Manic Depression
...manic
depressive illness. Also called bipolar disorder, this mental illness involves episodes in
which a persons mood alternates between extreme mania and depression. A person may
experience pressure and racing thoughts and speech, and often uncontrolled reckless
behavior. Two thirds of those who suffer from bipolar illness have numerous episodes of
recurrences of alternating phases. Most people suffering from manic depressive illness
experience extreme cases of up and Dow emotion. Studies say manic depression is one of
the most understudied psychiatric illnesses.
Bipolar disorder is much less common than depression. atleast 8 percent of people
experience depression within their lives. bipolar disorder affects men and women almost
equally, and is most common amongst upper economic classes. 15 percent of people with
bipolar disorder commit suicide. research shows that highly creative people such as
artists, composers , writers, and poets, show usually high rates of bipolar disorder. Their
periods of mania is said to fuel their creativity.
Bipolar disorder usually begins in a persons late teens early twenties. Men usually
experience mania as the first mood episode, where as women usually experience
depression first. episodes of mania and depression usually last from several weeks to
several months. In most cases swings between mania and depression occur within days.
In other cases a person may experience major depression and minor mania. Mania and
depression may also follow patterns of seasons. Mania in the winter and fall and
depression in summer and spring. People suffering from bipolar disorder feel indifferent to
work and have no desire to do anything constructive. They think slow, concentrate
poorly, feel tired, and experience changes, usually an increase in appetite and sleep. They
often feel a sense...
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