It's More Than A Mood...

I recently saw a commercial for a medication that treats depression.  The company's slogan was simple, but it hit the nail right on the head:  "Depression hurts."  Finally, there's a company out there that truly seems to actually know what they are talking about when it comes to explaining the symptoms of depression!

I, like 2.3 million other Americans^1_, suffer from bipolar disorder, so when I tell you that depression is more than just a mood, you can trust that I know what I'm talking about!  And, when I tell you that it can cause agonizing physical symptoms, you can take it to heart. 

Bipolar disorder, which used be called manic depression, is a disorder in which the person experiences extreme mood variations ranging from deep depression to hypomania.  There are basically four different "episodes" that bipolar disorder sufferers' experience.  They are:

1)  Depression~during this period, the person will feel extremely sad.  This "episode" is generally recognized by the person's loss of desire to eat, get out of bed, or even participate in activities that he/she usually enjoys.²

2)  Mania~during this period, the person most often experiences a "high" or seems to be in an extremely good mood.  On the flip side, the mania stage can also cause a person to experience deep rage and irritability.²

3)  Hypomania~during this period, the person experiences a lesser degree of the mania stage.  They feel good, but often, the feel good feeling transform into a depression or manic state.²

4)  Mixed Moods~during this stage, the person experiences a "swinging effect" where their mood will alternate between depressive and manic.  This type of "episode", in my opinion, is the most exhausting!² 

Now, we all know that everybody experiences highs and lows during their life, so how do you know when it's something more than just a normal reaction to the ups and downs of everyday living?  Well, if you experience some of the following symptoms, then you could very well suffer from bipolar disorder:

1)  Feeling very sad for an extended period of time²

2)  Sleeping too much or not sleeping enough²

3)  Inability to concentrate or make decisions²

4) Feeling the need to keep talking or being extremely talkative²

 5)  Participating in behaviors that would be considered risky or dangerous²

6)  Having thoughts of suicide²

This is, by no means, an exhaustive list of all the symptoms that could possibly be displayed, so if you feel like you may suffer from depression or bipolar disorder, I strongly urge you to see your physician.  From my own personal experiences, I can tell you that going to see your physician will be one of the hardest things you will ever do, but I can also tell you that it will also be one of the most important steps that you can and will ever take!

¹ Information obtained by the APA website.  See the American Psychological Association's website for more information at http://www.apa.org

² Information obtained on bipolar.com.  Refer to http://www.bipolar.com for additional information.