Bipolar Disorder

neurotransmitter (Bipolar disorder)

Imbalances in neurotransmitter levels are thought to play a role in depression. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that enable nerve cells (neurons) to communicate. They're released into the gaps (synapses) between nerve cells to help nerve messages flow from one cell to another. If neurons don't produce enough of these chemicals, nerve messages aren't communicated and areas of your brain may not receive stimulation. Alterations in neurotransmission in areas of the brain that control mood and emotion may result in depression.

Causes (bipolar disorder)

Doctors and researchers don't know exactly what causes bipolar disorder. But a variety of biologic, genetic and environmental factors seem to be involved in causing and triggering episodes of this illness.
Evidence indicates that differences in the chemical messengers between nerve cells in the brain (neurotransmitters) occur in people who have bipolar disorder. In many cases, people with a bipolar disorder may have a genetic disposition for the disorder. The abnormality may be in genes that regulate neurotransmitters. However, not everyone with a family member who has bipolar disorder will develop the disease.
Factors that may contribute to or trigger episodes of bipolar disorder include drug abuse and stressful or psychologically traumatic events.

Signs and symptoms (Bipolar disorder)

Bipolar disorder is characterized by an alternating pattern of emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression). The intensity of the associated signs and symptoms varies. Bipolar disorder can range from a mild condition to a severe condition, and there may be periods of normal behavior.

Manic phase

For many people, signs and symptoms in the manic phase may include:

• Feelings of euphoria, extreme optimism and inflated self-esteem
• Rapid speech, racing thoughts, agitation and increased physical activity
• Poor judgment
• Recklessness or taking chances not normally taken
• Difficulty sleeping
• Tendency to be easily distracted
• Inability to concentrate
• Aggressive behavior

Depressive phase

In the depressive phase, signs and symptoms include:
• Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, guilt or hopelessness
• Disturbances in sleep and appetite
• Fatigue and loss of interest in daily activities
• Problems concentrating
• Irritability
• Chronic pain without a known cause
• Recurring thoughts of suicide
by Mayo Clinic

What Is A Bipolar Disorder?

There is nothing quite so frightening as being diagnosed with a mental disorder. However, millions of Americans are being diagnosed with bipolar disorder every day, people who are part of loving families, respected in the workplace and live full and rich lives.

Bipolar disorder is a condition that is still being explored by scientists and doctors around the world. As a brain disorder, it is often hard to diagnose and can present itself in many different ways depending on the patient's past history, lifestyle, temperament and behaviors. The disorder can strike male or female, rich or poor and young or old.

No one is guaranteed safe from developing the condition. Family history and genetics has a lot to do with increased chances of inheriting the predisposition for the disease, as does substance abuse. Studies have shown that nearly half of patients diagnosed with the condition these days are former drug abusers.

Bipolar disorder affects the mood swings and behavior of those suffering from it, and can range from mild, moderate or severe episodes of depression to more normal or balanced moods to 'hyper' behaviors as well as mania. The spectrum offers almost a sliding scale of behaviors that usually present and remain for days, weeks, sometimes even years.

Many people diagnosed with the condition lead happy, fairly normal lives with periods of depression that hit every few years, while others suffer episodes of severe depression that may occur more than four or more times a year. Such a rapid chance in behaviors in such a short time span is called 'rapid-cycling' and affects personal and professional aspects of a patient's life.

Bipolar disorder is classified in two ways. Type I, or the Classic form, finds patients suffering from repeating episodes of both severe periods of depression and mania, while Type II presents itself as a more mild form of the disease. Many people diagnosed with Type II lead fairly happy, normal lives and are able to work and remain constructive forces in society.

As a matter of fact, many of us work with such people on a daily basis and don't even realize it. More severe forms of bipolar disorder may find someone experiencing multiple, severe episodes in a year, and in fact, many experience such episodes on a weekly or daily basis. For some people, a change of seasons can provoke episodes, and coincide with the Winter Blues. Such depression clears up in Spring and Summer, and then again cycles down again the following Fall.

While all of us, at one time or another, experience a wide range of mood swings on a regular basis, those with bipolar disorder issues find themselves on a roller coaster that they can't get off. If left untreated, symptoms can lead to increased and more severe episodes. While the specific causes of bipolar disorder remain a mystery for the most part, doctors and scientists are honing in on genetics to discover the answers to a mental condition that has perplexed mankind for centuries.

For more information on bipolar, try visiting http://www.bipolardetails.com - a website that specializes in providing bipolar related tips and resources to include information on bipolar disorder.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Riley_Hendersen

Child Anxiety Disorder (bipolar disorder)

Child anxiety disorder is one of the most common mental, emotional, and behavioral problems that commonly occur in both children and adolescents. The childhood anxiety disorder usually affects more girls than boys. Depression usually accompanies the childhood anxiety disorder in most of the children and adolescents.

Children with an anxiety disorder are usually so afraid, worried, or uneasy that they cannot function normally. Some anxiety disorders can last through out the life of the child and can greatly interfere in day to day work. There are various types of anxiety disorders which are commonly found in young children.

Anxiety disorders in children can range from a simple adjustment disorder to more difficult and debilitating disorders such as panic disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. If anxiety disorder in a child is not treated in the early stages, it can lead to missed school days or an inability to finish school, impaired relations with peers and low self-esteem.

Some of the types of anxiety disorders that can occur in a child include generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, and acute stress disorder. Some other types of anxiety disorder common in children include social phobia, specific phobia, adjustment disorder with anxiety, and anxiety disorder due to a general medical condition.

Thinking ability, decision-making ability, perceptions of the environment, learning, and concentration of a child are baby affected in severe cases of anxiety disorders. An anxiety disorder can raise blood pressure and heart rate and also cause a multitude of bodily complaints, such as vomiting, stomach pain, ulcers, diarrhea, tingling, weakness, and shortness of breath.
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