BP: Bipolar Disorder

As I was searching through the blogs, I found that there are none about Bipolar Disorder.  This surprises me because of how common the diagnosis of BP is becoming.  Many of my family members have been diagnosed bipolar over the past years, and I have come to learn a lot about it.

Many people don't understand the illness, besides, maybe, that it causes depression or mood swings.  While these are the most common symptoms, they are not the only.  BP can cause many things, like insomnia or too much sleep, anxiety, and even ADD symptoms. 

The illness is characterized by episodes, or the mood swings- Mania and Depression.  These episodes were best described to me by my cousin, whose mom was Bipolar.  When her mom was manic, my cousin said it was like she was "super-mom". She could do everything without getting tired and run-down, or so it seemed.  She would be like this for a few days, or even a few weeks.  Then she would crash; she would sleep all the time, not want to do anything, and drink more alcohol than usual. All of the sudden, she would be back to normal again, and the cycle would continue.

All of this can be prevented with the right combination of medication to stabilize moods and treat the various symptoms and counsling to aid in the depression and anxiety.  Without proper treatment, BP can harm the lives of those living with it or those witnessing it-whether mentally or physically.

Now that mental illnesses are becoming more accepted by doctors and society, less people are going untreated.  Some people may go their entire lives without treatment, and others are diagnosed as young as childhood.  It is important to recognize symptoms so that loved ones can get treatment as soon as possible.