Bipolar
... depression, mania, and sometimes mixed symptom states. These episodes cause unusual and extreme shifts in one’s mood, energy, and behavior that interfere with normal, healthy functioning living. Manic symptoms include severe changes in mood, some very high states and the real sudden low states. Increased energy, overly inflated self-esteem, destructibility, hyper sexuality, disregard of risk and increased talking are just a few of the these symptoms. A Manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, everyday, for one week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present. Depressive symptoms include persistent sad or irritable mood, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, Significant change in appetite, major change in sleep patterns, loss of energy and physical agitation or slowing. A depressive episode is diagnosed if five or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly everyday, for a period of two weeks or longer. A mild to moderate level of mania is called hypomania. Hypomania may feel good to the person who experiences it and may even be associated with good functioning and enhanced productivity. Without proper treatment however, hypomania in some people can switch into depression. Sometimes severe episodes of mania or depression includes symptoms of psychosis. Common psychotic symptoms are hallucinations, and or delusions. Psychotic symptoms in bipolar tend to reflect the extreme mood state at the time. Some people have symptoms of mania and depression together in what is called a mixed bipolar state. Symptoms of a mixed state often include agitation, trouble sleeping, psychosis and suicidal thinking. A person may have a very sad, hopeless mood while at the same time feeling extremely energized. Mood stabilizers are used to improve symptoms during manic episodes. They may sometimes also reduce symptoms of depression. There is typically three mood stabilizers used in the United States and they are, Lithium, Valporate (also known as Depakote) carbamazephine (also known as tegretol). There are many different side effects from these meds and for all three mood stabilizers blood tests are used to determine the correct dose and to monitor safety. Many children with bipolar have problems functioning in school, with peers, and at home with the family. Many adolescence also begin having problems such as stealing, destroyi...