Depending on who you talk to, some terminologies people use to call bipolar by are bipolar disease, bipolar illness, bipolar disorder, bipolar symptoms and medical condition or morbidity.

What is a Disease?

A disease is “A pathological or medical condition of mind or body,” according the English Dictionary. On the other hand an infectious disease is the presence of pathogenic microbial agents, such as viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, multicellular parasites and prions which are a known abnormal protein. If an infection does not cause a clinically impairment of normal functioning, it is not considered a disease. The more popular forms of disease which are non-infectious are cancer, heart disease and diseases caused by genes.

Clinically Impaired

When adolescents are hit with bipolar disease, one of the most obvious signs and growing evidence is that individuals have mental impairments, even during periods of symptom remission. Bipolar disease falls in the impairments category like Alzheimer dementia and schizophrenia, but they are not as severe.

Cognitive impairment

It is unclear how common cognitive impairment among adolescent bipolar diseases occurs. A big number of patients complain of neuropsychological problems (a psychological processes and overt behaviors linked to the brain). Because adolescent bipolar sufferers do not complain of cognitive or mental problems, there is a possibility that neuropsychological impairments may be more widespread than our experience suggests.

Time Frame

What is the time frame for each episode to occur in a person with bipolar disease? We are all different so there is no time frame in this ongoing illness. It can go from manic to calm to depressive to calm again. For some it can be 2 days manic than 3 to 4 weeks all good calm and normal and 5 days depressing and 1 week of calm and normal again. This bipolar disease can last from a few minutes to one whole year with some experiencing "normalcy", which is a lack of problematic symptoms. Other Individuals can experience periods of double or mixed episodes in which symptoms of depression and mania are either present, or a person may transit from one episode to the next without a symptom-free period.

Important Guidelines
Alcohol: be careful, it can inflate the bipolar disease.
2. Promiscuity:  high to very high sexual libido especially when in the manic episode.
3. Medication: Doctors usually go through trial and error to find the right combination of drugs.
4. Suicidal: For some it is the only way out of the situation. Look for injuries especially cuttings on the body.
5. Forcing: Do not force patients to do something they do not want. You may find yourself facing a tiger.
6. Clarity: be really clear with your doctor about what symptoms are bothering you for them to address and diagnose it properly.

Heart Breaking

For many mental health conditions, symptoms of bipolar can overlap. A lot of people with adolescent bipolar disease have to be amazingly strong. The darkness that sometimes wells up out of people struggling with bipolar illness can be incredible. But even more difficult is the sharing of hopes, dreams and love with someone like this and then watching the person you love melt away and replaced by a completely different stranger.

Final Words

Bipolar disease cannot be cured but it can be controlled. For those adolescents suffering from this bipolar disease it is important they and their families be surrounded by a good support network in those difficult times. More importantly, medication must be taken at times allotted so the disease does not add stress to others and also break up existing strained relationships.

Bipolar disease or bipolar disorder can affect anyone of any age and a person could suffer from the illness for many years and not be diagnosed until late in life. No one really knows what causes this disease. We can only presume that a variety of biochemical, genetic and environmental factors are all involved in triggering this disease.

The Different Phases

This manic-depressive disorder causes extreme mood swings, from happy and energetic (mania phase), to sad and without energy (depression phase). The shifting from mania to depression and back again can occur quickly with deep mood swings lasting for weeks or months in some people. Usually, there are periods of normal or no moods in between. With bipolar disease there is no time frame for each episode, different people have different time frame for each bipolar phase.

Genetic Connection

If you have a member in your family who has bipolar disease there is a greater chance of you having it. Those who study the brain have indicated that people with bipolar disorder have chemical imbalances within their brains with researchers trying to find the genes that may be involved in the illness. Genes may be just one factor in the jigsaw puzzle.

Medication

To stop mood swings in bipolar disease it is treated with medicines, this helps to stabilize and to even out high phases and the low phases of the disorder. Doctors use antidepressant medicine to help reduce the depression symptoms. When patients get older, usually symptoms of the disease change in character and toughness. It is usually because of this that treatments may need to be accommodated. Treating bipolar disease is not an easy matter because there is no one drug that can do the job and practitioners have to go by a combination of drugs to be able to treat this disease.

Weight Gain

The most significant problem with people who are taking bipolar medicine is gaining weight. Many have suggested that this is due largely to the impact of certain types of medications commonly being prescribed for bipolar disorder. The whole picture is more complicated than laying a finger on the prescribed medications alone. There may be other factors involved.

Hope

Those with bipolar disease have led healthy, productive and fulfilling lives after their illness has been treated successfully. Many bipolar patients with beautiful children have successful marriages, going to work on a daily basis and compliant with their medication are relieved they have control over their illness. Not treating bipolar in time can worsen the disease and add a lot of pressure to the family.

Ask For Help

There are many physicians, qualified health providers who can answer your questions that you may have. Seeking the advice from others regarding a medical condition is a sign of strength not of weakness. If you are with a bipolar child or adult and cannot cope, look for a counselor. Better still look for a support group or support network for you and your ill patient. Do not leave it too late it might get worse for everybody.

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What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disease, also known as manic depressive illness, affects about one out of every hundred people in the United States. It's a serious mood disorder known for its severe changes in mood ranging from depression to manic states. People with bipolar may also experience mixed episodes, during which they have symptoms of depression and mania at the same time. Depending on the type of bipolar disease, people can have mood changes as quickly as within one hour, or only once a year.

Adolescent bipolar disease, though similar to adult bipolar disorder, brings on a separate set of challenges. Adolescents are already dealing with major mood and hormone changes due to puberty, and bipolar disorder simply intensifies that.

Symptoms of adolescent bipolar disorder

Adolescents experiencing a depressive episode can experience extreme sadness, feelings of hopelessness, changes in sleeping and eating habits, having no energy, and having no interest in activities or friends. If the depression is more severe, adolescents may also have thoughts or feelings of suicide, or a preoccupation with death.

Adolescents going through a manic episode can experience increased energy or hyperactivity, difficulty concentrating or focusing on one thing, take more risks, or become aggressive or angry easily. Some adolescents may also think and talk about sex more often.

Treatment of adolescent bipolar disorder

The treatment used for adolescent bipolar disorder is similar to adult bipolar disorder, which usually includes a combination of medication and psychotherapy. However, it may be difficult to find the right combination for adolescents since their hormone levels are changing frequently.

Another important aspect of treatment of adolescent bipolar is a strong support system. Not only will this help adolescents accept the illness and work through any difficulties that come up, but it can help ensure that the right medications are being used, and any side effects are being reported right away.

In order to be a part of that strong support system, knowledge about adolescent bipolar disorder is important. If you have a better understanding of the illness, you will have a better understanding of how to help your child, and how to make sure your child is getting the help he or she needs to be healthy and happy.

Life is not a bed of roses. Most of the time, people meet challenges along the way that can rock one’s world. However, being able to survive the ordeal can help the person become stronger and ready to take on more trials.  But this is not always the case for individuals with bipolar disease and getting constantly confronted with bipolar symptoms. In fact, the bipolar symptoms can be too overwhelming for the person that they may not live through it.

In this sense, it is important to get an overview about what is happening with the person during these times. Bipolar disease is characterized by two extremely contrasting mood condition that affect daily functioning. The first extreme is called mania and the person is usually observed to be in a very happy and energetic mood. On the other end is the depressive episode where the person feels very sad and lonely.

The Severity of Bipolar

While some of these signs and symptoms can appear with other individuals, the continuing pattern and the severity can tell the difference.  With these guides, anybody who may experience these events or who may have witnessed the same with a family member or friend can then be prompted to seek for a professional’s help and diagnosis.

Symptoms of the Manic Episode

Imagine someone with tremendous amounts of energy that he or she seems to need little sleep and still have the enthusiasm to talk all day and night. A person with bipolar disease can be a joy to be with at this stage. He can have that infectious euphoric mood and be more lively than usual. He can also get restless and get involved in various activities. Nothing can seem to bring this person down. On the other hand, the same person can be very irritable and can get easily distracted by seemingly harmless things he sees and hears in the environment. His thoughts are likewise irrational and can actually feel more self-confident than he typically is. As such, he will try to do dangerous stuff such as careless driving and get involved in drugs and other addicting substances. Despite all these, the person will still deny that something wrong is already happening.

Symptoms of Depression for Bipolar Disease

Meanwhile, the bipolar symptoms for depression are just the opposite of mania. The person has low energy and his thoughts and speech likewise seem to be slowed down. Focus and concentration will be hard to find and low self-esteem takes control. Those activities that he used to be very excited about do not offer the same appeal. If he used to be very interested in sex and would even dare to be indiscriminate, he will find himself apathetic to all these activities. Consequently, he feels very miserable, anxious, and helpless. The person will also tend to sleep too much or suffer from insomnia. The same thing happens to his eating habits and he will either tend to eat too much or too little. As such, noticeable weight gain or weight loss takes place. Also gone is the optimism and enthusiasm for life. In fact at this stage, the person can feel so useless he will think about ending his misery by committing suicide.

Support for Bipolar Disease

Whichever mood the person with bipolar disease is experiencing is evidently harmful to self and other people. This individual definitely needs all the help and support he can get to successfully deal with this lifetime challenge.

What is Bipolar Disease?

Bipolar disease is a common mental illness which affects moods and can also be properly referred to as a mood disorder. The symptoms which are characteristic of the illness are alternating states of depression and euphoria. These mood swings can severely impact the patient’s personal life, career and every other aspect of their life.

The Symptoms of Bipolar Disease

These mood swings are the symptoms of bipolar disease which should be watched for, as these are the signs which commonly lead to a diagnosis of the disorder. If you are in a euphoric state one minute and within a matter of minutes severely depressed, this is a sign that you may be suffering from bipolar disease.

A manic episode is one of the symptoms which is very common and often establishes a diagnosis of bipolar disease. In a manic episode you may act recklessly, need little or no sleep, feel extremely energetic or even experience hallucinations or delusional patterns of thought.

Treatment

The treatment of bipolar disease depends on the patient. Sufferers should keep in mind that not every patient responds to all treatments in the same way. What works very well for one patient may not be at all effective for your bipolar disease.

The Seriousness of Bipolar

Bipolar disease is a serious mental illness and should be treated as one. Treatment is a necessity for patients and it can lead to effective management of the illness.

If you suspect that you may suffer from bipolar disease, it is very important that you see a qualified mental health professional to establish a diagnosis. Be on the lookout for the symptoms of bipolar.

Unless you have the disorder yourself, it is difficult to understand just how disruptive it can be in your life. However, with the assistance of a physician or a therapist, you can begin coping with the disease and start living your life again.

Self mutilation, typically in the form of cutting is one type of self injury often associated with adolescent bipolar disease. However, self injury does not mean that the person in question is bipolar; there are other disorders which may be characterized by self mutilation.

Cutting, Burning and Even Suicide

Types of self injury seen in adolescent bipolar disease patients include cutting and burning. While these behaviors are more commonly seen in adolescent bipolar girls, it is by no means confined to this group.

Many who engage in self injury are depressed or even suicidal; but these self injuries are not actually intended to be suicide attempts – but they are often characteristic of adolescent bipolar disorder patients.

While self injury is not a suicide attempt, there is a risk of suicide present in the same adolescent bipolar disease patients who engage in self injury. There may be warning signs like suicidal fantasies, planning for the act and possibly tentative suicide attempts made. Any self injuries should be treated with the utmost seriousness.

Thinking about suicide can drive a depressed adolescent bipolar patient to obsess on the idea. At this point there is a serious risk of wither self injury or suicide attempts.

Be Careful

Once an adolescent bipolar disorder patient starts planning for suicide, they should be watched closely. While they may never go beyond the planning stage, there is a genuine risk of self injury or suicide in these patients – and whether or not they will actually carry out any of these acts is difficult to predict.

In many cases, it may not even be known that an adolescent bipolar disorder patient is entertaining suicidal thoughts until they actually make an attempt. Any and all suicide attempts should be taken very seriously, as should any self injuries or attempts at self injury.

These patients must be monitored, something which statistics have borne out – people who have made suicide attempts are 40 times more likely to successfully commit suicide than are those who have never made an attempt.

Watch for Signs

Any time an adolescent bipolar disorder sufferer starts to try to set their affairs in order out of the blue should be taken as a red flag that they are considering suicide. Making financial arrangements such as a will or giving away prized possessions are definite signs; these patients are certainly also at risk of self injury.

Remember that a large number of suicidal thoughts and attempts ultimately end in a successful suicide attempt. Around 11% of deaths in the US are self-inflicted and the numbers of adolescent bipolar disorder patients who kill themselves is increasing.

Bipolar disorder is a very difficult condition to cope with, even without self injury and suicide attempts. When there are acts of self injury or suicide attempts, adolescent bipolar disorder sufferers must be especially closely attended to.

Bipolar Disease: Nature vs. Science

The nature side of bipolar disorder causes has always been seen in family histories.  This, however, can be misleading.  Families often pass behaviors on from one generation to the next, regardless of whether family members are natural relatives or adopted ones.

The scientific concept of correlation without causation may account for shared histories of bipolar disorder in biologically unrelated siblings.  This concept is easy to grasp.  For example, a man could state that all summer, every time he got a sunburn, he ate fish. So, did the sunburn cause the man to eat fish?  No, but the act of fishing both caused the man's skin to burn and allowed him to catch a fish, which he then ate.  In a similar way, bipolar disorder can occur in families without anything in one family member's bipolar disorder causing the bipolar disorder of another.

Genealogy

Also, for whatever reason, people with bipolar disorder are often drawn to each other.  In this case it is unclear whether the families formed come together because of their shared genetically similar predisposition towards bipolar disorder, or whether some members of the families are genetically more prone to bipolar disorder but the illness of some other members of the family becomes exaggerated more than it would in another environment.

Research into the genetic causes of bipolar disorder is often done using twin studies.  It is assumed that twins will have environments that are as close as is possible.  Identical twins are used to show the effects of genetics, since they will share the same genetic materials.  Fraternal twins are used as a control group.  While these twins share nearly identical environments with their twins, the fraternal twins have less genetic material in common.

Twin Studies

It has been shown through these twin studies, and other studies where identical twins are compared to adopted siblings, that there does seem to be a genetic basis for bipolar disorder.  Only one percent of the population has bipolar disorder.  Fraternal twins, who share some genetic information, are 20 percent more likely to have the disease if one has it.  The percentage for identical twins is even higher, at around 60 to 80 percent chance of one having it if the other does.

Environmental causes of bipolar disease or disorder are more difficult to assess.  Bipolar disease has been proven to have a chemical basis in the brain, but the chemical reactions can be caused by any number of factors.  A history of losses early in life can be a contributing factor, as can any major source of stress.  Physical illnesses such as cancer and others can lead to a depressive state, which is then often followed by mania.

Neither genetics nor environment can fully explain the causes of bipolar disorder.  Research is constantly being undertaken in both areas.  In the meantime, the nature/nurture controversy is just beginning to heat up.