The word bipolar is defined as "relating to, associated with, or occurring in two polar regions7". Bipolar disorder is a concept described as a mental illness in which a person experiences dramatic mood swings. This disorder affects one in every one hundred people. Bipolar disorder is the technical term for manic-depressive illness. The first known history of bipolar disorder was in 1922. Emil Kraepelin, director of the Research Institute of Psychiatry, developed the first categories of mental illnesses4. Manic-depressive psychosis (bipolar disorder) and dementia praecox (now called schizophrenia) are two categories he defined.BODYWhat Are the Stages and Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder? There are two recurring stages of bipolar disorder. Each stage is generally followed by a period of normalcy. The following section of the report will analyze the stages of bipolar episodes, and describe the symptoms of each. Mania. The etymology of the word mania comes from the Greek word mainesthai, meaning to be mad7. The Webster's Dictionary defines mania as "excitement manifested by mental and physical hyperactivity, disorganization of behavior, and elevation of mood".The mania stage of bipolar disorder is like the happiest moment of a person's life, exaggerated to the full capabilities of the human mind (analogy). This becomes a problem when the feelings are so strong that the person looses contact with reality. In an episode of mania, a person may experience the following symptoms:5 h Abnormally elevated mood (euphoria)h Over-inflated self-esteemh Decreased need for sleeph Increased talkativenessh Racing thoughtsh Distractibilityh Involvement in risky activities Severe Depression. The Bipolar Disorder Glossary defines depression as "an extreme mood of sadness with physical symptoms such as loss of appetite and sleep." Everyone experiences depression in their lifetime, it helps people to recognize problem si...
