Bipolar disorder or manic depression is a psychological illness which manifests as having extreme changes in mood, behavior and thought. A person s mood can change from mania to depression in a short period of time. These mood swings from highs to lows can last for hours, days, weeks, or months. A person with this mood disorder has a unique pattern of mood fluctuations specific to him but once his pattern is analyzed, it can be quite foreseeable.

Bipolar disorder usually starts in late adolescence or early adulthood but it can also start in early childhood or late adulthood. Recent studies show a genetic factor to this illness. It affects men and women equally although their initial manifestations of

the disorder may differ (men start with a manic episode while women with a depressive episode). The disorder can be found in all races and social classes. It continues throughout life. Because the symptoms are episodic, one may not be diagnosed correctly. Thus, those who have the illness may not be treated early. Once properly diagnosed, however, the illness can be treated.

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1. Educate yourself about your friend or family members illness, the symptoms and treatments. Read all you can about it, from reliable sources.
2.Give said family members or friends, your unconditional love and support. Offer reassurance for the future, but mostly hope.
3.Do not try to fix your friend or family members problems on your own, you will frustrate yourself. Instead encourage him or her to get professional help.
4.Always keep in mind, that a mood disorder affects a person’s attitudes and beliefs. If the person in question says things like, “nothing good will ever happen to me”, “no one loves or cares about me”, “I have learned all there is to know of all the secrets in this

world”, it’s easy to jump to the conclusion that it is their illness speaking for them. With treatment your friend or family member will realize that what they had been thinking is not a reflection of reality.
5.You should have realistic expectations of and for your loved ones. He or she can recover fully,though it will not happen over night. Be patient and have a hopeful attitude.
6.Keep in mind this is a real illness, also that this is a treatable condition. This is a real physical illness that affects the brain. It is as real as is Diabetes or asthma. This is not a character flaw or personal weakness. It is not caused by anything you or anyone else did. It is a genetic disorder.Though it may not show up till many years later.
7.Do Not demand that your friend or family member “snap out of it”.
They cannot snap out of it anymore than, say a person with cancer, liver disease,or high blood pressure without treatment.
8.Most importantly take good care of yourself. Keep in mind that there are many support groups out there.Understanding family and or friends can and usually will help you through this.

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How Does One Get The Bipolar Disorder It is believed that those that suffer from bipolar have a genetic code that puts them in that position. While this genetic disposition doesn t per say actually trigger the condition to happen, those that have this coding actually have a better chance of developing it at some point in their lives.

This difference in the neurotransmitters is believed to have to do with an abnormal aspect of the genes. Your genes that control the neurotransmitters in your brain simply developed abnormally, leading to bipolar. But, remember, just because this is the case, it doesn t mean that you are going to suffer from bipolar. It

just means that it is something that you could experience.

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The seriousness of bipolar cases is indisputable. In fact, many patients who have symptoms of a manic-depression state can be misdiagnosed. Another important fact is that a bipolar test can actually take years before a person is correctly diagnosed. Simply put, this mental illness is very difficult to detect.

When a person with manic-depression disorder is high or manic, it is not surprising that he won’t feel the need for a test. Therefore, only the depressive tendencies are diagnosed most often. The result is an inaccurate diagnosis of the patient, concluding the symptoms as depression only when it is actually a bipolar issue.

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Cyclothymic disorder and bipolar disorder are both mental illnesses.

Do they go hand in hand? Is cyclothymic a precursor of things to come? Does it transition into full blown bipolar disorder?

With the clinical depression disorders that exist today you must be aware that some clinical depression disorders, almost as a warning sign of the future. You must watch for the warning signs.

Many of those who suffer with cyclothymic disorder are quite likely to develop full blown bipolar disorder.

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