Everyone goes through ups and downs, but when it begins to affect your daily life, mood swings could be a sign of a bigger problem like bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive disorder. As the name suggests, it involves severe mood swings from excessive happiness to depression. Both phases can last for anywhere between a few weeks to a few months. When it comes to psychological disorders like bipolar disorder, it is important to recognize the top 5 bipolar signs so as to be able to seek treatment early. There are three main categories of bipolar disorder: • Bipolar I disorder: This involves at least one manic episode and one major depressive episode. • Bipolar II disorder: In this case, the patient may have had at least one episode of depression, but may not have had a manic episode. • Cyclothymic disorder: This is characterized by at least two years of alternating major manic and depressive episodes. Manic episodes can be identified by increased energy levels, euphoria, insomnia and sleep troubles, talkativeness, lack of concentration and risky behavior. On the other hand, depressive episodes are marked by feelings of sadness, lack of interest in activities, social withdrawal, weight loss and fatigue.

Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric condition that affects the brain and functioning of the patient in an adverse manner. This is a condition where the patient goes through extreme mood swings and bouts of mania followed by bouts of depression. Treatment of bipolar disease is a matter of recognizing the signs and carrying out proper diagnosis so as to contain the extreme emotions and mood swings that a patient may go through. Read on to know the top five bipolar signs. Mood swings: This is one of the top symptoms of bipolar disorder. While most human beings go through mood swings in some form or at some time or the other, people who are suffering from this condition will show an extreme swing of emotions in a matter of days and weeks. This happens due to the hormonal changes in the brain of the patients. Also, while normal human beings retain their basic personality through their mood swings, patients suffering from bipolar disorder will not have any set personality apart from the one dictated by the mood swings. The extremity of the mood swings and the frequency of the same is one of the main symptoms of this disease. Mania phase:

Many people have different variations about bipolar disorder. For some, it could be a state of depression whereas for others, they could interpret it as a state of frequent mood swings. The truth is far from these variations and doctors usually agree that bipolar disorder is one of the most severe forms of mental disorders that a person might endure. The reason is that, in most psychological conditions, a person may be affected and the suffering has to be undergone within oneself. But in the case of a bipolar disorder, the sufferings are usually channeled out, thus causing harm and distractions to the surroundings. In many instances, people with bipolar disorder have to be hospitalized and the appropriate treatment has to be imparted as quickly as possible. Diagnosis and symptoms The biggest drawback of bipolar disorder is that it cannot be cured completely. The treatments can aim to keep the conditions under control so that a person can lead a normal life. In many instances, people do not know that they have the condition and it can often go unnoticed. If you are experiencing periods of depression or periods of mania, get medical help immediately as in the long run they can hamper your health and passively the health of others around you.

Schizophrenia is one of the most disturbing chronic mental disorders. Neither the exact cause of the disease is known nor is there a cure. However, if a diagnosis is made at the very beginning and a holistic treatment is instituted immediately, the individual can lead an active, productive and socially acceptable life. The biggest problem is the periodic, unpredictable episodess the disease has. A commitment of a very high order is required by the family in looking after the patient. The medication has to be continuous even during the remittance period as the disease relapses quiet immediately after the interruption in treatment. Researchers have suggested that the disease has no single cause but is actually a combination of heredity, immune system disorder, developmental defects in the neuron connections and pathways in the brain during gestation. Exposure to severe viral infections like children born to mothers who had severe viral infections during their pregnancy and people who were exposed to severe viral infections during hospitalization run a heightened risk of getting schizophrenia. Most importantly, schizophrenia happens because of an imbalance between the three neurotransmitters: dopamine, glutamate, and serotonin. This imbalance makes these people handle sensory inputs like loud sounds, very bright lights, and strong smell in a different way than the ordinary people who take these things in their stride.

Schizophrenia is the most disturbing of all chronic mental disorders. To compound matters, it has no cure either. However, if detected earlier on and treated properly, one can live an active, productive life and can also be fairly well adjusted to social needs. Properly treated means not only medication but a therapy which is lifelong. Complete therapy is a package of medication, counselling, rehabilitation and long-term strong family support. Early detection improves prognosis significantly. Causes of schizophrenia The exact causes of the ailment are not known. The current thinking is that a combination of factors like heredity, defects in fetal development, brain chemistry like the imbalance of neurotransmitters, dopamine serotonin, and glutamate are the causes. This imbalance causes them to react differently to sensory stimuli like loud music, bright light etc. This problem in processing the sensory stimuli can lead to hallucinations or delusions. Another reason attributed to the cause is exposure to severe infection, especially viral. In some cases, if women in gestation have been exposed to viral infection, the child is found to have a higher risk of developing schizophrenia later in life. Similarly, those who are had severe infections are also found to run a higher risk.

A diagnosis of schizophrenia shatters the family as it is a chronic mental condition of great disturbing features, has no cure and has periodic flare ups. The family is subjected to never-ending anxiety, long drawn disturbances, and has to make permanent commitment towards looking after the patient. This needs great endurance and an unending amount of patience. However, an early detection and proper treatment which involves medication and its uninterrupted administration, counseling, rehabilitation and managing periodic episodes ensures an active, productive, and socially acceptable life. Importance of an early diagnosis cannot be overemphasized. Awareness of the initial signs are a prerequisite to early detection. Some of the early signs that can easily be noticed and common are: Hearing, smelling or seeing something that isn’t there: The patient periodically mentions that he is hearing voices which nobody else hears. Feeling indifferent to very important situations: Patient does not exhibit any reaction to the news of any untoward events. A change in personal hygiene and appearance. A constant feeling of being watched: The patient will often mention that he is being watched and spied. Deterioration of academic or work performance: This is easily noticeable, especially doubts would have been raised in the family.

Trauma is a profoundly distressing event for an individual, as it comprises life-altering situations like serious accidents, the discovery of a terminal disease, loss of a loved one, violent attacks, abduction, natural or human-made disasters, etc. Following traumatic events, an individual can react in several different ways. Feelings of fear, anger, guilt, melancholia, loneliness, etc. are quite common. They can often be accompanied by physical symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia, nausea, trembling, headaches, loss of appetite, etc. Naturally, the healing process after a traumatic event takes a lot of patience and time. Therefore, you should seek professional help to cope with the challenges. Apart from medical intervention, these are some tips which can benefit you or your loved one to bounce back from their ordeals. Acceptance Start by acknowledging the incident and give yourself the time to grieve. Often bottling up feelings can make things worse and stop you from moving ahead. So instead of wondering why and how it happened, focus on the fact that it did and then figure out how you want to manage it. Seek support Recovering from trauma alone can be extremely confusing, so communicate with your family and friends. This will unburden your mind and help you gain support and perspective to get back on track.

Trauma, specifically psychological trauma is a type of damage to the brain that occurs due to a distressing event. It often results in an overwhelming amount of stress, which exceeds one’s ability to cope with it. According to subjective experiences trauma differs in individuals. This might be because of different people react to similar events differently. Here are the types to trauma that you should be aware of Child maltreatment The types of trauma that come under child maltreatment include: Neglect It occurs when a parent or a caregiver does not provide take care of the child’s need according to his or her age. Neglect includes failure to provide food, clothing, medical care, mental health treatment, education and proper supervision. This leads to child being exposed to dangerous environments, which adds to the trauma. Sexual abuse one of the most serious type of trauma, sexual abuse includes a wide range of forced sexual behavior that occurs between a child and an adult. Genital exposure, pressure for sex or sexual exploitation through pornography are also counted as forms of sexual abuse. Psychological maltreatment Acts that result in cognitive and mental disturbance are counted as psychological maltreatment. Emotional abuse towards the child’s academic performance that leads to negative self-image also leads to disturbed behavior.

Bipolar disorder is a complex medical condition in which the person has a tendency to experience extreme variances in thinking, mood patterns, and behavior. In some medical terms, bipolar disorder is often called manic depression. It is not the same for every person, and the symptoms can differ vastly from person to person. For some people, the symptoms occur very rarely so much so that often they do not know they have this condition. Let us look at this situation in depth. Symptoms of bipolar disorder: Apart from extreme mood shifts and changes in their behavioral patterns, the most common symptoms can include: Change in sleep patterns High activity levels Extreme energy levels (both high and low) However, not every person may experience these symptoms. Individuals who have this condition often exhibit trouble in schools and work places, display poor judgment values, and have damaged relationships. In extreme cases, people with bipolar condition are driven to suicide. A person with bipolar disorder may experience depressive mood swings and these symptoms can include: Restlessness Feeling of worthlessness Low energy Irritability Loss of general interest in every activity Bipolar disorder can be categorized into many types “ the most common being bipolar I and bipolar II conditions.

When depression comes a calling, there are a number of causes related to it. Poor physical health, trauma, hormonal imbalance and other such reasons may be at the root of it all. Yet, there are a number of ways in which one can effectively deal with and manage the various symptoms of depression. The key is to use all these measures in combination so that they have a positive impact on various aspects of your life. This will help in effectively lifting you from feelings of hopelessness and despair and improve your mental health. The diet is one of the most important ways in which one can tackle depression along with other measures. So here are a few diet tips for those dealing with depression and mental health problems. Proteins found in Meat : There are a number of good proteins that are found in food like lean meat. You can try chicken or even turkey to lift your spirits visibly as the tryptophan content begins to work its way to your system. This chemical helps in increasing the production of the happy hormone we all know as serotonin. Dry Fruit : With a high content of omega three fatty acids, dry fruit like almonds and walnuts can do a world of good for your mental health.

The risk of suffering from a number of mental conditions increases with age. Dementia is one such mental condition that majorly affects elderly people. This is not a disease in itself but is a collection of conditions such as memory loss, weakened coordination and the weakening of other mental faculties. This condition affects different people in different ways. While for some, this condition can progress at a fast pace, others may experience the early stages of dementia for years. What is common in all cases of this condition is that it worsens with time and that there is no cure for this condition. The most common types of Dementia include: • Alzheimer’s Disease • Dementia with Lewy bodies • Vascular dementia • Parkinson’s disease • Frontotemporal dementia and • Mixed Dementia Each patient of dementia experiences this condition differently. Early stages of dementia are characterised by forgetfulness, impaired special reasoning and difficulties coming up with the right word in a conversation. This is also known as Mild Cognitive Impairment. The stages of dementia ca be categorised as mild, moderate and severe dementia. Mild Dementia: In the early stages of dementia, a person may be said to be suffering from mild dementia.