Television's Misinformation On Bipolar Disorder Corrected

Television shows are suddenly very interested in people with Bipolar mood disorder with an emphasis on the inability of people with bipolar disorder to function in the world, as serial rapists or as crazed killers. How can people who have the disorder protect themselves from being labeled as criminally mentally ill? They need to arm themselves with Bipolar mood disorder information and share it where appropriate.

Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders that is determined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally high energy levels and one or more depressive episodes. The high energy levels are called mania unless they are not as severe. Then they are referred to as hypomania. Some people have these episodes separately and some suffer them both at the same time.

Extreme episodes of mania can lead to psychotic symptoms like hallucinations or delusions. When this happens or when a person becomes so depressed as to be suicidal, the person may need care in a controlled hospital setting. On the other hand some people associate their time as manic or hypomanic as times of creativity, goal striving and positive achievements. Many creative people may have suffered from some form of Bipolar disorder. Much more study is needed on creativity and Bipolar mood disorder.

The incidence of bipolar disorder is not clear. Some research suggests the number of those suffering the disorder may be one in 45 while other researchers conclude the number is one in 70 or so.

Researchers believe that Bipolar disorder might be caused by events in childhood or genetic. They are divided in what they think. There is evidence of several people within a family having mood disorders including Bipolar disorder that points toward genetics.

There are 3 classifications of the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder .

• Bipolar Disorder Type Iincludes one or more manic episodes. These are severe enough to be considered psychotic in nature going from irritated or elevated mood state to spending or sexual sprees and finally having a total break with reality including hallucinations and delusions. People can also suffer depressive episodes that can again become psychotic with thoughts and incidences of suicide.
• Bipolar Disorder Type IIis less severe. Instead of becoming completely manic, the person becomes hypomanic, a condition characterized by creativity, optimism, decreased need for sleep and more energy. People in the hypomanic phase often don't know that anything is wrong and they feel wonderful. There are no delusions or hallucinations. Depressive moods are just like that of all other Bipolar depressions and can lead to chronic pain with or without a known cause, lack of desire to do anything, anxiety and guilt.
• The third type in this classification is calledCyclothymia or Mixed Affective. This is a condition during which symptoms of both depression and mania occur simultaneously or cycle often during the year.

With the sudden interest in Bipolar disorder on television and its emphasis on the inability of people with bipolar disorder to function in the world, people who have this disorder must learn all they can about their problem to combat the misinformation. Places where information can be found include self-help books , articles on the internet and information from their health professional. Armed with information people with Bipolar mood disorder can prevent others from misunderstanding.