Bipolar disorder is an illness conditioned by brain malfunction. According to statistics, 2.6 percent of American adults suffer from the illness. At least half of all cases are said to start before age 25 (Bipolar disorder in adults, 2012). People who suffer from it demonstrate drastic changes in mood, activity levels and productivity. It can take time to identify that a person has a bipolar disorder, since it can be confused with the usual ups and downs that all of us have. The condition is long-term and requires treatment and control. Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive illness due to its episodic nature. The episodes when a person feels extremely joyful are called “mania”, while during “depressive” episodes a person appears to be sad and hopeless. One can say that a cyclic episode is over when the normal mood comes back. Needless to say, the abovementioned conditions influence a person’s behavior. Thus, certain symptoms for each kind of the episodes are distinguished. In case a person feels high, they talk fast; find it difficult to concentrate on one thought; become irritable and impulsive; have trouble sleeping; engage in multiple activities. In the state of depression a person normally feels tired, thinks about death, becomes restless, has difficulties remembering things and making decisions (Brain and behavior, n. d). The consequences of bipolar disorder may be very dramatic. For instance, people are apt to abuse alcohol and other substances, have relationship issues and demonstrate poor performance at work or school (Bipolar disorder in adults, 2012). There are numerous reasons which can trigger bipolar disorder. These include stress, sleep deprivation, substance abuse, medication and seasonal changes. In any case, the best one can do is to consult a specialist. It is very important to keep bipolar disorder under control since it can acquire a destructive character and ruin one’s life (Smith, 2015).
References
Bipolar disorder in adults (2012). [Online article] Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder-in-adults/index.shtml
Brain and behavior (n. d.). Frequently asked questions about bipolar disorder [Online article] Retrieved from https://bbrfoundation.org/frequently-asked-questions-about-bipolar-disorder
Smith, Melinda (October, 2015). Bipolar disorder signs and symptoms [Online article] Retrieved from http://www.helpguide.org/articles/bipolar-disorder/bipolar-disorder-signs-and-symptoms.htm
