The symptoms of bipolar disorder, primarily mood swings, do not follow a fixed pattern. Depression does not always follow mania, and vice-versa. The severity of the symptoms vaires from person to person, and an individual can suffer one mood state, be it depression or mania, for several years before suddenly having the opposite mood.

Depression can be quite intense. It affects every aspect of a person’s life, be it physical, psychological, or social health, and only grows worse the longer it remains untreated. To date, there is no cure for depression, and millions of people around the world are forced to deal with this debilitating illness.

The following are symptoms of bipolar depression. An episode of depression involves five or more of these symptoms throughout most of the day, nearly everyday, for two weeks or more. If even a few of these symptoms are observed in an individual, steps must be taken to seek medical attention – depression is much easier to treat in its earlier stages.

A person suffering from depression may experience sleeping problems. The individual may suffer from insomnia, which often results in an increased need for sleep during the day. This also affects the person’s energy levels and appetite. A person going through a severe depressive episode may experience unexpected gains or loss of weight, which perpetuates a downward spiral in physical health – a person will naturally feel uncomfortable and weary from all the physical discomforts.

A depressed individual almost certainly feels a deep sadness or unexplained anxiety. He/she may also be irritable, with feelings of guilt, hopelessness or worthlessness constantly plaguing his/her psyche. The individual will also display a sudden loss of interest in activities he/she usually enjoys.

It is often difficult for a depressed individual to concentrate on any one thought for a long time, and this may cause a performance drop in school or work. The individual may also have difficulty remembering or making decisions. Depressed individuals, when left untreated, often find themselves unable to hold a job for very long. Constantly falling in and out of work due to mood problems may signal an underlying mental illness, most probably depression.

Some of the more apparent symptoms of bipolar depression include uncontrollable crying, usually stemming from a deep sense of despair. The individual may suffer delusions of guilt and insignificance, or believe himself/herself to be ruined or penniless, or perhaps even having committed some terrible, unknown crime. It is not unusual for severely depressed individuals to harbor thoughts of death, and many cases of attempted suicide has been documented in depressed individuals over the years.

Left untreated, depressive episodes tend to happen more often and with less downtime between episodes. As time goes on, the episodes become quite unpredictable and more difficult to treat. It may at times switch to a manic episode, but this can be prevented by prompt treatment. With medication and therapy, it is quite possible for an individual suffering from bipolar disorder to live normally as happy, productive members of society.



Thanks to Tim F Clark for contributing this article to our Depression blog:

Beck Depression Inventory

Can you answer Whitney S’s question about Depression?:

A co-worker who has a background in counseling told me today that she thinks that I am bipolar. I am already on medication for clinical depression, but it hasn’t been diagnosed as anything other than a seratonin imbalance. I sleep a normal amount: 6-7 hours a night. I feel good, but not high. I haven’t had a depressive episode since my most recent ex broke up with me for a married man she had been cheating on me with (I call that a mitigating circumstance). The only warning sign that I agreed with (she felt that I was over-confident and moving “a million miles an hour” which I attribute to a new excercise regime and weight loss) was that I spend money compulsively, but I have always been something of a wastrel. Opinions? I can’t afford to see my doctor right now, but am planning on going ASAP.
Telling me that bi-polar and manic-depression are the same thing is not helpful at all. I’m after personal experience and advice here, not help with semantics. So please, if that’s all you have to say, don’t.

I agree that a background in counseling isn’t proper qualification for a diagnosis but that was what sparked this introspection. I’d rather ask professionals and others with similar background and experiences and get told “no, your current meds are fine” (Lexapro 10mg by the way) than not ask and never know for sure.

Postpartum Depression Symptoms

When a person has experienced their first manic episode they are notably considered to have Bipolar Depression. This is known as a chronic illness as the majority of people who have had one episode generally have more episodes to follow. According to statistics at least four episodes must occur in a single year, where there has been no given preventative treatment.

Each individual is unique in the patterns of depression, manic episodes and mood cycles that are displayed in combinations. Once these patterns have been identified, it becomes easier to recognise an oncoming episode. Bipolar Depression according to some studies show that the chances of developing Bipolar Depression is to do with genetics. The disorder is normally detected in adolescence or in a young adult. As the condition is continuous in episodes, those affected will find it may last their whole life.

There are not many who are informed enough about Bipolar Disorder, as society is usually quite blase about it. The two major types are Bipolar I and II. What distinguishes the two different types is the presence of a manic episode in one. In order to understand the differences you need to learn about depressive and manic episodes which can occur.

There are different symptoms which are characteristic of a depressive episode. Happiness is either diminished or not present, persistent depressive mood, loss of interest in everyday activities and social ones, fatigue, feeling unworthy, deep guilt feelings, lack of concentration, sleep disturbance, restless, move about slowly, constant thoughts about death and suicide.

When up to five of these depressive symptoms present themselves in a person for a minimum two weeks such as lack of pleasure in everyday activities or feeling depressed, this will manifest itself into a depressive episode. The symptoms come about without the use of drug or alcohol abuse or any contributory medical condition, and more to do with considerable distress or when the mind is in turmoil.

Manic episodes also display different symptoms such as talking incessantly, more energy so less sleep is required, grandiose ideas, racing thoughts, are easily distracted, and their self confidence becomes magnified. A person may engage in ridiculous spending sprees, untoward sexual behaviour and increase in reaching goals or targets.

The DSM IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) which belongs to the APA (American Psychiatric Association), states that when a person experiences mood disturbances which can be persistent, inexplicable euphoria along with three or more symptoms for at least a week, so that a person loses the ability to funtion normally but is productive, this is a manic episode. The criteria for a manic episode is that it is not due to alcohol or drug abuse or an underlying medical condition.

Notice the slight differences to Bipolar I and Bipolar II disorders. In Bipolar I an individual will have had one manic episode and depressive episodes. A person with Bipolar II disorder will experience at least one episode of hypomania episode and no presence of manic episodes. Don’t confuse the two - the difference between the two is that in Bipolar I disorder they will have had the experience a manic episode.

Bipolar Disorder is classified as two types because of the symptoms already mentioned which are graded in severity. This is because we can distinguish between how a manic episodes occurs in a person, rather than how the disorder impairs them. Depending on the degree of occurrence of the mania and not on the levels of impairment that cause the disorder, is how the classification is determined on these disorders.

Every person who has Bipolar Disorder is unique in the symptoms they experience. Those that are diagnosed with Bipolar I all have differing degrees of adaptation, distress and impairment. Each level is variable on a wide spectrum which can all be distinguished. Those that are diagnosed with Bipolar II are also affected on a similar scale.

This type of mental disorder should be made more aware so that people can recognise the symptoms before someone is diagnosed. It is also useful to know in case a person you know or yourself should develop the disorder. Useful information and appropriate treatment can be gained by asking a doctor or other health professional. By educating yourself, it is useful having knowledge of Bipolar disorder to help family, friends or other important that you come across in your life. This is a huge learning curve and a valuable step towards recovery and a better, healthier life.



Thanks to Abhishek Agarwal for contributing this article to our Depression blog:

Depression And Children