Bipolar One Disorder is defined by manic episodes that must last at least 7 days, or by manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs immediate hospital care. Usually, depressive episodes occur as well, typically lasting at least 2 weeks.
Symptoms of Mania
- Abnormally upbeat, jumpy, elated or expansive mood
- Increased activity or heightened energy, unable to sit still
- Exaggerated sense of well-being and grandiosity
- Decreased need for sleep (sometimes only 2-3 hrs per night, one of the first signs of mania)
- Very fast speech (pressured)
- Irritability
- Racing/fast thoughts
- Distractibility
- Feelings of doing a lot of things at once
- Poor decision-making — for example, going on buying sprees for things one doesn’t need such as three cars or two homes or making foolish investments
Bipolar Disorder equally effects both men and woman. About 2.6% of the U.S. population suffers from bipolar disorder (that’s almost 6 million people). Most manic episodes are usually diagnosed in their teens or early 20s when symptoms of bipolar disorder first appear. More than two-thirds of people with bipolar disorder have at least one close relative with the illness. When one parent has bipolar disorder, the risk of developing Bipolar DO to each child is l5 to 30%. When both parents have bipolar disorder, the risk increases to 50 to 75%.