depression, with less severe mood swings. People with bipolar disorder II or cyclothymia may be misdiagnosed as having depression alone.
Bipolar disorder affects men and women equally and usually appears between the ages of 15 and 25. The exact cause is unknown, but it occurs more often in relatives of people with bipolar disorder.
Symptoms
The manic phase may last from days to months and include the following symptoms:
Elevated mood
Racing thoughts
Hyperactivity
Increased energy
Lack of self-control
Inflated self-esteem (delusions of grandeur, false beliefs in special abilities)
Over-involvement in activities
Reckless behavior
Spending sprees
Binge eating, drinking, and/or drug use
Sexual promiscuity
Impaired judgment
Tendency to be easily distracted
Little need for sleep
Easily agitated or irritated
Poor temper control
These symptoms of mania are seen with bipolar disorder I. In people with bipolar disorder II, hypomanic episodes involve similar symptoms that are less intense.
The depressed phase of both types of bipolar disorder involves very serious symptoms of major depression:
Persistent sadness
Fatigue or listlessness
Sleep disturbances
Excessive sleepiness
Inability to sleep
Eating disturbances
Loss of appetite and weight loss
Overeating and weight gain
Loss of self-esteem
Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness and/or guilt
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
Withdrawal from friends
Withdrawal from activities that were once enjoyed
Persistent thoughts of death
There is a high risk of suicide with bipolar disorder. While in either phase, patients may abuse alcohol or other substances, which can worsen the symptoms.
Sometimes there is an overlap between the two phases. Manic and depressive symptoms may occur simultaneously or in quick succession in what is called a mixed state.
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Answerers above are good at reading and believing what others, what 'experts' say. How good are they at thinking for themselves?
What a huge coincidence!.Millions upon millions of people are diagnosed mentally ill and profiteers in the medical, human services and pharmaceutical industries can make more, more, more money 'helping' these people. How did these millions and millions of people get born with mental illness?
Answer: they're not mentally ill. Mental illness is a scam, a giant monster with giant tentacles all through the corpocracy—prey upon the powerless to get money from anyone and everyone.
If people eat raw, fresh, organic foods, including green stuff, and get mild exercise in the sun, remove all mercury from their mouths, and otherwise take care of themselves, there are no health problems other than accidents. The best thing people labelled mentally ill can do for themselves is to extract themselves immediately from the 'system', and get as far away from people labelling them as they possibly can.
MENTAL 'ILLNESS' IS A SCAM...A GIANT SCAM.
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