Recognizing Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder

Winston Churchill used to refer to it as his ?black dog.? When haunted by this problem, Churchill would undergo manic phases of intense productivity.

Florence Nightingale, the noted nurse and statistician, would hear voices in her head. During her teens, and early 20?s, she would experience severe depressive episodes as a result of this problem.

One of the most popular among the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh, is one titled ?The Starry Night.? This painting is said to depict the extreme highs and lows that Van-Gogh suffered as a result of this disorder.

These are but a few of the great and well-known personalities of both past and present that have displayed a symptom of bipolar disorder. It is no surprise that bipolar disorder, as the sixth largest cause of disability in the world, has affected, and continues to affect a great many individuals. It is a disorder that causes its sufferers to experience extreme changes in mood that can rapidly shift from manic episodes of intense energy levels, to an extremely depressed condition.

While bipolar disorder, particularly those cases classified as Bipolar I, can greatly hamper a person?s ability to function normally, all is not lost. People suffering from bipolar disorder can still live relatively normal lives. An accurate diagnosis by a trained professional in this area, is essential to helping a person achieve a normal life. An accurate diagnosis will lead to an accurate prognosis, which in turn will lead to appropriate treatment.

However, a person must first be able to recognize that they are in fact experiencing a symptom of bipolar disorder. It is this recognition of a bipolar symptom that will lead them to seek medical attention. Here are some symptoms of bipolar disorder to look for in yourself, or a person you know who may be suffering from bipolar disorder:

Symptoms Of A Manic Episode

- Feeling unusually happy and optimistic: feeling ?high?

- The inability to sleep, or the feeling of a decreased need for sleep

- Sudden feelings of anger, aggression, provocation, and intrusion

- A sudden increase in creativity and productivity due to an abnormally high energy level

- Feeling extremely distracted and unable to concentrate of focus

- Experiencing delusions or hallucinations

- Involvement in dangerous or high-risk activities such as drug use or alcohol abuse

- Increased recklessness as a result of impaired judgment

Symptoms Of A Depressive Episode

- Extreme feelings of sadness and pessimism

- Displaying a lack of interest in the surroundings, or in the participation of pleasure activities

- Feeling a sense of worthlessness

- Becoming, without provocation, extremely angry, irritable, and anxious

- Considering the possibility of taking one?s own life

- Struggling just to get out of bed in the morning, and generally displaying decreased levels of energy

- A loss of appetite, or even a refusal to eat anything

These symptoms, or even a singular symptom of bipolar disorder may occur during, or just after experienceing any of the following:

- Suffering as a result of a chronic illness

- Experiencing a major life event, whether it is a positive one, or a negative one

- Dealing with a major personal, or family crisis

- Excessive use of drugs, or alcohol

- Excessive sleep deprivation

Bipolar disorder is extremely serious. It is very important for you to learn to recognize any symptom of bipolar disorder. Discovery of this problem is critical to the receiving of proper treatment, and the living of a normal, productive life. Can one have bipolar disorder and still be productive? Absolutely! Here are some other individuals who have suffered from bipolar disorder that you just might have heard of:

Ludwig van Beethoven Kurt Cobain Stephen Fry Vincent Van Gogh Ernest Hemingway Sylvia Plath Sidney Sheldon Mark Twain and many more!

If you think that perhaps you, or someone you know may be suffering from a symptom of bipolar disorder, it is imperative that you immediately visit a doctor who is highly competent in this field. Should you not know a doctor who specializes in this field, just ask your physician to refer you to a specialist.

Carl DiNello is an Article Author whose articles are featured on websites covering the Internets most popular topics.

To read more on this topic, please visit Bipolar Information & Resources!

Related News:

Being Bipolar disorder will disqualify you to become a surrogate mother because you are deemed as physiologically unhealthy.

The Online Bipolar Test - What's It All About?
An online bipolar test should not be used as your sole means of diagnosis! You will be doing yourself or your loved ones a great disservice if you try to self-diagnose. Only a trained and qualified medical professional has the ability to evaluate you for any type of mental illness.

Bipolar Type 2 And Type 1 - What Is The Difference?
Both bipolar disorder categories share the same characteristics in mood swing levels. However, the drawing line between the bipolar type 1 and the bipolar type 2 is on the varied episode levels of each mood swing.

Related Articles:

Identify Bipolar Disorder Triggers
is of huge advantage for disorder patient to identify the triggers of your mood swing in order to control your bipolar symptoms. You can do this by having your very own personal mood chart. all you need to do is record all your emotions and the corresponding events that took place. After sometime, you will be able to notice that there are certain patterns of your mood swings.

Ways To Cope With Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, has a very serious effect on the sufferer's life. It also effects those closest to the patients in a detrimental way and getting treatment as soon as possible is paramount. Sufferers need the attention of physicians, psychiatrists…

Bipolar Affective Disorder - You Are Not Alone
A number of instances may set off the mood swings which include - inadequate sleep, drug abuse, not taking medications, illnesses, fall outs with family and friends, bereavements etc. It's also common to trigger mood swings when placed in a new environment such as starting a new job or going to university.

From Outcast To Insider: Overcoming The Stigma of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a complicated mental illness that often brings with it much social stigma and discomfort. Patients with bipolar disorder face many challenges when addressing society at large. Fortunately for patients with manic depression, there are many steps you can take to overcome social stigma. Roughly one in five people suffers from a mental illness. That means you are part of a large family of patients and friends.

Information for Spouses of Husbands and Wives with Bipolar Disorder
There is no blueprint for success when you're looking for information about how to support a husband or wife with bipolar disorder. I wish I could give you a checklist of things to do to guarantee whatever success you're seeking. I wish I could promise you a happy ending. But bipolar disorder manic depression doesn't work that way.

Parenting A Bipolar Child - Help Your Child Lead A Rewarding Life
Parenting a child with bipolar disorder presents its own unique challenges. Family and friends may have attributed your child's difficult behavior to stubbornness or other personality flaws. They may disagree with your parenting skills, however it is important to recognize and accept bipolar disorder for what it is – just another medical condition.

A Startling Fact About How To Support A Spouse with Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar never goes away, and it's never cured, only treated. There is no happy ending. If you can't live by the old saying, "It's the journey, not the destination," then I advise you not to take this trip with someone you care about who's been diagnosed with a bipolar mood disorder.

Symptoms of Bipolar in Children
Early prevention and treatment for children with bipolar will increase the chances of getting better and living a normal life. Properly treating bipolar children will help reduce any adverse effects not only in the life of the children with bipolar but in their families lives as well.

Why Do You Stay in Your Bipolar Relationship?
Bipolar disorder runs roughshod over relationships. The divorce rate is three times higher in these marriages than in the general population. The pressure on us from friends, family and professionals is unrelenting. Those who ask, "Why do you stay in your relationship?" are not supportive.

Sufferers of Bipolar Disorder - Good Parent, Bad Parent
Although no child should have to experience some of the problems that come with having a bipolar disorder parent, no upbringing is perfect, and like most bad experiences in life, good lessons can be learnt from them. Most children of parents with bipolar disorder learn a great deal about mental illness during their parents depressive and manic episodes, and grow into extremely understanding adults. The unique positive traits that come with bipolar disorder can create a very open and loving relationship between the child and the parent with bipolar disorder that is full of deep emotion and understanding. Its up to you to decide whether the pros make up for the cons for children of parents with bipolar disorder.

Bipolar Disorders in Children
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, was once believed to affect adults only. But researchers have found that children as young as seven years old can have this disorder. Bipolar disorder is a treatable neurobiological brain illness, characterized by severe fluctuations in mood and activity levels.

Your Spouse Is Bipolar - Now What?
Your spouse has just been diagnosed as having bipolar disorder, so what's next for both of you? Here's a short check list of do's and don'ts to put things into perspective, to let you see that you do not have to face this alone and that there is hope.

Bipolar Disorder Symptoms
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that effects over 2 millions American adults every single year. Because it is a recurrent illness it can be very difficult to treat; patients may think they are feeling better and stop the treatment but this will only see the problems recurring. It…