Bipolar disorder is a mood effecting illness that can be very problematic for those who suffer from it, and millions of people do. Many people do not even realise that the way they are feeling is actually a medical condition until the find out about bipolar symptoms and recognises that they are in fact bipolar. Here are the depression and mania bipolar symptoms to look out for if you suspect you are bipolar or someone you know is.

Depression bipolar symptoms

• Having no energy and constantly feeling tired

• Losing interest in things you were once keen on, this can also include sex

• Difficulty in making decisions

• Sleeping much more or much less than normal

• Feelings of guilt and worthlessness

• Suicidal thoughts

Everyone will feel depressed at different times in their life, but when a person is bipolar these times go on for much longer than would be expected and they begin to affect a person’s quality of life.

Mania bipolar symptoms

• Excessive energy

• Sleeping much less than normal

• A constantly racing mind

• Becoming very talkative

• Engaging in risky activities – this can vary from person to person but usually with bipolar symptoms these activities are not usually something a person would do

• Reliance on drugs or alcohol

Manic bipolar symptoms can also be characterised by impulsive acts that can have disastrous consequences for a person’s life. For instance they might suddenly decide to quit their job or go on a massive spending spree that they can’t afford with no thought to the outcome.

Of course these are just the main bipolar symptoms and there are more which are on the bipolar symptoms spectrum and can be easily identified. Those people who are bipolar will find that their bipolar symptoms will alternate with each other and there will also be times when they feel on a level – neither high nor low.

During a bout of depression or mania however the bipolar symptoms will be much more obvious and can reach extremes which seem totally out of character and can be quite frightening for the person who is bipolar and those around them. One good idea to chart bipolar symptoms is to use a mood chart. This is where the person with bipolar disorder notes down how they are feeling each day and this will help professionals to be able to plot their bipolar symptoms and can assist diagnosis and possible forms of treatment for the condition. Using a chart to track your bipolar symptoms can also be very useful to gain an insight into how well medication is working.

One thing is for sure; if you do recognise bipolar symptoms in yourself or someone close to you it is wise to seek medical help. Bipolar disorder is a serious condition, but if the symptoms are recognised quickly a plan of medication and therapy can really help the sufferer to lead a normal life in which their bipolar symptoms do not interfere too much.



Thanks to Lina Smith for contributing this article to our Depression blog:

List Of Depression Medications

The words “I’m depressed” became very common among many people as an answer to the question about their wellbeing, including the intention for only describing a bad mood or when something goes wrong. Every person feels depressed every once in a while, but feeling of depression and depression illness are two different situations that should be distinguished.

What is the definition of depression?

With science and technology progression, new medications came into the market to treat this difficult problem, which seems to be accelerated by every passing second. Medications have an important role in certain depression cases.

epression isn’t an issue that needs to be belittled. Anyone who experienced it can testify how much suffers it involves. Mental suffering can be as worse as any other terrible illness. Moreover, an illness which harms the soul can easily affect the patient’s physical condition.

The connection between the physical and mental condition is internalized by many, and every once in a while we hear how different mental conditions can cause serious diseases, even cancer and death.

Definition and diagnosis

Depression is a continuous mental disorder that appears at any age and it is characterized by bad mood, decreased willingness to be active and productive, and also reduction in energy and vitality, social interest and the ability to enjoy life.

Depression is the most common disease among adults, there are several disease levels, starting from light situation to “Major depression”, characterized by suicidal thoughts and high risk of self-damaging. “Major depression” exists in about 10-20 precent out of world population, twice as much amidst women in comparison to men. This acute illness requires a professional intervention.

It appears that women have a greater tendency to become ill with depression, and to sink into worries and thought following stress and unease conditions. Furthermore, women sometimes become melancholy due to other people’s distress.

Depression is defined according to few parameters. In order to determine a depression there should be at least five parameters, in period of minimum 2-4 weeks.

The difference between feeling depressed and the illness itself is the duration of the depression, whether the person has an ability to extricate oneself out of the depression, and if situation deteriorates until inability to function and to manage a proper life.

The parameters are very extreme:

* Insomnia or oversleeping.

* Extra physical activity or lack of activily.

* Lack of appetite and loss of weight or overeating and gaining weight.

* Decreased ability in some skills, such as: concentration, thought process, decision making.

* Bad mood and nervousness.

* Feeling useless, guilt feelings, self- whipping.

* Decreased sexual desires

* Restlessness, passivity and fatigued.

* Losing interest in life and thoughts of death.

Symptoms of Depression

Cognitive symptoms of depression-

Difficulty in paying attention and making decisions, problems with concentrating, thinking, and processing information. Functional symptoms of depression-

Appearance is neglected, looking depressed, unwillingness to do ordinary tasks like going to work, taking care of the children, maintaining the house, lack of strength, and decreased sexual functioning.

Emotional symptoms of depression-

Deep nervousness, pessimism, seeing things darkly, loneliness, anger, tension, despair, hopelessness, disinterest, hatred, self criticism and failure, low self-esteem, anxiety, lack of self belief, feeling guilty.

Physiological symptoms of depression-

Pain in chest area, heavy breathing, fatigue, headaches, backaches. Sleep disruptions and changes in nutrition.

Causes of Depression

* Depression as an expression to psychological factors, self-aggression due to childhood rejection, abuse, very high expectations, pressure, physical and mental violence in childhood, and more.

* Depression as a result to severe event, such as: losing a person or an object, loss of status and reputation, a job, divorce, disability or acute disease, low self esteem, and more.

* Depression as a result of chemical imbalance in the brain, imbalance in the nerve system, hormonal changes like pregnancy, and more.

* Depression as a way of manipulating and controlling others.

* Depression due to physical causes like: diseases, bad nutrition, irregular activity of the thyroid gland, birth, lack of nutritive components, exaggerated alcohol consumption, and more.

A person who suffers from depression doesn’t see much ahead, suffer is so terrible that a person only think of the present moment. And in the present moment the only thing who matters is that the depression would disappear, that life will be back on track, and that suffering will end quickly.

A doctor should be consulted with; a naturopathy treatment is advised along with depression contradictory medications. Naturopathy treatment can increase medication effectiveness, prevent side effects, help the body to keep the fragile balance and even prevent the use of high dosage of medications.

It is certainly recommended to allow the body to treat the problem naturally. There is so much to do, so many ways to tune the body back in balance and heal it. Depression is only a symptom, it is a sign that something went out of balance, and it is the way that the body tells us that it deals with something.



Thanks to Penny Harrison for contributing this article to our Depression blog:

Chronic Anxiety And Depression