The Dynamics Of Manic Depression

Posted in Understanding Depression by on April 7th, 2009

Manic depression is also termed as bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder. The term manic depression was coined due to the differing moods that a person with this mental condition may have at any given time. Many people have no idea what is manic depression since the individual with this condition may seem normal in between bouts of mania and depression.

Symptoms Of Manic Depression

This mental state is easy to spot when the suspected individual is a family member or a good friend. The reason for this is that people usually notice a change in attitude and mood of their friends and family members when they are in constant contact with each other. Since this state of mind or mental condition can occur in as short as a few hours or as long as several days, many people who have this condition may not be noticed.

Manic depression can manifest as bouts of mania or depression. Manic episodes may consist of irritable or elevated moods of the individual. In this state of manic depression, the individual can be hyper active, talkative (to the extent of not being understood to well when he or she talks) and in a distinct high. The buzz will be very distinct and may be occur suddenly or within a span of a few days.

Depression in this condition can occur almost immediately after the manic episode, which can be alarming for some people who witness it, or can occur after a span of normal attitude from the individual, in which time the individual may seem normally experiencing a bout of sadness or stress.

Manic depression can go unnoticed for years until such time that the individual may be the one to notice the strangeness of his or her condition. These cases of manic depression are for those who do not experience of mania or depression in a span of just days or hours. It is not as noticeable and can be shrugged off as plain old depression or just hyperactivity. There are circumstances in manic depression when an individual may experience both mania and depression at the same time at which point many people will notice this instability.

Treatment

Treating manic depression can be done with medication, especially for those prone to manic episodes, and self help, for those who have mild manic depression. Psychiatric session can also be integrated with medication, recommended by most professionals for the best possible treatment. There are alternative treatments to manic depression, which may consist of herbs and therapies that can soothe or calm a person.