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Understanding Bipolar Disorder

Article submitted by LaJuana Webb, Program Director for Princeton BMC's Geriatric Behavioral Health Program.
For more information, she can be reached at 205-783-3215.

Bipolar disorder, one of the most severe mental illnesses, frequently goes unrecognized and untreated, despite the availability of effective diagnostic and treatment methods. One day a person may feel alive, powerful, and creative: his mind flooded with thoughts, talking a mile a minute, with little need for sleep. The next week, he may feel completely drained-physically and emotionally-so tired and empty he is unable to even get out of bed.

People with bipolar disorder switch between periods of tremendous elation (or mania) to absolute despair (or depression), which is why it is sometimes called manic depression.

At first, people might not view manic episodes, in which they may feel happy, energetic, and powerful as a problem. Many individuals with bipolar disorder seek help first for their depressive symptoms.

"It's important that symptoms of mania as well as symptoms of depression are discussed with your doctor," says LaJuana Webb, Program Director for Princeton Baptist Medical Center's Geriatric Behavioral Health Program.

The signs of Bipolar Disorder
The symptoms of mania include:

Symptoms of depression are:

"Individuals and families should seek help from a psychiatrist, a medical doctor specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses like bipolar disorder," recommends Webb. Bipolar disorder is treated with medications and counseling. Medications stabilize a person's mood by eliminating the extreme highs and lows of the illness. Counseling helps people better understand and cope with the cognitive, emotional, and behavioral aspects of the illness.

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