What You Should Know About Bipolar Depression

Bipolar depression is also known as manic depression or bipolar affective disorder. This is a highly complex and very serious mood disorder. It is characterized by extreme highs, which are known as a manic episode, followed by severe lows, which are known as depressive episodes. Bipolar depression usually begins whenever a person is a young adult and then continues for the remainder of the person's life. In fact, it is believed that 1 in 10 people actually suffer from Bipolar depression. Unfortunately nobody knows what causes Bipolar depression but it is believed to be at least somewhat genetic.

Types Of Bipolar Depression

Each episode will vary in frequency and severity. The time between each episode will also vary significantly from 1 person to the next. Unfortunately, there is no clear pattern in this. During the in between stages, there is moderate to mild depression and some normal moods as well. Of course, it is also possible for a person to experience either extreme depressive or extreme manic episodes with only the occasional opposite occurring. This is why there is both type 1 and type 2 Bipolar depression.

If you have Bipolar 1 you will have recurrent manic and depressive episodes with stable periods in between. You may also go directly from depression to mania, or vice versa. On the other hand Bipolar 2 involves mild manic periods, or no mania at all. However, there are a lot of depressive episodes.

The Symptoms Of Bipolar Depression

This form of depression includes 2 different moods: depressive and manic. A depressive episode will last for at least 2 weeks. The person will then enter into a manic episode. During a manic episode a person will have an elevated mood that will last for at least 1 week. This is in no way related to alcohol or substance abuse. However, during this time a person who suffers from Bipolar depression will believe that they can do anything and they may not sleep for several days at a time.

Conclusion

So, as you can see, each person's experience with Bipolar depression is unique. Plus, since this type of depression occurs in episodes, it is also possible for the person to behaves perfectly normal at some points in time as well. This is what makes Bipolar depression so difficult to diagnose. Nevertheless, if a person is suffering by this type of depression it is very important for them to get a proper diagnosis as soon as possible. Only then can it be treated so that a person can live a somewhat normal life.

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