These are many emotions we experience in our everyday life. We all have our ups and downs, our “off” days and our “on” days. But if you’re suffering from bipolar disorder, these peaks and valleys are more severe. Bipolar disorder also known as manic depression or manic-depressive illness involves dramatic shifts in mood from the highs of mania to the lows of major depression.

Bipolar disorder involves periods of elevated mood, or mania, alternating with periods of depression. A person with bipolar disorder typically cycles between these two extremes, often with periods of normal mood in between. The pattern of symptoms differs from person. Some people are more prone to either mania or depression, while others experience equal numbers of manic and depressive episodes. Some of the common signs and symptoms of depression includes:

Irritabiliy - Almost everyone becomes irritable now and then. The reasons are almost without number. A headache, a bad night’s sleep, an upcoming dentist appointment, an unexpected bill - any stressor can bring it on. But when there is no apparent reason why the least little thing becomes an annoyance, and the mood persists for days or weeks, look for depression as the cause.

Anger - Anger is irritability pushed to an extreme. In depression, a person may explode over what might otherwise be a mild irritant - or over nothing at all. It may be a brooding anger that comes to a boil over something seemingly harmless. If anger lasts or becomes frightening or violent, seek help for yourself or your loved one as soon as possible.

Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity - Inflated self-importance; in some, delusions or hallucinations. Feeling all-powerful, invincible, and destined for greatness.

Euphoric mood - Feeling “high”, excessively optimistic, better than ever before.

Extreme irritability - Feeling irritable or angry; Behavior that is aggressive, provocative, or intrusive.

Decreased need for sleep - Feeling rested after just a few hours of sleep.

More talkative than usual - Extremely talkative and sociable; pressure to keep talking.

Racing thoughts - Flight of ideas; can’t keep up with your own ideas and thoughts.

Distractibility - Inability to concentrate, distracted, restless.

Risky behavior - Excessive involvement in pleasurable or high risk activities, such as sex, drug or alcohol use, gambling, or spending sprees



Thanks to Rachel Broune for contributing this article to our Depression blog:

Best Treatment For Depression

The presence of anxiety depression in police forces is a well know fact by more and more people every day. The pylons of the modern society that make sure every day that the law isn’t broken, are staring to crack. The presence of anxiety depression in police forces is not only starting to affect them in their work, but also has an effect on the whole society of which they belong to.

“I always feel my nerves are shredded, from the moment I open my eyes in the morning till I go to bed at night,” said an officer who identified herself as Tuzi, a 26-year-old woman who joined the police force in Shenyang about two years ago. Their job implies the gathering of stress, but it doesn’t offer the means to get rid of it. This every day stress builds up and eventually leads up in the presence of anxiety depression in police forces.

This has become a worldwide problem, and an urgent matter that needs dedicated attention. Some well known psychiatrists have already started working on this global problem, trying to find the best solutions possible, and this has to be done in the shortest time as possible. The presence of anxiety depression in police forces affects their colleagues firstly, their personal lives, and their relationships with their families, friends and colleagues.

This firstly affects their jobs, and this needs a solution. This solution is still expected from the people capable of giving it. The police forces can start anti depressive treatments, they can start to take anti depressives, and they can start a program that will allow them to get relieved of the stress accumulated on the streets during their normal day time or night time schedule.

After many tests and documentation, researchers encouraged the new bipolar disorder study, as this may give more hidden information that can eventually link to a bigger picture of the problem. And, after knowing the problem and having all the data, a solution can start to emerge. Stress isn’t considered as a bad thing when it’s present in a small amount, because it keeps the mind and body alert, and our senses open. The problem starts when it is in big quantities, and when the effects upon the body are noticeable. Activities which were once easy or enjoyable become harder to do. This has to be avoided and this is why a specific plan of action relating to the problem is needed.



Thanks to Joanne R MIller for contributing this article to our Depression blog:

Treating Chronic Depression