| Research on brain structure and function, | | | | more than 5 million people are affected with |
| neurochemical messenger systems | | | | bipolar depression. This is such an alarming state |
| (neurotransmitters), and brain-body connections | | | | considering the fact that bipolar depression can |
| suggests fundamental, delicate, two-way | | | | definitely wreak havoc to one's life, community, |
| relationships between the brain's environment and | | | | or even the whole nation. |
| mood, behavior, and resistance to disease. | | | | Bipolar depression can notably manifest drastic |
| One focus of brain research has been to identify | | | | changes in one's mood. It can show a drastic, |
| and integrate traditional medical and psychiatric | | | | significant change in one's temper, ranging from |
| knowledge with new psychobiological and | | | | being extremely bad-tempered to a normal frame |
| "psychoneuroimmunologic" data. | | | | of mind. |
| Researchers in the field of psychobiology study | | | | The stages of low and high mood swings are |
| the biologic basis of disturbances and have | | | | known as "episodes of depression and mania." |
| established some relationships between mental | | | | To know more about bipolar depression, here is a |
| disorders and changes in the structure and | | | | list of symptoms of bipolar depression: |
| function of the brain. | | | | 1. Extreme irritability |
| Findings on research about mental disorders | | | | Violent and aggressive behavior, usually episodic, is |
| suggest that the health care community ought to | | | | a means of expressing feelings of anger, fear, or |
| place as much emphasis on emotional health as it | | | | hopelessness about a situation. |
| places on physiological health and ought to | | | | A person who suffers or has a history of |
| recognize how biological, emotional, and societal | | | | outburst rage, temper tantrums, or impulsive |
| problems combine to affect individual patients, | | | | behavior, can be suffering from bipolar depression. |
| families, and communities. | | | | 2. Amplified energy, restlessness, and activity |
| Typically, people who are mentally healthy are | | | | Patients with bipolar depression have defensive |
| satisfied with themselves and their life situations. | | | | behavior against real or perceived threat to self. |
| When people have unmet emotional needs or | | | | These people are impulsive and unreliable. They |
| distress, they experience an overall feeling of | | | | tend to be hyperactive and commit to a lot of |
| unhappiness. | | | | tasks that they cannot even finish. |
| As tension escalates, security and survival are | | | | 3. Poor judgment |
| threatened. How different people respond to | | | | They are in contact with reality but have difficulty |
| these troublesome situations reflects their level of | | | | dealing with it. Hence, it is hard to impose |
| coping and maturity. | | | | judgments. |
| As a consequence, a particular mental disorder, | | | | 4. Refutation of the current situation |
| known as bipolar depression, takes place and | | | | They are trying not to be aware that they have |
| brings about extraordinary alterations in an | | | | a problem. |
| individual's energy, frame of mind, temper, and | | | | When depression interferes with a person's ability |
| capability to work. | | | | to function comfortably and inhibits the effective |
| Contrary to most popular beliefs, bipolar | | | | management of personal needs, that person is at |
| depression is not an ordinary mood swing, where | | | | risk for emotional problems. |
| the individual experiences normal ebb and flow of | | | | In order to solve the problem, the patient needs |
| personal experiences that everybody lives | | | | to understand that bipolar depression is treatable. |
| through. The signs of bipolar depression are so | | | | Antidepressants and anti-anxiety agents may be |
| grave that it is almost impossible to cure | | | | prescribed. |
| immediately. | | | | Crisis and supportive services in the community |
| Bipolar depression, when untreated can bring | | | | include mental health centers, telephone counselling |
| about serious consequences that may lead to | | | | and referral, suicide prevention centers, group |
| poor functionality, wreaked relationships, and even | | | | therapy, and marital and family counseling. Theres |
| death as caused by suicide. | | | | a lot of help out there, we can but hope it gets |
| In the United States, statistical reports show that | | | | used. |