Normal Relationships with others
Bipolar disorder is more widely known as maniac depression. It happens in the case of extreme emotional activity that interchanges with depression. And on the other hand there are periods of relatively normal state of mind. Almost every person experienced depression. Sometimes even the most optimistic of us may be out of spirits. Fortunately the majority of people don’t stay in blue mood for long. More serious forms of depression however include such symptoms as disturbance of sleep, sluggishness, changes in appetite and weight. Depressed people lose interest to any activity and don’t feel like doing anything at all. At this time they tend to avoid communication or any kind of relations with people (Ian Stuart-Hamilton, 2002). Even the most optimistic and sociable people can be affected by deep melancholy and become introverts for some time. These symptoms characterize so-called clinical depression that needs special long-lasting treatment.
Bipolar disorder includes episodes of mania – a person is extremely energetic and tends to build plans. On the other hand, periods of relative sanity may last for several days or even months. Some specialists distinguish two kinds of depression: * reactive (is caused by certain tragic event); * endogenous (appears without any significant reason).
I consider it’s important to see difference between these two forms of depression because each of them needs special approach. In order to make terms more clear I’d like to give two examples. If a person is depressed by his unhappy family life, distraction from personal problems will lift his spirits. On the other hand if a person gets depressed in spite of successful life, happy family, support of relatives and absence of visual troubles. In this case medical treatment would be more effective. Psychiatrists help to eliminate misbalance in chemical brain substances. In fact etiology of this illness remains unknown.
References: Peacock, Judith. Bipolar Disorder. Mankato, Minnesota: Capstone P, 2000. Spearing, Melissa. Bipolar Disorder. National Institute of Mental Health. 2002. Bipolar Disorder in Children and Teens. American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. July 2004 E-medicine. Bipolar Affective Disorder. Oct., 2006. http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic229.htm Ian Stuart-Hamilton. Key Ideas in Psychology. Bipolar disorder. Jessica Kingsley Publishers: London and Philadelphia, 2002. Amy Otis. Bipolar Disorder Today. Children and Teenagers, 2006. http://www.mental-health-today.com/bp/art.htm