Living With Bipolar Disorder ( Ptsd ) - 2313 Words

Living with Bipolar Disorder Smith, J. Segal, and R. Segal (2010) shared that bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that cause shifts in a person’s mood, activities levels, and energy. The symptoms of this mental illness are severe to those affected by it. Some may experience unusually severe high and low patterns in their mood; others may feel suicidal and isolated from the world as well (Smith, J. Segal, R. Segal 2010). The Treatment Advocacy Center website (2011) noted that approximately 5.5 million Americans age 18 or older, or 2.6 percent of the adult population are affected by bipolar disorder, and that suicide is the number one cause of premature death among people with bipolar disorder.†¦show more content†¦The recurring manic and depressive episodes that characterize the disease make it difficult to lead a stable, productive life. In the manic phase, one may be hyperactive and irresponsible. In the depressive phase, it may be difficult to do anything at all. Early diagnosis and treatment can help an individual avoid these problems. The extreme highs and lows of mania and depression can hurt a person’s job and school performance, damage to their relationships, and disrupt one’s daily life. However, those affected by this disorder are not powerless when it comes to bipolar disorder There are various symptoms associated with bipolar disorder. These symptoms vary depending on if it is a manic or depressive episode. The WebMD website list the following as symptoms for manic and depressive episodes: Manic episodes include reckless behaviors (such as lavish spending sprees, impulsive sexual indiscretions, abuse of alcohol or drugs), needing less sleep in order to feel rested, talking very rapidly or excessively, and distractibility are a few to note. In contrast, the signs of a depressive episode include loss of energy, feelings of guilt, hopelessness, or worthlessness, and contemplating or attempting suicide (Bipolar Disorder Symptoms and Types - WebMD). The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM) states that one of the most common features is the decreased need for sleep, and this is different from insomnia. The difference is that an