Manic depression syndrome, also know as Bipolar Disorder, is a serious,

two-faced mental illness that affects approximately three million people all across America today. Bipolar is characterized by a cycle of mood swings between elation and extreme depression. The elation phase is called Mania and the depressive phase is called the Depressive phase.

Mania is the manic phase that is characterized by a euphoric or irritable mood that lasts at least one week. A manic episode is represented by change from a normal person to one that often interferes with work and personal relationships. Usually, Mania is the first episode in males. People experiencing a manic episode require hospitalization to return to a normal level of functioning. Symptoms of Mania include: excessive talking/pressured speech, an inflated self-esteem, decreased need for sleep, distractibility, irritability and excessive involvement in activities with pleasurable activities or high potential for painful con-sequences. When patients experience the symptom of racing thoughts or ideas, they feel like they are tuned into two or three sets of televisions on at once which may cause a person to switch a topic from on conversation to another. When patients gain an inflated self-esteem, they feel as though they could do things that they would normally never would be able to accomplish, such as winning the Olympic gold medal or become the President of the United States of America. The decreased need for sleep is the most common symptom of the manic period. People may only get a few hours of sleep every night or not get sleep at all and claim to feel refreshed and energized. There are three stages of mania that starts with hypomania. During the hypomania stage, the bipolar patients say that they are energetic, and assertive. The hypomania state seems as though the patients are "addicted"� to their mania. The second stage to mania is shown by a loss of judgement and an irritable mood. The third stage is evident when the patient experiences delusions and behavior becomes hyperactive.

The second phase of Bipolar Disorder, the Depressive phase, is the most hazardous and unhealthful. A depressive episode is characterized by a depressed mood or a loss of interest that lasts longer than the manic phase and is more frequent. A depression episode is represented by change from a normal person to an illness that impairs the person that is having a depressive episode. Usually, Depression is the first episode in females, and it reoccurs several times before a manic episode takes place. Symptoms of Depression include: depressed mood/low self esteem, sadness/loneliness/helplessness/guilt, fatigue, insomnia or oversleeping, and suicidal thoughts & feelings. Patients with insomnia have difficulty falling asleep; waking and restlessness during the night, or waking up earlier than usual and not being able to fall asleep. Hypersomnia, is when a patient feels narcoleptic and is always sleepy. Feelings of worthlessness or guilt is a symptom that a patient makes unrealistic evaluations about themselves, or negative self-blame, such as feeling that is your fault for world poverty. Another symptom of depression is when small physical activity, such as lifting groceries, may feel like a huge workout and may take longer than usual. The most dangerous aspect of the depressive phase is the recurrent thoughts of death. Many times Bipolar patients report that the depressive phases longer and occur more frequently as the person becomes older.

There are two main classifications of Bipolar Disorder. They are known as Bipolar I and Bipolar II. In Bipolar I, both phases of the illness, Mania and Depressive, are clear and shows. Bipolar I is diagnosed when a person has a manic episode and has not had any depressive episodes in the past. But, after the first manic episode occurs, depressive episodes come after. People with Bipolar II never have a full-blown Manic episode, but the Depressive episode is usually mild or severe to the extent where it is misdiagnosed as clinical depression. As a person becomes older, recurrences of Bipolar I or Bipolar II tend to come more frequently and last longer.

The pattern of the mood alternations varies from person to person. In some cases, years can come in between phases of manic and depressive episodes. Others cycle frequently, up to three or four times a year. And some patients cycle through the mania and depression frequently. For some, an episode may only occur once in a lifetime. One out of every five people with Bipolar Disorder, begins in late childhood or adolescence. But usually the illness shows at the ages between twenty-five and thirty-five. About twenty percent of Bipolar sufferers commit suicide, usually when they are passing from one phase to another and feel disoriented.

The Bipolar Disorder has been a mystery since the 16th and 17th century. In the past, civilization had very little knowledge of any mental illness so there was nothing that society could do to help people with Bipolar Disorder. It didn't matter whether a person had Bipolar Disorder, was Schizophrenic, or anything. All the mentally ill people were thought to be "possessed by the Devil."� During the 1700's, many mentally ill people were just locked away. During the 18th and 19th century, hospitals and asylums were created and took in the mentally ill. Eventually, a few disorders became recognized as medical and not spiritual. Doctors believed that the causes of any illness were in the blood or digestive system. So, doctors would use a method called bloodletting, which was just letting the blood drain from a person. During the 20th century, there have been less people being sent away to permanent hospitalization. Some Bipolar sufferers still have to be hospitalized for a while but can find help at community health center and doctors' offices. Today, patients are given medication and other treatments that have worked well in the past.

In most cases of Bipolar Disorder, it can be treated successfully. Lithiucarbonate, an alkali metal, was discovered in 1817 and is used to treat many illnesses including Bipolar. In the 1880's, lithium was prescribed for repeated depressive symptoms and now it the most widely used treatment for Bipolar. Another type of treatment for Bipolar is electroconvulsive therapy. It is done by passing an electrical shock through the patients forehead. Although some thought that it was unusual, electroconvulsive therapy has been successfully used to treat Bipolar for over 50 years. It is not a permanent cure, but over 80 percent have shown improvement through this method. With proper treatment, patients may return to normal. But that doesn't mean that they are permanently cured. Treatment for Bipolar Disorder is not always effective. But Bipolar patients have a greater chance of leading more productive, happier live then in the past.

Bipolar Disorder is a serious mental illness that can have devastating affects to ones life. There are two distinctive sides, Mania and Depression. Although there is no actual cure, there is treatment for the illness.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

 WWW.OnHealth.com

 WWW.Bipolar.com

 Nadelson, Carol, The Tortured Mind, Chelsea House Publishers, Philadelphia, ©1998

 Dantzler, Anne, Treatment of Bipolar Depression, Barnes & Noble Books, New York, ©1983