Bipolar Disorder - Research Paper Example

Also throwing tantrums, high level of restlessness and hyperactivity is seen but the worst part is that at times people facing Bipolar Disorder tend to do harmful things to themselves or others around them. This can be quite straining and affects their families too. Over 10 million people in America have bipolar disorder, and the illness affects men and women equally (Duckworth). The worst scenario is when the person goes through a mixed state. During a mixed state depressed mood accompanies manic activation(Ken Duckworth, MD, 2006).

In this state a person might feel a rush to do different things. From driving rashly, smoking up, this eventually leads to Suicide. From using drugs to cutting themselves, they try to relieve the symptoms of stress, pain, anxiety etc. They also lose understanding of what is happening in their surroundings and stay confused a lot. Insecurity usually kicks in and they put themselves in isolation to protect themselves. Danielle Steel states in her writing recognized as His Bright Light: The Story of Nick Traina, states a complete narrative regarding the way her son spends his life while he was experiencing bipolar disorder.

In the narrative she informs that during the age of adolescence, her son suffered from ADD even recognized as Attention Deficit Disorder. She even states that when an individual suffer from this disorder, individual tends to loose control over his/her impulse and indulge in activities that have negative consequences. Her son was later during his life was diagnosed with the disorder of bipolar and the symptoms exhibited by him were recognized as Manic Depressive symptoms (Ryan). Bipolar disorder is usually found in people from the age group of 15-25 and it usually occurs in families who have a history of bipolar disorder.

There are three different types of bipolar disorder. Type 1, (Major Depression), a state in which a person is sad, uneasy and angry. Type 2, in which people experience various periods of high energy which is not as extreme as mania (called hypomania). These periods alternate with episodes of depression. Lastly Type 3 (Cyclothymia) involves less severe mood swings. In this people’s behavior vary between hypomania and mild depression. (A.D.A.M, Medical Encyclopedia). The cause of Bipolar disorder varies from person to person.

The major reason is that it might be due to the disorder already being in the genes of the families.But it is not necessary that someone born in a family, who has showed signs of this disease, would end up having it. Normally the case is due to being in an environment where there is a lot of negativity, problems or stress, would interact with the underlying genetic or biological vulnerability to produce the disorder. (Duckworth). But it’s not necessary that these might be the only things which might trigger the disorder.

Smith and Segal have figured out that the episodes experienced by individuals suffering from bipolar disorder are triggered due to usage of antidepressants as a medication for depression, these trigger may even lead an individual to suffer from continuous changes in mood, lack of sleep and mania. The triggers can increase the level of symptoms that already exist or result in new sessions of mania. But it is not necessary that episodes experienced due to bipolar disorder are dependant on triggers (Smith&Segal).

Though many people are diagnosed with this