How to Spot The Symptoms of Bipolar Depression

The symptoms of bipolar disorder, primarily mood swings, do not follow a fixed pattern. Depression does not always follow mania, and vice-versa. The severity of the symptoms vaires from person to person, and an individual can suffer one mood state, be it depression or mania, for several years before suddenly having the opposite mood.

Depression can be quite intense. It affects every aspect of a person’s life, be it physical, psychological, or social health, and only grows worse the longer it remains untreated. To date, there is no cure for depression, and millions of people around the world are forced to deal with this debilitating illness.

The following are symptoms of bipolar depression. An episode of depression involves five or more of these symptoms throughout most of the day, nearly everyday, for two weeks or more. If even a few of these symptoms are observed in an individual, steps must be taken to seek medical attention – depression is much easier to treat in its earlier stages.

A person suffering from depression may experience sleeping problems. The individual may suffer from insomnia, which often results in an increased need for sleep during the day. This also affects the person’s energy levels and appetite. A person going through a severe depressive episode may experience unexpected gains or loss of weight, which perpetuates a downward spiral in physical health – a person will naturally feel uncomfortable and weary from all the physical discomforts.

A depressed individual almost certainly feels a deep sadness or unexplained anxiety. He/she may also be irritable, with feelings of guilt, hopelessness or worthlessness constantly plaguing his/her psyche. The individual will also display a sudden loss of interest in activities he/she usually enjoys.

It is often difficult for a depressed individual to concentrate on any one thought for a long time, and this may cause a performance drop in school or work. The individual may also have difficulty remembering or making decisions. Depressed individuals, when left untreated, often find themselves unable to hold a job for very long. Constantly falling in and out of work due to mood problems may signal an underlying mental illness, most probably depression.

Some of the more apparent symptoms of bipolar depression include uncontrollable crying, usually stemming from a deep sense of despair. The individual may suffer delusions of guilt and insignificance, or believe himself/herself to be ruined or penniless, or perhaps even having committed some terrible, unknown crime. It is not unusual for severely depressed individuals to harbor thoughts of death, and many cases of attempted suicide has been documented in depressed individuals over the years.

Left untreated, depressive episodes tend to happen more often and with less downtime between episodes. As time goes on, the episodes become quite unpredictable and more difficult to treat. It may at times switch to a manic episode, but this can be prevented by prompt treatment. With medication and therapy, it is quite possible for an individual suffering from bipolar disorder to live normally as happy, productive members of society.

Tim Clark writes health related articles, the majority of which can be found on his website on bi polar disorder , where he has a large listing of bipolar disorder articles. For more information on different symptoms of bipolar depression follow the link.

Article Source: http://www.wellnessarticlelibrary.com

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