Want more articles like this? Become an SDC Rewards Member for unlimited SDC forum access. ​

Note from the Editor:
This article was written for the SDC by psychologist and member @Jan A. Jan A. works part-time, taking on clients under the Medicare Mental Health Care Plans. She works with people of all ages, from children to seniors!

Bipolar Affective Disorder is a permanent emotional dysregulation condition. It is genetic and has no cure.

It comes in two main forms, generally referred to as Bipolar 1 and Bipolar 2. In the past, only one form was recognised. It was referred to as Manic Depression because the person can be highly activated (manic) at one point and morose at another point (depression). It was subsequently re-categorised as Bipolar Affective Disorder. Subsequently, a second form was recognised that has similar abnormal mood swings but not as severe as the originally recognised condition. The different forms became known as Bipolar 1 and Bipolar 2, respectively. More recently, other forms of mood swings have been detected. These conditions are not as severe as Bipolar 1 and Bipolar 2 but are abnormal in their intensity of moods.

The International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 10th Revision (ICD-10) Version for 2010 describes Bipolar Affective Disorder as follows:

‘A disorder characterised by two or more episodes in which the patient's mood and activity levels are significantly disturbed, this disturbance consisting on some occasions of an elevation of mood and increased energy and activity (hypomania or mania) and on others of a lowering of mood and decreased energy and activity (depression). Repeated episodes of hypomania or mania only are classified as bipolar.’

Do you know anyone diagnosed with Bipolar Affective Disorder? Image Credit: Shutterstock

Bipolar Affective Disorder seems to be equally common in men and women. While it can occur at any age, in men, symptoms usually begin at age 20 to 24, and in women, symptoms usually begin at age 25 to 30. Once manifest, the condition is almost always life-long. In 10 to 15% of cases, people who develop Bipolar Affective Disorder (herein referred to as 'Bipolars') will show depressive symptoms as a child and teenager before the onset of the condition. It is commonly the case that the person will have married and had children before the condition fully manifests in them. The partner is then faced with a demanding person they hardly know who has extreme mood swings, violent behaviours, depressive episodes and, in the case of Bipolar 1, psychotic beliefs. Approximately 10-15% of Bipolars commit suicide. As the condition is genetic, children of Bipolars may develop it and pass it on to their children.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Quisque in diam id erat facilisis consectetur vitae vel urna.

Ut lacus libero, suscipit auctor ipsum sit amet, viverra pretium nisl. Nullam facilisis nec odio nec dapibus. Integer maximus risus et velit porttitor ullamcorper

Get your SDC Rewards membership now!

Become a member today and join over 200,000 Australians already taking advantage of daily news, weather, petrol costs, games, jokes, deals and more.

• 

  Sweepstakes (Big Cash Prize) - You’ll earn tickets for our monthly $1,000 grand prize draw.

• 

  Fewer ADS. We'll remove most of the annoying ads on the website as a token of our appreciation.

• 

  Priority updates. You'll be our number 1 priority when it comes to app updates

• 

  Weekly Rewards. SDC Rewards Members get access to exclusive weekly competitions

• 

  Exclusive content. You’ll receive exclusive updates from the team on a regular basis

• 

  Early access. That’s right, not only will you get priority access, but you’ll also get early access

As low as $1 / Week

• 

  Cancel at any time

• 

  All SDC Rewards membership benefits

Join the club

Or

Already a member? Sign in to access the content

Sign In

[Viellarde]

Can dreams predict the future.
I don't like remembering my dreams. Here are 3 vivid ones.
1. I dreamt of my cousin standing beside an open grave overseas. Given the time difference, he was probably dying unexpectedly at that time. Even the burial site was correct.
2. My deceased mother, grabbing 2 large blades of an attacker, urged me to get my younger sister away. Blood ran down her left arm. The same week this sister asked me to drive her to and from work over the next few months because she needed an operation on each wrist. After the 2nd operation, the surgeon told me he couldn't clear the damage using laser. He had to cut from the middle of her left hand to past her wrist. That's when I relived the blood on Mum.
3. I dreamt that my usually ultra cool brother was very distressed. He was admitted to a psychiatric hospital within days.
Never remembered a happy dream. No lotto numbers yet.

 

[Morgans Orchard]

This is a must read article for everyone. When I think back to when we were first married he was inclined to be coersive but the bipolar really hit when he was 37 years of age . Compulsive liar big money spender alcoholic. My eldest son has suffered with mental illness at 50 years old ,now he is 65 and drs are calling it dementia . But I can see the same tendencies his father had spending their life savings etc I feel so sorry for his wife and grown up children.

 

[Iggydi]

I think this is how my daughter started out. As she had the same symptoms in the early stages. She now has SAD Schizo Affective Disorder and it gets worse when she goes off her meds and then when she ends up back in the Mental Ward the medication takes longer to work and it's a never ending circle. This has been going on for the last 30 years and the poor girl has just turned 45. It's hard on the family and the person that has it too