If you know someone who experiences the lows of depression with intermittent highs of extreme enthusiasm you may be witnessing some identifying characteristics of manic depression symptoms or bipolar disorder. Manic depressions is often described as a swinging pendulum or a rollercoaster traveling up at one moment to lofty heights, and back down into extreme lows the next. In an article by Michelle Roberts which was published by the National Alliance for Mental Illness says of manic depression, "Bipolar disorder can show up in many costumes - it can bring on the voices of heaven or hell."
Unfortunately, many people with bipolar disorder do not receive the proper diagnosis and treatment for their disorder. Misdiagnosis is relatively common. In an article by Sarah Mynatt which appeared in the June 2002 edition of Nurse Practitioner it is stated that "clinicians may recognize depressive symptoms but often miss the subtle manifestations of anxiety and bipolar spectrum disorders!" According to the article, manic episodes are underreported by patients.
According to the National Institute for Mental Health, roughly 5.7 million Americans are afflicted with manic depression. Many famous individuals have been diagnosed with the disorder including: musician Peter Gabriel, actress Patty Duke, and entrepreneur Ted Turner.
There is no cure for manic depression, however, many options exist to help control the disorder and help sufferers to lead normal lives. Of course, medications factor heavily in the treatment of manic depression symptoms, but they are not the only weapon in the arsenal against bipolar disorder. Other methods of managing symptoms of manic depression consist of: diet changes, exercise, therapy, and writing.
Because of the transient nature of the disorder, manic depression can wreck havoc upon the life of the individual while remaining hard to identify by doctors who - in all likelihood - only witness depressive states in the patients. The concerned, caring comments and efforts of family and friends are extremely important to the health and well being of a manic depressive person. According to Pendulum.org - a site devoted to resources for bipolar disorder - a family's best bet is to arm themselves with information about the disease through their site, books, and any source available. Identifying symptoms and learning coping mechanisms can be an invaluable resource for families of those experiencing manic depression symptoms.
