South Africa observes Bipolar Day: It is more than just a moodswing
For a long time now bipolar is a buzzword that is being used to describe a moody person.
Yesterday (Wednesday) South Africans observed South African Bipolar Awareness Day and bipolar disorder is more than just a simple mood swing. It is a sudden, dramatic shift in the most extreme emotions. These shifts seem to have little to do with external situations.
Unlike what people might think, bipolar disorder is a physical illness marked by extreme changes in mood, energy and behaviour. That is why it is classified as a mood disorder. Bipolar disorder was previously called manic depression, and involves episodes of mania and depression, with periods of normal moods in between.
The disorder typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood and continues throughout life, but it can start at any age. It can start with depression or recurrent periods of depression. The individual may only experience a high or a mixed state after many years.
In the manic or high phase of the illness, you are not just happy, you are ecstatic. A great burst of energy can be followed by a severe depression, which is the low phase of the disease. Periods of fairly normal moods can be experienced between cycles, which are different for different people.
They can last for days, weeks, or even months.
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is not known, but it is believed to be a combination of biochemical, genetic and psychological factors. Research has shown that the disorder is associated with a chemical imbalance in the brain that can be corrected with the right medication. It also tends to run in families and researchers have identified some genes that may be linked to the disorder. Bipolar disorder affects about 1% of the population and men and women are equally affected, although men tend to have more manic episodes while women experience more depressive episodes.
Bipolar disorder can be disabling, but it also responds well to treatment. Obtaining a thorough present and past history is key to the diagnosis of bipolar disorder. While the patient is usually the main source of information, contributions from family members and other involved persons can be helpful.
Mood stabilisers are medications used to stabilise the mood, that is to prevent mania or depression. It is the backbone of the management of bipolar disorder. To treat depression, antidepressants may be added to the mood stabilisers. To treat mania, antipsychotic medicines and other sedative medicines may be used.
To maintain a normal mood, mood stabilisers need to be used as prescribed. Your doctor will discuss the need for additional medication should their use be considered necessary.
Source: Sadag
