Suppose one day you wake up feeling oddly energized and pumped for anything. The world is at your feet. You can do whatever you set your mind to and nothing could possibly go wrong. In fact, you're so full of energy that you decide you don't need tosleep.Days, perhaps even weeks, go by -- nothing gets you down and nothing slows you down. But then, without warning, this feeling starts to wane. For no reason at all, you begin to feel bogged-down, depressed or even suicidal. Life is joyless and meaningless. For weeks you feel absolutely hopeless. And then, one day you wake up -- ready for anything.
This cycle is characteristic of people who suffer frombipolar disorder.根据美国国家研究所e of Mental Health (NIMH), bipolar disorder, also known asmanic-depressive disorder, affects approximately 5.7 million adults in the U.S. (2.6 percent of the 18 and up population) [source: NIMH]. The disorder causes intense, alternating episodes of mania anddepressionthat go far beyond normal mood swings. Children and adolescents can develop the disorder as well, though their mood swings usually happen far more rapidly.
Advertisement
People who have bipolar disorder face several obstacles as a result of the illness. In addition to the stress it can place on families and interpersonalrelationships, a bipolar patient is 40 percent less likely to have a job [source:Cox]。患有双相情感障碍也10倍more likely than the general population toabusealcoholordrugs, which is unfortunate since alcohol and drugs have the potential to trigger episodes of the disorder [source:UPMC]。Perhaps the most terrifying fact is that about 15 percent of bipolar patients succeed in committingsuicide, out of 25 percent to 50 percent who attempt it [source:psychlaws]。
What do scientists know and what don't they know about this disorder? Keep reading to learn the signs and symptoms of manic and depressive episodes.
Advertisement