Assessment 3 BIPOLAR DISORDER

Bipolar disorder is described as a mood disorder, but really it's a disorder of energy and
drive. 
The best way to describe it is by thinking of the clock that sits in our brain. 
This brain clock sets our sleep and wake times and regulates the amount of activity we do.
Our brain clock is set to wind down our activity at night, switch on sleep, and then wake us
up in the morning so that we can be active during the day. 
This clock is our master clock. 
And it sets all our other body clocks. 
In bipolar disorder, the current evidence suggest that this clock is faulty.
WEEK 4 - Lesson 3: Less common mental disorders - BIPOLAR DISORDER

When people are in a low mood or depressed state, they feel tired and 
lethargic most of the time.They report that they feel slowed down and it's an effort to get out
of bed and do things. In this phase of the illness, people find it hard to get up and go to work,
study or socialize. 
They often sleep a lot during the day and sometimes find it hard to sleep at night. 
But no matter how much they sleep, they feel tired.
Sometimes, people can feel very agitated or irritable with friends and 
family members.
In some cases, in what we term bipolar one disorder, people may develop some unusual
beliefs, or even hallucinate. 
These psychotic type symptoms usually reflect the underlying mood. 
Often people can feel quite irritable and argumentative. 
They can be impatient, restless and reckless. 
In a hypomanical manic state, a person may take risks that they wouldn't normally 
take, such as driving fast, drinking more alcohol or using drugs. 
Spending money, buying things they don't need, and taking more risks with social activity or
sexual activity.
If we can identify young people with unstable mood and other risk factors of 
the illness and treat them early, we think that this could make a big difference. 
Sadly, in many cases will be unwell for many years before a diagnosis of bipolar disorder is
made. 
Early treatment involves improving sleep and activity patterns. 
Helping people to maintain regular exercise and social routines reducing and managing stress
and recognizing the triggers for episodes.