Bipolar Disorder

Course overview

BIPOLAR DISORDER Purpose: The purpose of this course is to define what bipolar disorder is. Be able to verbalize what are the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder. Be able to explain what the causes and treatment of bipolar disorder are. Objectives: Define what bipolar disorder is. Understand the difference of signs and symptoms of depression versus mania. Be able to report medications used for bipolar disorder Define different causes of bipolar disorder Define different treatments used for bipolar disorder Introduction: What would it be like to never know how you're going to wake in the am? You may wake with a ton of energy to be able to accomplish so many goals, and other times you may awake with feelings of hopelessness and feelings of wanting to die. How does one know what normal is then? People that live with bipolar disorder have many highs and lows, but may have periods of calmness. The highs and lows can't be leveled until treatment is south out. Bipolar Disorder: Bipolar disorder which was formerly called manic depression is a mental illness. Bipolar disorder is seen as chronic. Bipolar disorder has severe highs and lows of one's moods. This can interrupt and change one's energy, thinking, behavior, and sleep. People with bipolar disorder have periods of mania and then periods or depression. There is no rhyme or reason of when the mania or depression will occur. Most of the time one can't control the mania or depression, and therefore can't control the outburst or lack of. Most people that live with bipolar disorder tend to spend more time in the depressed period than in the manic period. Symptoms of bipolar disorder mostly exhibit in late adolescence or early adulthood. Some people don't respond to medication treatments. Bipolar tends to worsen over time with the cycles becoming rapid if the person doesn't receive treatment (Hirch, 2014). Hypomania is a form of mania that one exhibits milder symptoms of mania. The person does not have delusions or hallucinations and it appears that these hypomania symptoms don't interfere with everyday life. Depressive is when the person feels very depressed or sad. These symptoms are similar to depression. Depression is when someone never exhibits manic or hypomanic episodes. There are four types of mood disorders: 1.Manic Episodes 2.Mixed Episodes 3.Hypomanic Episodes 4.Major Depressive Episodes Signs and symptoms of Bipolar Disorder: Bipolar disorder differs in every person. The cycles change also with every person. As stated above there is no set pattern with bipolar symptoms. Someone may feel the same mood state either manic or depressed several times before switching to the other. These periods or episodes can occur over day, weeks, months, or possibly years (Hirch, 2014) Symptoms of mania ("the highs"): Excessive happiness, hopefulness, and excitement Sudden changes from being joyful to being irritable, angry, and hostile Restlessness Rapid speech and poor concentration Increased energy with a decrease need for sleep Increase sex drive Making unrealistic plans Showing poor judgment Drug, alcohol abuse, and gambling abuse