The Differences and Similarities between Bipolar Disorder and Depression

Bipolar disorder and depression are very similar illnesses with one major difference: People with bipolar disorder switch between episodes of depression and episodes of mania. Because these two illnesses are so similar, some people who are diagnosed as having depression may actually have bipolar disorder.

 

 

 

Bipolar Disorder also known as manic depression causes serious shifts in mood, energy, thinking and behavior-from the highs of mania on one extreme, to the laws of depression on the other.

There unlike ordinary mood swings, the mood changes of bipolar disorder are so intense that they interfere with your ability to function.People with bipolar disorder swing back and forth between mania and depression.

Different stages of bipolar disorder:

-       Severe mania

-       Hypomania (mild to moderate mania)

-       Normal/ balanced mood

-       Mild to moderate depression

-       Severe depression

-       The common signs and symptoms

~By: John . M. Grohol

The common signs and symptoms of mania include: Sleeping very little but feeling very energetic. Talking so rapidly that others can’t keep up. Bipolar includes mania and depression alternating cycles. This is a condition that involves shifts in a person’s mood from severe depression to manic phases – with soaring highs, restlessness, difficulty concentrating , racing thoughts impulsive decisions , reckless behavior, and poor judgment.

If three or more of these symptoms are present, then a person is considered to have a “manic episode”.

The difference in Depression is that it does not have a mania. A depressive episode is characterized by the following symptoms:

-       Depressed mood most of the day , nearly everyday

-       No interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day

-       Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day

-       Insomnia ( inability to sleep) or hypersomnia ( sleeping too much) nearly every day

-       Psychomotor agitation retardation nearly every day

-       Fatigue or loss energy nearly every day

-       Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day

-       Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day

-       Recurrent thoughts of deaths (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal idelation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.

~By: John . M. Grohol

 

The depressive phase of bipolar shares many similarities to regular depression, including prolonged sadness, inability to concentrate, and loss of energy, difficult sleeping, and thoughts of suicide.

According to John M. Grohol , he concludes that bipolar disorder and depression , like all mental disorders , is treatable through a combination of psychotherapy and medications. This medications are really important to take , so that the person would be able to control themselves. If people want to get better they should learn how to control this mental illness and go on with their treatment.

It’s important to get treated as soon as possible and see a specialist, if you are getting these symptoms. Shouldn’t you want to get treated early before it is too late?