Bipolar

Bipolar Disorders

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorders that is a prolonged emotional state. This disorder affects the lives of millions of people everyday. Over a hundred years ago a doctor by the name of Emil Kraeplin labeled what we now call bipolar disorders as manic-depressive insanity. Back then, many thought that bipolar disorder was associated with creative minds and great accomplishments because many historical figures have suffered from this disorder.

There are a number of types of bipolar disorders such as bipolar type I and bipolar type II disorder. The disorder is classified by how the mood of a person changes or how rapid their episode cycles tend to be. Many people who suffer from this disorder have complications in school, or the work place that may require hospitalization due to hallucinations or delusions of some sort. The difference between bipolar I requires the person to have suffered at least one manic episode but does not have a history of depression, where as a person with bipolar II disorder has had at least one episode of major depression and at least one hypomanic episode. Hypomanic is a less intense form of mania. The duration of mood swings occur every day for at least one week straight.

Many wonder if the bipolar disorder is genetically connected or if it is hereditary. Bipolar disorder is not directly passed from one member to the other genetically. Bipolar and schizophrenia disorders have much in common in that both share the same risks and causes. Stress plays a major role in having bipolar disorder. It is said that gay, lesbian and bisexual people have been known to experience major emotional issues because of the coping factors and dealing with their sexuality and the views that society portrays.

The signs and symptoms of bipolar disease include irritable moods, racing thoughts, rapid

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speech, need for sleep decreases, and a change in topics within the...