What Are The Symptoms Of Bipolar Depression?

You might have come across people with bipolar disorder without knowing it or without realizing the extent of the problem to seek medical treatment. Bipolar disorder is also called manic depression, a mental disorder whereby there are extreme or intense shifts in mood, behavior and energy levels from mania to severe depression. Bipolar Depression can go on for days upto months, even.

Symptoms of Bipolar Depression: Individual Actions Suggestive of Bipolar Depression

Bipolar depression has two phases, the manic phase, and the depression phase.

During the manic phase, the individual may:

Create impulsive decisions.

Go shopping and engage in lavish spending habits.

Make unwise investments.

Gamble.

Pick fights.

Delusional.

When the individual is depressed, he/she may:

Find extreme difficulty getting out of bed.

Loathe or even curse himself.

Lose the desire to eat or to do anything pleasurable.

Lose weight.

Lack sleep.

Some Truths and Myths About Bipolar Disorder

· It's been said that it's once diagnosed to have the disorder, it is impossible to be normal again. That can't be true at all. If treated properly, individuals with bipolar still can have a normal life. They can pursue the career of their choice and become successful at it. They can even have a satisfying family life and a happy marriage.

· Bipolar affects not just the mood but everything else. It influences decision-making, your level of concentration, and even your physical well being.

· Medications are not the only thing that can control bipolar. A good support system and your own strategies can go a long way in preventing manic-depressive episodes.

Bipolar Treatment

Treating bipolar is necessary, but be prepared because the treatment program can go on for a long time. It being a chronic disorder, continuous treatment may still be required even if the individual seems not to experience the signs and symptoms of bipolar anymore.

Bipolar treatment involves a combination of medications, psychotherapy, moral support and self-help strategies that include, among others, making lifestyle changes. The client is usually given mood stabilizers, anti-depressants, and other drugs that offer symptomatic relief. Your doctor may also prescribe vitamins and minerals, and Omega-3 fatty acids, accordingly.

A Few Self-Help Strategies

While medications can be of great help, helping yourself deal with this disorder is very important as well.

· Understand your condition. Make an extensive research about bipolar. Nowadays, getting all the facts is easier with all the essential information just a click of the mouse away. Take advantage of the internet to know more about bipolar.

· Learn to cope with stress. You can't really avoid stress, no matter what you do, but you can learn how to cope with stressful situations. Don't overwork yourself, for one thing. Take a break once in a while. Go for long walks, take a breath of fresh air, or make time to appreciate nature. These don't require much of your time, do they? But once you get into the habit, you'll realize that they do make you feel good inside.

· Enroll in yoga or meditation classes. What's great about these exercises is that they keep your stress levels down while helping you focus on the finer or more important things in life.

· Create healthy lifestyle and eating habits. Make it an everyday habit to exercise, to eat raw vegetables and fresh fruits, and to sleep early.

· Appreciate your family and friends. Don't take your family and friends for granted. They can help you cope with your situation more than anybody else can. Spend more time with them.

· LOL. Laugh out loud. Have something to laugh about everyday.