What is bipolar disorder?

Question

how do the people who have it behave?

Answer 1

Bipolar Disorder (sometimes referred to as "manic-depressive), means a person's mood literally shifts from one end of the 'pole', to the other.  

They experience 'manic episodes', lasting even for days sometimes. During these episodes, the person has unusually high energy levels, lack of impulse control, which could cause negative implications due to inability to use logical reasoning in judgment and decision making.

After a manic episode, person usually will 'crash' into depressive state of exhaustion, possibly severe enough to cause them to be unable to get out of bed for days at a time.  

Bipolar disorder often causes severe feelings of helplessness and hopelessness for sufferers, however, medication can help stabilize mood swings.  Often times, those suffering from this disorder will miss the manic episodes after beginning medication, and stop taking meds to experience the manic "high", but this is extremely dangerous due to the relapse afterward back into a deep depressive state.

Answer 2

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function. Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide.

Signs and symptoms of mania (or a manic episode) include:

Increased energy, activity, and restlessness

Excessively “high,” overly good, euphoric mood

Extreme irritability

Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another

Distractibility, can’t concentrate well

Little sleep needed

Unrealistic beliefs in one’s abilities and powers

Poor judgment

Spending sprees

A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual

Increased sexual drive

Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications

Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior

Denial that anything is wrong

A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.

Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive episode) include:

Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood

Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism

Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness

Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including s*x

Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being “slowed down”

Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions

Restlessness or irritability

Sleeping too much, or can’t sleep

Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain

Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury

Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

A depressive episode is diagnosed if five or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, for a period of 2 weeks or longer.

Answer 3

when someone gets pissed off then sad a lot! uncontrollable emotions pretty much... look it up on wikipedia if u really want to know