Bipolar Psychosis Depression is known by many names. It was formerly called Manic Depressive Disorder and then changed in 1980 to Bipolar Disorder to reflect the fact that people with Bipolar Disorder have two completely opposite moods, which are at the ends of the human moods continuum or spectrum. People with Bipolar Disorder will exhibit both these moods. These pole ends are mania, which is a state of elation or euphoria and depression, In between the phases of mania and depression, the Bipolar Sufferers will have periods of normal moods. However, not all humans have the extreme moods of depression and mania. Bipolar Disorder is characterized by the different swinging moods between the extreme mania and depression. Sometimes sufferers will be in a state of depression and other times they will be in a state of euphoria. Sometimes they may experience both at the same time, which is called Mixed Bipolar and sometimes they will have normal moods. Furthermore there is hypermania, which is mania with hallucinations and delusions and there is a milder form of mania, which called hypomania. There are more severe and milder depression mood swings as well.
Bipolar sufferers who experience less severe symptoms of the disease can live a normal productive life and some of these people do not need medication. However, more often than not some kind of medication is needed especially for people who are so debilitated that their thoughts and actions are out of order.
Bipolar Disorder will affect every aspect of a person.s life because it affects their judgment, their goal making, their mood, and their behavior. People with Bipolar Disorder can divorce because of the illness, lose their jobs, their families, gamble away their life savings, go on shopping sprees they cannot afford, or pine away in their beds all day wishing they were dead. It all depends on which phase of the disorder they find themselves in at any given time.
Bipolar Depression is not your classic depression, which is unipolar because only the state of depression is exhibited. The type of depression in Bipolar Disorder and classical clinical depression is totally different and requires different treatment as well.
The periods between episodes of mania and depression will vary. If they come at least four times within any given year the symptoms are said to be rapid cycling. These chances in moods can enhance or hamper a person.s life depending upon the severity of the symptoms. Some of the symptoms include lack of sleep, which is often found in the manic phase of the illness. People in the manic phase are high energy and always on the go. They are goal driven; they feel they can do what no other person can do. They are often out of control and irritated and annoyed that other people cannot keep up with them. You cannot convince a person in this condition to slow down or that there is some wrong with their moods. Even though these moods will often get them into trouble. They deny any implications that something might be wrong. Meanwhile they lead themselves down the road of destructive. They can do some pretty wild things while in this state. They can ride their cars speeding 90 miles an hour in a 40 mile an hour zone. They can drink and party themselves into an alcoholic stupor. They often suffer from psychosis. They hear voices, and see things nobody else does (hallucinations) and they will suffer from delusions, often thinking they are invincible they are superhuman and can do what no one can do. If left untreated people with Bipolar Disorder I will find themselves hospitalized and pumped with medication until such time as their moods can be brought back down to normal. Some people are hospitalized several times during their lifetime. Bipolar I can be controlled with medication. However, nearly half of patients suffering from Bipolar I Disorder refuse to take their medication. Some people think they don.t need it while others say they cannot stand the side affects.