Bipolar disorder is sometimes referred to as manic depression. Life of a manic depressive patient can be mildly to severely affected by bipolar disorder.

Manic depression is characterized by mood disturbances known as depression and mania. In addition to episodes of mania and depression, the person may have milder forms of mania called hypomania or mild forms of depression called dysthymia.

Mania and depression can be stressful and sometimes overwhelming. Mania can cause a decreased need for sleep, impulsively, euphoria, and irritability.

Depressive episodes can be a severe enough to cause suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts. Dealing with a mood disturbance can cause the person to question their normal moods. If a person feels sad or even just discontent, the person may wonder if it is the beginning of a depressive episode.

When symptoms of both mania and depression are present, the person is having a mixed episode. Some people with bipolar disorder feel that mixed episodes are the most frustrating form of bipolar disorder symptoms. During a mixed episode, the person may alternate between feeling depressed and hopeless and feeling euphoric and invincible. The switching of the mood can occur as often as several times an hour.

During episodes of mania or depression, the person may do things that they would normally not do. For example, a person who is financially responsible may waste hundreds of dollars during a manic episode. This can cause a great deal of frustration for the person with the disorder and their families.

Life for manic depressive patient may be focused on coping with the disorder. Symptoms may interfere with the person's ability to hold a job or have relationships.

Unfortunately, there is no medical testing to determine which medication will effectively manage the symptoms. The right combination of medications must be found by trial and error which is a process that could take years.

In addition to medication, therapy can help the manic depressive patient cope with the illness. Many manic depressive patients use art, writing, relaxation techniques, and hobbies to help cope with the stress of the disorder.

Late adolescence and early adulthood are the typical age of the onset of bipolar disorder. Sometimes, the onset of the disorder interferes with person's ability to attend college or focus on their career. Bipolar disorder can be a life-altering illness.

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Manic attacks is not a common psychological term. While this term may have been used in the past, periods of mania are commonly referred to as manic episodes, mania, or episodes of mania.

If someone has bipolar disorder, it does not mean that their mood is constantly disturbed by the illness. They may have periods of days, weeks, or even years without a mood disturbance. When symptoms of mania emerge, people may call this a manic attack.

A manic episode is characterized by a period of time during which the person has a persistently elevated or irritable mood. In order to be considered a true manic episode, the symptoms must be present for at least one week or be severe enough to require hospitalization.

If the person has an irritable mood, the person must have four other symptoms of mania for it to be considered a manic episode. If the person has an elevated mood, the person only needs to have three more symptoms of mania for it to be considered a manic episode.

The other symptoms of mania are: inflated self-esteem, increase talking, decreased need for sleep, distractibility, racing thoughts or flight of ideas, increased focus on attaining goals, and excessive involvement in activities for pleasure without regard to the consequences.

For the mania symptoms to be considered for a bipolar diagnosis, the symptoms must interfere with a person's daily life and ability to function normally. The symptoms cannot be caused by a physical illness, drugs, or medications to be considered symptoms of mania.

Bipolar I disorder is characterized by the presence of manic episodes. The frequency and severity of the manic symptoms often decrease with proper treatment. Cognitive behavioral therapy and mood-stabilizing drugs are common components of treatment for bipolar I disorder.

Some people who use the term manic attacks may be confusing this with the term panic attacks. Panic attacks are related to anxiety and not a mood disturbance. A panic attack causes physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety such as shallow breathing, increased heart rate, and fear or dread.

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Manic episodes are the defining symptoms of bipolar I disorder. The characteristics of manic episodes are described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) which is the book used to diagnose mental illnesses.

The fundamental symptom of manic episodes is either an abnormally elevated mood or irritable mood. The mood disturbance must last at least one week or cause hospitalization in order to be considered a true manic episode.

An elevated mood requires three other manic symptoms during the mood disturbance to be considered a manic episode. The presence of irritability needs to have four other manic symptoms to constitute a manic episode.

Grandiosity or elevated self-esteem is a possible symptom of mania. During manic episodes, people often need less sleep than usual. The person may only sleep a few hours and not feel tired.

Being talkative is a symptom of mania. A manic episode may cause racing thoughts which is observable by others as a flight of ideas.

Another symptom of manic episodes is distractibility. The person may be easily distracted and have difficulty focusing. A possible symptom of mania is an increased involvement in goal-oriented activities.

Many problems that a person has during a manic episode are associated with the last symptom of mania which is an increased involvement of pleasurable activities without considering the consequences. Someone in a manic episode may spend money excessively or become promiscuous due to that symptom.

Manic episodes can cause psychotic episodes. The psychotic symptoms of hallucinations or delusions from a manic episode are related to the grandiosity the person may be experiencing. For example, the person may believe that they have been chosen by God for some special task.

If the symptoms have been caused by drug use, medication, or medical condition, they are not considered symptoms of a manic episode. The symptoms must cause impairment in the persons ability to function at work, school, home, or in relationships for it to be considered a manic episode.

Posted under depression