Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a treatable mental illness that causes extreme mood swings. One moment you might be on Cloud 9, giddy, or in a state of euphoria. And then all of the sudden, without anything triggering it, you can feel incredibly sad, hopeless, or... Full Answer

According to one review of the research, between 1.7 and 6.5 people per 100,000 are newly diagnosed each year with mania and bipolar I disorder. These estimates are based mostly on the number of people getting this diagnosis for the first time in... Full Answer

If left untreated, the depression and mania of bipolar I disorder can worsen to the point of hospitalization. Most people with bipolar I disorder seek medical treatment for the depression instead of the mania. Mania is an excited mood state where people... Full Answer

Bipolar mood swings sometimes fit a pattern, but for most people they are not predictable and may change over time. Researchers are still figuring out what causes bipolar mood changes. Many factors may influence these mood cycles, including... Full Answer

About 5.7 million American over age 18 have bipolar disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. That means roughly 2.6% of adults in this country have the illness. For comparison, consider that nearly 15 million American... Full Answer

Children and teens with early-onset bipolar disorder tend to have more severe symptoms than adults who suffer from bipolar disorder. They have more mood swings, more severe highs and lows, and feel sick more often than adults with bipolar disorder. They... Full Answer

Hypomania is a "high" state experienced by people with bipolar disorder that is similar to a manic episode, but is not as severe. I sometimes refer to hypomanias as "little highs". In a hypomanic episode, an individual experiences... Full Answer

There’s no foolproof way to prevent bipolar disorder, but you can try to prevent or reduce mood swings. Stress and anxiety reduction by exercising, eating a balance diet, getting a good night sleep (6-8 hours a night), and trying things like yoga... Full Answer

To care for someone with bipolar II disorder, encourage them to take their medications as prescribed and to attend all counseling appointments. Remind them to do this even when they are feeling better to prevent episodes from recurring more frequently... Full Answer

Hypomania is a mild form of mania that does not usually disrupt normal activities as severely as a full-blown manic episode. In fact, hypomania feels good to most people. You may feel like the life of the party and everyone thinks you are on top of... Full Answer