Dealing with Bipolar Disorder
"Before I came to see Dr. Brown I had almost given up hope of ever living a normal life. I went from doctor to doctor but none of them knew anything about the up-to-date treatments for Bipolar disorder. They wouldn’t discuss my disorder with me. They just wanted to hand me medication and push me out the door. Now that I am with Dr. Brown, my hopes of living a normal happy life are still alive. I am more stable now than I have been since being diagnosed six years ago." - B.B.
While we all deal with shifts and changes in our moods, those who battle bipolar disorder experience mood swings which severely impact both their quality of life, and ability to function on a daily basis. Battling bipolar disorder can feel like riding a terrifying roller-coaster; you may feel, during a manic episode, as though you're on top of the world - only to find, when it wears off, that you're barely scraping by at rock bottom.
According to The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, nearly 5.7 million adults in the United States battle bipolar disorder each year. As there are several types of bipolar disorders and each can present different symptoms and features, it is critical that you seek professional counsel to receive the proper diagnosis and treatment.
According to The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, nearly 5.7 million adults in the United States battle bipolar disorder each year. As there are several types of bipolar disorders and each can present different symptoms and features, it is critical that you seek professional counsel to receive the proper diagnosis and treatment.
Recognizing Signs & Symptoms
Bipolar disorders generally present as a combination of mania/hypo-mania, and depressive episodes, and vary in severity, frequency, and duration.
Manic Episodes
Someone experiencing a manic episode may:
Source: NIMH Source: Psych Central |
Depressive Episodes
Someone experiencing a depressive episode may:
Source: NIMH Source: Psych Central |