Manic Depressive Disorder - Why You Must Know the Symptoms

Manic depressive disorder also known as bipolar disorder, is a mental illness that includes severe episodes of mania and depression. The disease causes drastic changes in temperament, feeling extremely depressed and hopeless, with periods of normal temperament between changes. At least 2 million Americans suffer from manic depressive disorder. The cause of bipolar disorder are not specific but the disease typically begins in adolescence or during early adulthood and continues throughout life. It's often not recognized as an illness and people with the disease may suffer needlessly for years or even decades.

Although a specific genetic link to manic depressive disorder has not been determined, studies show that 80 to 90 per cent of people suffering with this disease have family members with some form of depression. As a result many specialists in the field say that there is some type of biological relationship. People with this disorder go from state to state, from manic to depressive quickly. Some of the symptoms the person may experience are:

Loss of self-esteem
Absorption
Feelings of hopelessness or disability
Feelings of excessive or inappropriate guilt
Fatigue (tiredness or boredom) that lasts for weeks or months
Slow-exaggerated (inertia)
Daytime sleepiness, persistent
Insomnia
Trouble concentrating, easily distracted by inconsequential events
Difficulty making decisions
Loss of appetite
Unintentional weight loss
Thoughts about death abnormal
Thoughts of suicide, planning suicide or suicide attempts
Decreased interest in daily activities
Reduced pleasure in daily activities occurred

As mentioned before manic depressive disorder is a treatable neurobiological brain disorder characterized by severe fluctuations in mood and activity level. Scientists believe that an inherited predisposition to the disorder and not just one gene is involved, rather it is likely that several genes are working together. A good treatment plan usually includes medication, therapy and support groups. Since this condition may affect young people from an early age it is necessary and important for parents to seek guidance and information to work with children or adolescents diagnosed with bipolar disorder. In addition it's important to search for relevant groups offering support helping the youth understand they are not alone and that this disease is one that anyone can suffer from.

There are diseases or conditions that may exhibit traits of bipolarity creating some instability in ones emotions, such as thyroid disease and Parkinson's disease. Manic depressive disorder is diagnosed only when there are no other disorders like those mentioned above. Once a person is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, they should seek medical methods to alleviate the symptoms. Manic depressive disorder may be caused (as mentioned previously) by several factors whether they genetic or disease or trauma induced. Although the cause hasn't been specifically determined and it has no cure, there are ways of treating bipolar disorder and a person can live with it as long as they go to a health specialist and follow their advice. The worst thing you can do is to suffer in silence with manic depressive disorder. There is help available to you, make sure you make use of it starting today.

Manic depressive disorder can be hell for not only the victims but also their families. Fortunately there are ways of treating bipolar disorder to make things much more bearable. Visit our site today and help aid your recovery!

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