Different Bipolar Disorder

Symptoms of the Manic and

Depressive Phases

According to a recent survey, approximately 5.7 million Americans are living with bipolar disorder, a serious illness that can manifest itself with intense mood swings and bizarre thoughts. A person who has been clinically diagnosed as having this disorder will spend most of their lives vacillating between extreme emotions, from ecstatic highs to devastating lows.

which is why this condition is frequently referred to as manic-depressive disorder. Bipolar sufferers spend very little time in the relatively comfortable range of emotions in which most of us live.Between these episodes of extreme energy and euphoria (mania), which are followed by periods of severe depression, most patients display somewhat normal behavior, but these symptoms tend to occur at random and can present themselves without warning.

There are four distinct types of bipolar disorder ranging from cyclothymia, in which the cycles occur over a two year period and are relatively mild, to Bipolar I disorder, where the patient experiences a continuous succession of both depression and mania.If left untreated, this illness can make living an ordinary life nearly impossible. People with bipolar disorder can find it difficult to keep a job or maintain a relationship. Unable to cope with their disorder, some will commit suicide.

A Holistic Approach to Bipolar

Disorder

Treating Bipolar Disorder with Neurofeedback Therapy

In recent years, a certain level of success has been achieved using neurofeedback to help stabilize the rapid cycling between moods that plagues bipolar sufferers. Neurofeedback therapy may help bipolar patients to mitigate the two extremes, allowing them to enjoy longer periods functioning within a more comfortable range of emotions.

Neurofeedback therapy is being used successfully in the treatment of other illnesses such as depression and ADD/ADHD in both adults and children. It has even been proven to help dramatically in cases of traumatic brain injury. And some preliminary studies regarding the use of neurofeedback in treating bipolar disorder have had promising results.

Also known as brain biofeedback, this method of treatment makes use of electrodes used in conjunction with an EEG or electroencephalogram machine to monitor your brainwaves. Through several neurofeedback sessions, you may gradually train your brain to function differently. To accomplish this change, you will use your brain waves to control a visual on the monitor.

The Ups and Downs of Bipolar Disorder

When your brain is operating with the desired waves, it receives what it considers a reward, such as making a "spaceship" on the screen fly, or playing a DVD. Your brain will seek to stay within these frequencies, and the changes will eventually become longer lasting. These changes will not happen overnight, however, and may very well require more sessions than other disorders require. Keep in mind, though; the possible outcome is full abatement of rapid cycling bipolar disorder.

Currently, neurofeedback is being used in conjunction with the appropriate medications and other more traditional treatments for bipolar disorder. At this time, you should not abandon any treatments that you are using, but rather work with both your neurofeedback therapist and your physician to create a working treatment that incorporates both methods.

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Types Of Bipolar Disorder – How To Differentiate Them Correctly

Unknown to many, there are two main types of bipolar disorder, namely Bipolar I Disorder and Bipolar II Disorder. The key difference between the two disorders is whether the person has had a manic episode or not. To distinguish the differences, one would have to understand manic episodes and depressive episodes - symptoms of Bipolar disorder.

The symptoms of a manic episode are magnified self-esteem, reduced need for sleep, chattiness, racing thoughts or flight of ideas, distractibility, increase in goal-directed activity, and extreme superfluous involvement in pleasurable activities such as wild shopping or sexual indiscretions that might have negative potential consequences.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM IV) of the American Psychiatric Association, if a person experiences a mood disturbance such as unexplained, persistent euphoria along with three or more of those symptoms for at least one week and it is affecting their ability to function well and be productive, they are having a manic episode.

If these symptoms are caused by drug abuse or a medical condition, such as hyperthyroidism, then they are not considered to be indication of a manic episode.

The symptoms of a depressive episode are a persistent depressed mood, diminished or total absence of pleasure and happiness, weight loss or weight gain, insomnia or increased need for sleep, observable restlessness or slow body movement, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, reduced ability to think or concentrate, and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

If someone is experiencing five of the symptoms of depression for at least two weeks, and at least one of those symptoms such as a depressed mood or loss of interest in pleasurable activities, they are having a depressive episode. These symptoms should cause significant distress or impairment and not be caused by drug abuse or a medical condition in order to count towards the criteria for a depressive episode.

To look at the two types of bipolar disorder closely. A person is said to have Bipolar I Disorder if he has ever experience at least one manic episode together with depression episodes.

For Bipolar II Disorder, the person must experience only one or more depression episode with at least one episode of hypomania, but without manic episodes. The difference between the two disorders is that a person with Bipolar I Disorder must experience manic episode whose symptoms are describe as above.

It is not usually for someone to mistake the type of bipolar disorder as a grading based on the severity of the symptoms. This is not true as Bipolar I Disorder and Bipolar II Disorder differ on the experiencing of manic episodes. It is more of a classification based on the degree to which the mania occurs than on the level of impairment the disorder causes.

Bipolar disorder affects individuals differently. Taking a sample of people who have been diagnosed with Bipolar I Disorder, you will find a large spectrum of varied levels of impairment, distress, and adaptation to the disorder. The same is true for those who suffer from Bipolar II Disorder.

If you know anyone or even yourself have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, and have questions about this mental illness. You should speak with your doctor and find out more. Educate yourself about bipolar disorder and how it affects you and family members is an important step towards recovery and health.

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