BPHope.com Encourages Readers to Understand Bipolar Disorder

What is Bipolar?

Affecting more than 5.7 million adults in America, bipolar disorder is an illness that is characterized by wide variations in mood, behaviors, and thoughts. It is treatable, and with treatment those who suffer from it can expect to live their life normally. At BPHope.com, they want to bring together those who are suffering from bipolar disorder with information that can help them become more knowledgeable about the disease, including how others handle certain situations and the various treatments available.

There is a genetic link to bipolar disorder and individuals with a parent with the disease run a 10-25% risk of developing it, too, while those with both parents affected run a higher risk of 10-50%. The genetic link, in combination with environmental factors like sleep habits, lifestyle habits, and stress, can take part in the development of the disease, which has a usual onset at the time of adolescence.

Types of Bipolar

Bipolar disease varies from one affected person to the next, and depending on how severe the disease determines which type they have.

Bipolar I – Marked by one or more manic episodes that may require hospitalization and that last at least a week. Hypomania and depressive episodes may also occur, along with mixed states (the high and the low together). Bipolar I can lead to severe disruption in the person’s life.

Bipolar II – Marked by depressive episodes that might be accompanied by a hypomanic episode. Hypomanic episodes are not as severe as manic episodes and don’t last as long. Although usually not as troubling as Bipolar I, an individual with bipolar II will still appear to be behaving differently.

Cyclothymic – Marked by mood fluctuations that don’t quite reach the extremes of full mania or full depression. It might be difficult for the individual to live with cyclothymic disorder, and it might develop into a more serious form of the disease.

Symptoms of Bipolar

Mania – Reckless behavior, impulsivity, increased energy, increased mental activity, excessive irritability, decreased need for sleep, racing speech and thoughts, exaggerated optimism and self-confidence.

Depression – Anger, worry, indecisiveness, unexplained crying spells, changes in sleep and appetite patterns, feelings of worthlessness and guilt, recurring thoughts of suicide and death.

BPHope.com is the online magazine for people who want to find out more about bipolar disorder Whether it’s due to their own suffering from the disease, or because they want to better understand a friend or family member, BPHope.com offers a number of interesting and relatable articles that serve to bring people with bipolar disorder closer together and to learn more about what bipolar disorder entails.

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