In the United States two million adults (1% of U.S. population) have a bipolar illness. With this condition the affected person experiences symptoms of depression and symptoms of mania, usually cyclically. Each person’s experience of the illness falls on a continuum that ranges from mild to severe.
Symptoms of Depression
- See section on Depression
Symptoms of Mania
- “High,” expansive, or irritable mood lasting at least one week; in milder cases, excessively good mood that seems odd
- Over-the-top self-esteem and thinking of ones self as awe inspiring; in milder cases, inflated self-esteem that is not a usual self-perception for the person
- Decreased need for sleep without subsequent fatigue
- More talkative than usual and can’t seem to stop talking
- Racing thoughts and/or having a great many ideas all at once
- Easily distracted; attention is drawn to unimportant or irrelevant things
- Feeling the need to do twenty million projects at one time regardless how that affects relationships or personal health
- Over-involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences (ex. unrestrained buying sprees, excessive gambling, compulsive sex, foolish and impulsive business investments, etc.)
Risk Factors for Bipolar Illness
- Family history of bipolar diagnosis or undiagnosed presence of above symptoms in family member at sometime in his or her life
- Past episodes of depression
- Being diagnosed with an “irritable depression”
• Being diagnosed with attention deficit disorder