Bipolar Disorder and it's Symptoms Depressive and manic depressive illness are the two major types of depressive illness, also known as effective disorders, or mood disorders, because they primarily affect a person's mood. Different terms, respectively, include unipolar and bipolar disorder. You may have heard of other forms of depressive illness such as dysthymia, a type of chronic moderate depression, or cyclothymia, a form of manic depression in which the cycles (mood swings) are not quite as severe. Major depressive disorder and manic depression, which encompasses symptoms of depression and mania or hypomania, a more moderate syndrome than full-blown mania. It is estimated that over 17.4 million adults in the U.S. suffer from an affective disorder each year--that's one out of every seven people. If ya are not affected now, chances are that at some point in ya life, ya yourself or someone ya know will become affected. If ya are a woman, ya are twice as likely as a man to experience major depression while manic depression occurs equally among the sexes. Although these illnesses can occur at the age, many have their onset within the 25-44 age range. Where do these illnesses come from? Genetic, biochemical and environmental factors can each play a role in onset and progression. While we all experience occasional highs and lows, most intense, the symptoms are often mistaken for other medical problems or dismissed as a reflection of someone's personality, age, social influence or background. Research indicates that only one third of those with major depression will get proper treatment, and the other two thirds of those with any kind of affective disorder who do receive treatment treat will be misdiagnosed. These statistics reflect the insidiousness of the illness and the importance of both public and physician education. A lack in diagnosis and treatment could prove deadly; people with severe, untreated depression have a suicide rate as high as 15 percent. In fact, the number one cause of suicide in the U.S. is untreated depression. Don't be overwhelmed by sobering statistics. Of all psychiatric illnesses, affective disorders are among the most responsive to treatment. If given proper care, approximately 80 percent of patients with major depression demonstrate significant improvement and lead productive lives. Although the treatment success rate is not as high for bipolar disorder, a substantial number experience a return to a higher quality of life. It is crucial that ya learn the symptoms and act early! Symptoms of Depression Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety Pessimism, indifference Loss of energy, persistent lethargy Feelings of guilt, worthlessness Inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal Unexplained aches and pains Recurring thoughts of death or suicide Symptoms of Mania Heightened mood, exaggerated optimism and self confidence Decreased need fo sleep without experiencing fatigue Grandiose delusions, inflated sense of self-importance Excessive irritability, aggressive behavior Increased physical and mental activity Racing speech, flight of ideas, impulsiveness Poor judgment, easily distracted Reckless behavior such as spending sprees, rash business decisions, erratic driving, sexual indiscretions In the most sever cases hallucinations Anyone experiencing four or more of the above symptoms of either or both depression or mania should seek help if symptoms persist for longer than two weeks. The Causes of Affective Disorder:It's not just in Your Head Researches show that some people may have a genetic predisposition to affective disorder. If someone in your family has had such an illness, that does not necessarily mean you will develop it, nor does it explain conclusively why you did. It does increase your chances of experiencing depression of an endogenous nature (biological in basis). This is commonly referred to as clinical depression to distinguish it from short-term stats of depression mood or unhappiness. Even if ya don't have a genetic predisposition, your body chemistry can trigger the onset of a depression disorder, due to the presence of another illness, altered health habits, substance abuse, or hormonal fluctuations. Depression can also be triggered by distressing life evens, resulting in reactive depression. Losses and repeated disillusionment, from death to disappointment in love, can cause anyone to feel depressed especially if they have not developed effective coping skills. If these symptoms persist for more than two weeks, maintaining or increasing in intensity, this reactive depression may actually have evolved into a clinical depression. Regardless of it's cause, the presence of depressive or manic depressive illness indicates an imbalance in the brain chemicals call neurotransmitters. In other words, the brain's electrical mood regulating system is not working as it should. Proper treatment will vastly improve your level of functioning and can usually restore you to your "old self." Many people require long-term, even life-long, maintenance treatment which significantly decreases the likely hood of recurrences. This page cited from; @ 1997, 1998, 1999 National depressive and Manic-Depressive Association. |