We’ve called bipolar disorder a lot of things over the years. Whether it was a harmful slang term like “moody,” or a more modern but still outdated term like manic depression, it can be difficult to keep up with these different terms and what they mean.
What Is Manic Depression
Manic depression is an old-term, no longer acceptable as a diagnosed condition, for what is now called bipolar disorder. “Bipolar disorder, which used to be called manic depressive illness or manic depression, is a mental disorder characterized by wide mood swings from high (manic) to low (depressed). Periods of high or irritable mood are called manic episodes. The person becomes very active, but in a scattered and unproductive way, sometimes with painful or embarrassing consequences.”
Types Of Bipolar Disorder
Symptoms of bipolar disorder and other kinds of mental illness can often be treated with ketamine, but only a mental healthcare specialist can make that determination. In general, bipolar disorder is characterized by mood episodes, but more than one kind presents slightly different symptoms. The American Psychiatric Association has identified four major categories of bipolar disorder:
- Bipolar I Disorder is a kind of bipolar typified by depressive episodes and full manic episodes. Both types of episodes are known to restrict daily life severely.
- Bipolar II Disorder is a softer form of bipolar disorder and involves depressive episodes and less severe manic episodes (hypomania). Bipolar II still affects daily living but is less severe than Bipolar I.
- Cyclothymic Disorder is a rare disorder that includes moderate but noticeable mood swings. The depressive and manic episodes are less severe than bipolar disorder, but your mental healthcare provider will still likely recommend treatment.
- Other or Type 4. You can experience symptoms that don’t fit nicely into the other three bipolar classifications. This kind of bipolar may be caused by things in one’s life, including alcohol, drugs, or fundamental medical conditions.
Who Gets Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder usually starts in older teens and young adults, with nearly half the cases surfacing before 25. But children and adolescents can develop it in more severe forms and often in concert with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Some studies have shown that bipolar depression can be inherited, occurring more frequently within families and passed from parent to biological child.
Bipolar disorder happens equally in men and women, but women are more likely to have less severe form criteria of bipolar II disorder. “(With bipolar II, patients experience both depressive and hypomanic episodes but do not experience the severe manic episodes seen in bipolar I.) Women with bipolar disorder may switch moods more quickly – this is called “rapid cycling.” Varying levels of sex hormones and activity of the thyroid gland in the neck, together with the tendency to be prescribed antidepressants, may contribute to the more rapid cycling seen in women. Women may also experience more periods of depression than men.”
About 60 percent of all people experiencing bipolar disorder show drug or alcohol dependencies. It’s also been known to happen frequently in people with seasonal depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, and certain anxiety disorders.
Diagnosis And Treatment
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health condition that can’t be cured, but the symptoms can be managed with proper care. You first have to be diagnosed by a doctor or mental healthcare specialist to manage symptoms. Diagnosis normally involves a physical examination and lab tests to see any underlying causes for the condition. A psychiatric evaluation is required to determine thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and assess personal and family history of mental illness.
There are many possible kinds of treatment, including in-patient and out-patient psychotherapy, self-help, group therapy, pet and light therapy, and newer options like ketamine.
What About Ketamine?
Ketamine is a relatively “new” kind of treatment for symptoms of bipolar disorder and other mental and chronic pain conditions whose history stretches back to the early 1960s. Back then, it was prescribed as a sedative for pre-surgical procedures and gained widespread acceptance in treating wounded U.S. combat troops fighting in Vietnam. Its power may lie in its ability to improve the flow of neurotransmitters in the brain, and repair and strengthen weakened links as needed.
Final Thoughts
Bipolar disorder is a serious form of depression affecting millions of people worldwide. Collectively with other kinds of depression, it’s a leading source of disability. There is hope. We can help. Learn more by contacting Ketamine Clinic of West Texas today.
