Psychotic symptoms are hallucinations or delusions. A hallucination or delusion is a cognitive misperception of reality.

Though hallucinations are typically thought of as being visual, hallucinations can also be auditory, olfactory, or tactile. A person having an auditory hallucination may hear voices telling them to do things.

Delusions are thoughts that are not based in reality. The difference between a mere unrealistic thought and a delusion is the degree to which the thought is unconnected to reality. For example, someone may think they want to become a professional football player though they have not played well in high school. Though it may not be realistic, it is probably not a delusion by psychiatric standards. A delusion is more extreme. The person may think they have been chosen by God, are being stalked by the FBI, or have superpowers.

Psychosis is a defining characteristic of a psychiatric disorder called schizophrenia. Psychotic symptoms can also occur due to severe depression or Bipolar Disorder.

There are different types of schizophrenia, largely categorized based on the types of psychotic symptoms the person experiences. For example, paranoid schizophrenia often causes delusions of being watched or monitored. Some psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia can seem random.

Psychotic symptoms of bipolar disorder and depression are related to the mood disturbance. Psychotic symptoms of depression or depressive episodes can be much more severe than suicidal thoughts.

An example of a hallucination due to a depressive episode is hearing voices telling the person to commit suicide. Depression can cause delusions that the earth is a hellish place from which they must save their loved ones by killing them.

The psychotic symptoms of bipolar disorder from mania can be delusions of grandiosity. The person may believe they are immortal, have superpowers, or are chosen by God or somehow more special than humans.

Psychotic symptoms are not common symptoms of bipolar disorder or depression. People may experience psychotic symptoms only during the worst depressive or manic episodes of their lives and will not experience them again.

Medication to treat psychosis, commonly referred to as anti-psychotic drugs, may be used to treat psychotic symptoms of bipolar disorder. Injections of an anti-psychotic medication like Haldol may be necessary if the person is resistent to taking their medication regularly.

The person may no longer experience psychotic symptoms once the bipolar disorder or depression is stabilized. The hallucinations and delusions are the person’s reality at the time the psychotic symptoms are experienced. People experiencing psychotic episodes may become fearful of the psychosis.

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By J.K.

Having a Bipolar Spouse is not an uncommon instance in married people’s lives. Although a bipolar disorder may in ways affect the relationship, it can still be handled by strong couples. This disease can prove how couples love and understand each other because of the challenges it offers from the moment of its detection.

If you found out that you have a bipolar spouse, ask what things you should do to help him or her deal with it. Following are the “don’ts” (because the don’ts may be more important to consider as most partners react negatively upon receiving this diagnosis) in handling this kind of situation:

•    Do not judge them. Remember that this disease is a chemical imbalance which is out of their control. It is as if they are diagnosed with other biochemical diseases, such as diabetes. They do not need your opinion toward this disorder, they need your support.
•    Do not have pity for your situation. Your spouse may already be feeling guilty because of his/her burden to you. You would not want to add up to that depression as it might be dangerous for his/her condition.
•    Do not force them what option of recovery to choose. Discuss the matter with them, but allow them to make the decision. Giving ultimatums or orders would only increase their stress level, and take note that they cannot control chemical imbalances in their system.
•    Do not let yourself be the boss to handle the situation. Although you may know what is good for them, you should not start to take away or hide things from them. It will only make them feel alienated and controlled, increasing their levels of depression and desperation. It is best to consult a professional counselor about this to inform you of proper techniques. It would be better to ask your bipolar spouse to go with you, but if s/he would not, you can go alone anyway.
•    Do not be over protective. Do not handle their disorder for them because it will just wear you out. Let them be responsible for their own sickness, but you need to be there to support them.
•    Do not pretend to understand their situation because you do not. People having mood disorders are often extra sensitive to attitudes and reactions of other people so be completely honest with them. Tell them you do not know how they feel, but you are ready to help any way you can.

Following the reminders above will greatly help in handling this situation. You just need passion, sincerity, and understanding toward your partner so you can go through life with a bipolar spouse.

Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale (BSDS) is a diagnostic tool used to determine if someone with mood disorder symptoms has bipolar disorder. The Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale contains nineteen sentences.

The Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale was designed by Ronald Pies, M.D. and refined by S. Nassir Ghaemi, M.D., M.P.H. All variations and levels of severity of bipolar disorder can be detected with the Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale.

After working with a number of people whose “treatment-resistant depression” was later determined to be undiagnosed bipolar spectrum disorder, Pies was motivated to design the diagnostic tool to accurately diagnose bipolar spectrum disorder that may otherwise be missed. Bipolar spectrum disorder is not an official diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM).

Some mental health professionals use the term bipolar spectrum disorder to include people who have Bipolar Symptoms, but whose symptoms are not severe enough to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder symptoms that are milder than the guidelines of the DSM is sometimes called soft bipolar disorder or soft bipolar spectrum disorder.

There are two sections to the Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale. The first section consists of nineteen sentences that describe the primary symptoms of bipolar disorder. The first section is completed when the patient has checked the sentences that describe their feelings or behaviors.

The second section is a rating of how the collection of sentences of section one fits their personal experiences. The score of the first section is determined by awarding one point per sentence that the patient checked as matching their personal experiences.

The score of the second section depends on how the nineteen sentence narrative is rated by the patient. Six points are added to the patient’s score if the patient indicated that the story fits them very well or almost perfectly. If the patient says the narrative fits fairly well, four points are added to the patient’s score.

Two points are added if the patient said the story fits to some degree but not in most respects. If the person says the story does not describe them at all, no points are added to their score.

Bipolar disorder is considered highly likely if the patient’s score is nineteen or higher. If the score is eleven to eighteen, there is a moderate probability of bipolar disorder. There is a low probability if the score is six to ten. Bipolar disorder is considered very unlikely if the score is under five or less.

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Bipolar Disorder is complex in that there is not a single symptom or a single type of disorder. Some of the major symptoms are the unstable shifts of emotions and mood swings from the very high (mania) to the lowest of the low (depression) and the in between know as the middle hippo mania. The levels of the symptoms have a vast range from severe to rather mild and may include certain periods with no symptoms appearing at all.

Bipolar Signs

Bipolar disorder symptoms are not universal and not all people will experience the same symptoms or even those who do experience the same symptoms, the severity will differ. Bipolar disease has many factors that can affect it and they are unique to each family and to each individual. Bipolar disorder is common and can be very serious if it is left untreated. If signs or symptoms of bipolar disorder appear, immediately seek the attention of a psychiatrist.

There are many symptoms to depression and they are similar for severe depression. Symptoms include: increased or decreased sleep, decreased interest, feelings of guilt, decreased energy, decreased concentration, decreased or increased appetite, changes in motor activity and suicidal thoughts or plans.

Children with Bipolar

The knowledge of how to recognize and handle a child with bipolar disorder is imperative for parents, teachers, counselors, school staff and teachers. Identifying the signs and symptoms early on can be incredibly beneficial to the future treatment and well-being of the child. Co-operation between everyone involved with help alleviate future behavioral, academic and social issues.

Seeking Treatment

Both mood stabilizing medication and counseling are indicated in the treatment of bipolar disorder. It is crucial that those with bipolar disorder learn about their medication and the side effects associated with the drugs. A reliable system needs to be implemented to ensure that the patient takes their medication regularly, even when they are feeling better and stable. Not taking the medication on a regular basis will lead to severe episodes, relapses and hospitalization. Those around the bipolar patient, such as family and friends, should continue to monitor the patient’s mood, sleep patterns, change in eating habits and behaviors to prevent the onset of manic or depressive episodes. Bipolar patients should not use alcohol or drugs, even mild drugs such as marijuana can make symptoms worse. It is essential that those with bipolar disorder lead a healthy lifestyle, including a balanced diet, adequate sleep and regular exercise. Such a healthy lifestyle will aid in lowering stress levels and improving quality of life.

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All of us have our daily ups and downs with some days really down and other days we are full of life. But those suffering from this mental illness called bipolar disorder, their good days are really high and their low days very, very low. Individuals with symptoms of bipolar disorder can have problems with their work, their school performance, relationships can nosedive and their day to day activities disrupted. Bipolar disorder is a treatable disease, but a lot of patients are not able to recognize the warning signs and get immediate help. It must be noted that this mental disorder can get worse if its not treated on time. Therefore it is important to know and learn the symptoms and seek help immediately. In other words relatives and friends must be able to recognize the symptoms for it is the way forward to getting bipolar symptoms under control.

Known as manic depression, bipolar disorder which is a mental disease has serious shifting of mood, energy level, thoughts, and behavior. The highs are the mania on one side and the lows depression on the other. The cycles of bipolar can last for days, and some people weeks, or even months. These mood swings are not like ordinary, mood changes because with bipolar disorder it is severe and usually interferes with day to day normal activities.

The Difference of Mania and Depression

When people are going through bipolar mania symptoms they can become impulsive and leave their jobs all of a sudden. They can accumulate credit cards with lots of credit and sleep for a few hours with lots of energy. People s going through the depressive episode, this same person can become tired even after a long rest with feelings of being helpless and hopeless.

What Causes Bipolar Disease Symptoms?

Nobody really knows what causes bipolar disorder. It is believed that this mental illness is passed on by family members, biological and environmental. Bipolar symptoms can be noticed in young children as young as two but that has to be verified by the experts. The bipolar symptoms in children can be both subtle and confusing. In adults it is straight forward, the only difficulty is other symptoms similar to bipolar showing together. It is probably the reason why many people are misdiagnosed. With the right diagnosis and treatment bipolar victims can live a normal life.

Treatment with Bipolar Medication

When doctors are treating bipolar disorder – mood stabilizers are used to help control the lows and highs of bipolar symptoms. While medication may have its side effects, they are the key in the treatment of both mania and depression symptoms. Lithium is one of the oldest but very effective mood stabilizer. It is also very effective for the treatment of bipolar mania.

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Bipolar disorder, or manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that describes unusual shifts in a persons mood, energy, and ability to function. This shifts are different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe and can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide.

Individuals who experience manic episodes also commonly experience depressive episodes or symptoms, or mixed episodes in which features of both mania and depression are present at the same time. The deep mood swings of bipolar disorder may last for weeks or months, causing great disturbances in the lives of those affected, and those of family and friends, too.

Today, a growing volume of research suggests that bipolar disorder occurs across a spectrum of symptoms, and that many people arent correctly diagnosed. Left untreated, bipolar disorder generally worsens, and the suicide rate is high among those with bipolar disorder.

Genetic factors contribute a lot to the likelihood of developing bipolar disorder. Environmental factors are also implicated. Bipolar depressive illness is often treated with mood stabilizer medications and sometimes other psychiatric drugs. Psychotherapy also has a role, often when there has been some recovery of stability.

Pshichoterapeuts have an important role in treating serious cases of this disease. If there is a risk of harm to oneself or others involuntary commitment may be used; these cases generally involve severe manic episodes with dangerous behavior or depressive states with suicidal ideas.

Read more about any symptom of Bipolar Disorder on Symptomofbipolardisorder.net.

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Can Bipolar Disorder be cured or is managing your bipolar symptoms the best you can hope for? HealthyPlace.com Expert Bipolar Patient and author, Julie Fast, provides the answer.

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http://www.megavista-health.com/articles/health-conditions/bipolar-disorder-symptoms-and-treatment

Bipolar disorder is also commonly referred to as manic depression. This term comes from the cycling that occurs with this mental disorder, from extremely depressed to a very euphoric, or manic state. Bipolar disorder is estimated to affect approximately 3% of adults.

Bipolar disorder can be difficult to diagnose, and its difficult to distinguish from classical depression. The key difference is that those individuals with bipolar disorder will also experience manic episodes, which are phases of elevated mood or euphoria. These manic phases can include hallucinations, delusions of grandeur, racing thoughts, increased energy and a decreased need for sleep. In some cases, a manic episode can involve irritation, anxiety, or aggravation rather than the overwhelming happy feelings typically ociated with mania.

Signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder include distinct altering phases of depression and mania. During a major depressive episode, typical depression symptoms are present, including feelings of sadness, loss of energy, lack of interest in otherwise enjoyable activities, loneliness and apathy.

Interestingly, the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder may not be enough to diagnose this disorder, due to the occasional presence of hypomania or a mixed affective episode. Hypomania is a mild manic episode and a mixed affective episode is a simultaneous occurrence of mania and depression. Both of these instances can make diagnosis increasingly difficult, because the normally distinct presence of manic and depressive episodes is blurred.
What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder is classified as an adult onset mood disorder, although some studies have indicated the presence of bipolar disorder in children. Due to the recognition of the possibility of early onset, the incidence of diagnoses of bipolar disorder in children has increased over the past several decades. Bipolar disorder is a serious psychiatric diagnosis that requires attention to avoid significant impacts on relationships, career, and daily functioning.

Bipolar disorder treatment can involve the use of pharmaceuticals and/or psychotherapy. Lithium is the standard pharmaceutical Bipolar Disorder treatment, although its necessary to monitor kidney and thyroid function for potential abnormalities during use of this medication. Psychotherapy can be a very effective bipolar disorder treatment, offering mechanisms for recognizing episode triggers.

If you feel that you may be experiencing symptoms of bipolar disorder, or have experienced a manic or major depressive episode, take action now to take back control of your life. Bipolar disorder can often leave a person feeling out of control, in both depressive and manic states, and patients often do things they would not do under normal circumstances. Dont risk ruining your career or your most important relationships.

At Megavista, we focus on the positive, holistic approach to health. Learn how you could start controlling your bipolar disorder symptoms today!

http://www.megavista-health.com/articles/health-conditions/bipolar-disorder-symptoms-and-treatment

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Many people with Bipolar Disorder self-medicate by drinking alcohol or smoking pot to deal with their bipolar symptoms. But is that okay? HealthyPlace.com Expert Bipolar Patient and author, Julie Fast, responds.

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