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With bipolar disorder on the rise for adults and children and considered a life-long disease, what is developing is an increased awareness and diagnosis of what we previously recognized as manic depression. Causing severe mood shifts from depression to severe mania, the ability to function is disabled. With estimates for both children and teens varying, statistics and research show that 5.7 million adults are affected with bipolar disorder and at least three-quarters of a million American children and teens suffering from it---showing a 40-fold increase for children and doubled numbers for adults.

BASIC SYMPTOMS

Many people feel that bipolar disorder is simply mood swings.  This may be true to a point, but the mood swings are different from someone with bipolar disorder than those without it. According to Matthew Rudorfer, MD, associate director of treatment research in the division of services and intervention research at the National Institute of Mental Health in Bethesda, Md., states,

"The mood swings of bipolar [disorder] are more severe, longer lasting, and maybe most significant of all, they interfere with some important aspect of functioning, such as ability to work at one's job, or manage one's home, or be a successful student."

Shifting back and forth from depression to mania seemingly without a pattern, Rudorfer says that a typical pattern for one with bipolar disorder is to have an abnormal mood state colored by a "predominance of high or low."

TWO PHASES OF BIPOLAR DISORDER

1.       Bipolar Mania (hypo-mania)

a.       Irritability or euphoria

b.      Racing thoughts or excessive talking

c.       An inflated self-esteem

d.      Little need for sleep; unusual energy

e.      Severe impulsiveness; never-ending pursuit of gratification on some level (examples: fast driving, shopping sprees, traveling, promiscuous sex, or high-risk business investments)

2.       Bipolar Depression (major-depression)

a.       Low self-esteem or depressed moods

b.      Apathy and low energy

c.       Lack of interest or pleasure in usual activities

d.      Poor concentration

e.      Sadness, guilt, loneliness or helplessness

f.        Oversleeping or insomnia

g.       Suicidal feelings or thoughts

h.      Fatigue, poor coordination or slow speech

One of the earliest signs of an emerging symptom of mania is extra energy and a progressive loss of sleep. Unfortunately, about 75% of bipolar disorder cases are not treated or are misdiagnosed.  The family history is investigated early on as parents with bipolar disorder will have a tendency for their children to be diagnosed with it. But many conditions may appear to mimic bipolar disorder in children—attention deficit disorder, school phobia—or in adults it could be dementia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, or alcohol/drug induced psychotic states. Testing for hyperthyroidism is done because it also mimics mania. Also, abuse by alcohol or drugs are very common in those with bipolar disorder, masking the symptoms which could have helped the individual if the symptoms had been discovered. For those with bipolar disorder who have a drug/alcohol abuse—especially men—suicide is common.