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Understanding Bipolar Disorder Basics

Bipolar disorder is a depressive disorder that affects around 1 in 7 Americans each year. It causes periods of mania and depression that can last from weeks to months in adults, but may be shorter or fluctuate throughout the day in children and teens. Symptoms typically first appear in early adulthood, but some people develop it in adolescence or childhood. Proper treatment including medication and therapy is important for managing bipolar disorder and living successfully.

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JJ Lozada
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97 views2 pages

Understanding Bipolar Disorder Basics

Bipolar disorder is a depressive disorder that affects around 1 in 7 Americans each year. It causes periods of mania and depression that can last from weeks to months in adults, but may be shorter or fluctuate throughout the day in children and teens. Symptoms typically first appear in early adulthood, but some people develop it in adolescence or childhood. Proper treatment including medication and therapy is important for managing bipolar disorder and living successfully.

Uploaded by

JJ Lozada
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Bipolar Disorder

JOSEPH JAKEEM LOZADA – GRADE 12 DEUTERONOMY

Bipolar disorders are one of several medical conditions called depressive disorders.
Depressive disorders affect the way a person's brain functions. Depressive disorders
are widespread. In the United States alone, it's estimated that more than 17.4 million
adults have a depressive disorder each year. That works out to about 1 out of every 7
people, so there's a good chance that you or someone you know is dealing with a
depressive disorder. Bipolar disorder goes by many names: manic depression, manic-
depressive disorder, manic-depressive illness, bipolar mood disorder, and bipolar
affective disorder are medical terms for the same condition.

Bipolar disorder affects both men and women. For many people, the first symptoms
show up in their early twenties. However, research has shown that the first episode of
bipolar disorder is occurring earlier: It often shows up in adolescence, and even children
can have the disorder. Teens normally face ups and downs with school, family, work,
and friends. Dealing with bipolar disorder at the same time is a very difficult challenge.

In adults, episodes of mania or depression usually last for weeks or months, although
they can be shorter in length. In children and adolescents, though, these episodes can
be much shorter, and a kid or teen can even go back and forth between mania and
depression throughout the day. Episodes of mania or depression may happen
irregularly and follow an unpredictable pattern or they may be linked, with a manic
episode always following a period of depression, or vice versa. Sometimes episodes
have a seasonal pattern. Mania in the spring, for example, may be followed by
depression in the winter. Between episodes, someone with bipolar disorder usually
returns to normal (or near-normal) functioning. For some people, though, there is little or
no "break period" between their cycles. These mood swing cycles can change slowly or
rapidly, with rapid cycling between mania and depression being much more common in
women, children, and adolescents. Some people with bipolar disorder turn to alcohol
and drugs because they feel temporarily better when they're high. But using alcohol and
drugs can have disastrous results for people with bipolar disorder. Substance abuse
can actually make the symptoms worse, as well as making the condition hard for
doctors to diagnose.

If you've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, taking your medications as prescribed,
reporting any changes in how you feel or function and participating in therapy will be key
to living a successful life. In addition to treatment, making a few lifestyle changes, such
as reducing stress, eating well, and getting enough sleep and exercise can help
someone who is living with the condition. And many teens find it helps to join a support
network such as a local support group for people with bipolar disorder.

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