Bipolar Symptoms

It is important to understand that bipolar disorder is not easily diagnosed because it often masquerades as other disorders. A bipolar child might get an early diagnosis that says he or she has ADD. A young adult might be diagnosed with an alcohol or drug addiction, instead of bipolar disorder. Because of the overlap of the symptoms, it is not always easy to see bipolar disorder for what it is. Few people display all of the symptoms, and some display very few. In order to determine if the symptoms are indicative of bipolar disorder, one should look for combinations of the early symptoms and seek the opinion of a mental health professional.

Depression is often one of the earliest and most easily overlooked symptoms of bipolar disorder. It is easy for people to recognize that someone is depressed without comprehending how much of a problem it can become. Depression is not the same as "feeling down" or "being blue." Depression is a real disorder that can sap away the precious days of a person's life. One of the reasons depression is overlooked as a symptom of bipolar disorder is that it is a disease in its own right. Many more people have depression than bipolar disorder, and thus, it is easy, even for mental health professionals, to overlook the other symptoms that suggest bipolar disorder rather than depression.

While bipolar disorder is the preferred nomenclature today, this disorder was once more commonly referred to as manic depression. We have already seen that depression can be a key symptom of bipolar disorder, but what exactly is mania? Mania is an elated state that can cause irrational behavior and grandiose ideas in a person that suffers from bipolar disorder. However, just like depression is not the same as "feeling down," mania is not the same as hyperactivity.

Common characteristics of the mania can include exhibiting an elated mood for a prolonged time, a decreased need for sleep, talkativeness, unusually high and unwarranted self-esteem (which is often accompanied by grandiose ideas), excessive spending, an increased sex drive that often manifests itself inappropriately, and irritability.

People that bipolar disorder with rapid cycling often display unstable emotions. They might be elated one moment and wallowing in despair the next. Rapid cycling is often easier to recognize than depression and mania because the contrasts between the emotions are strong indicators. Many people can recognize these unstable emotions because they make them feel uneasy. It is often more difficult to watch someone bounce back and forth between extreme emotions than it is to watch them drown in one.

Knowing how to recognize the symptoms of bipolar disorder can help you recognize potential disorders in yourself and those that you meet. Rather than thinking of some as moody, you might be able to recognize that they have a serious medical condition that can be treated. The sooner one can get this help the easier it will be for the person with bipolar disorder to stabilize his or her life.

If you feel that you or someone you care about might be bipolar, then you might need some extra help. Sure professional counselors and doctors are an option, but they can be pretty expensive and might not get you solid results, and when you or the person you care about is already going through this anguish, you want to put an end to this torture; because bipolar disorder doesn't just affect the person having it, but also the people who care about that person. I've spent a lot of time evaluating free resources, but they always seem to hide the full story from you. My favorite resource is Bipolar Disorder Uncovered. Although it does cost a little bit of money, it works. And you can't put a price tag on seeing yourself and your loved ones happy.

Did you know that if you are bipolar, you may be eligible for social security disability benefits? Most people don't even think it's an option, but if you are unable to work because of your illness, you might be able to get support from the government. However, because bipolar is not a physical illness with clear-cut tests, it can be difficult to impossible to get the benefits you are entitled to. Unfortunately, it's not a subject I can cover sufficiently here, but I do recommend you check out this guide.

Being married to someone suffering from bipolar can be almost as difficult as being bipolar. Support for spouses is hard to find, and information on how to deal with a bipolar partner is rudimentary at best. If you've been looking for a guide to dealing with your husband or wife's bipolar disorder, I really recommend you take a look at Married to Mania.