Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes cycles of mania and
depression. Also known as manic-depressive illness, bipolar disorder is significantly different from the normal ups and downs everyone goes through.
The depressive episodes of bipolar disorder can result in symptoms such as:
- Persistent sad mood
- Difficulty thinking or concentrating
- Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.
The manic episodes include abnormally and persistently high mood and other symptoms, such as:
- Decreased need for sleep
- Overly inflated self-esteem
- Increased talkativeness.
Between episodes, most people are free of symptoms, but as many as one-third of people may have some residual symptoms. Bipolar disorder is a long-term illness that must be carefully controlled throughout a person's life.
If you feel you may have some of these signs of bipolar disorder, talk to your healthcare provider. He or she can give you more information, make a diagnosis, and recommend a suitable treatment regimen for your particular situation.
(Click Bipolar Disorder for more detailed information on this condition, including details on what this condition is, what you might experience during manic or depressive episodes, and the prognosis for this brain disorder.)
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