Depression can affect anyone, and is brought on by aspects such as grief and homesickness. The articles in this section offer useful information on what depression is, how it can be diagnosed and how those affected can seek help. They also offer insight on the types of drugs available and how they can affect your overall health, as well as how the condition affects children and adults.
Depression: What is Depression and How Can it be Handled?
There are different forms of depression brought on by unfamiliar and sudden circumstances. While some learn to live with it and carry their burdens for the rest of their lives, there are options where help can be sought.
Causes for Bipolar Disorder
The exact reason or reasons for the bipolar disorder are unknown but researchers have found that:
There are no laid down specific reasons for bipolar disorder or rather it is still unknown. It is believed that there could be many reasons such as genetic' neuro-chemical and environmental factors.
Neurochemical Factors in Bipolar DisorderThe current belief is that it is a biological disorder that occurs in a specific part of the brain and is due to a chemical imbalance within the brain. Function of the brain is controlled by neuro transmitters and an imbalance in one of these neuro transmitters' such as norepinephrine' serotonin and others may be the reason for bipolar. Mania occurs when these chemicals levels are too high and in contrast when the norepinephrine levels drop below normal levels' the patient may experience depression. As a biological disorder' it may have no reaction and may be activated on its own or it may be triggered by psychological stress and social circumstances. Read More
Along with bipolar disorder other psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and substance misuse is high. Panic disorder' generalized anxiety disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder are common anxiety disorders in bipolar disorder victims.
Substance misuse and mental health disorders are linked in such a way that one may be the cause of the other. Research has shown that victims of bipolar disorder are more prone to misuse of alcohol and other substances' as opposed to those with mental illness. Some of the commonly misused substances are illicit drugs' caffeine and nicotine.
Research carried out during the last five years on bipolar disorder has found that bipolar disorder can be caused by a genetic link. Among other genetic reasons' if a parent is a victim of bipolar there is a 15 to 25 percent chance of the children becoming victims of bipolar.
The current belief is that it is a biological disorder that occurs in a specific part of the brain and is due to a chemical imbalance within the brain. Function of the brain is controlled by neuro transmitters and an imbalance in one of these neuro transmitters' such as norepinephrine' serotonin and others may be the reason for bipolar.
Bipolar disorder is not easy to be diagnosed and is a complicated mental illness. The symptoms are so complex as it can be misunderstood for a normal mood swing. It is normal to feel happiness and sadness in life but for those who have bipolar disorder which is also known as manic depression' these feelings can be extreme. This situation if not managed can interfere with their daily life and can also become extremely dangerous.
On a good day the person will be full of energy and be able to achieve much which may also be a concern and then on bad days they feel so depressed that they cant get out of bed.
It is important to get diagnosis and treatment for bipolar disorder as quickly as possible as in most cases people live in denial especially when the cases are mild. In some cases the duration is so short that by the time they keep trying to figure out whether medical attention is required or not' the mood swings have vanished. When the mood comes back to normal people think there is no necessity for medication. However sometimes it is a deception and the sufferer has not completely got rid of the disorder.
It is normal to feel happiness and sadness in life but for those who have bipolar disorder which is also known as manic depression' these feelings can be extreme.
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