More research

Another website.

This is a blockier version... opening page is a selection of links taking you to different sections down the page and begins with this statement... which hits a little too close to home.

'When I'm in a manic phase, I feel as though I am capable of anything and everything. This can be an amazing feeling, but I sometimes get frustrated and angry with people. Ideas flow constantly and quickly, as if my brain is on fast-forward. Everything happening in the world has significance in my life.

But when I'm depressed, it's as if I'm completely crushed and living in slow motion. I feel capable of nothing.'

Yeah. Just about. So lets bold everything thats relevant. Because its a fun experiment.

What is bipolar disorder (manic depression)?

Someone diagnosed with bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic depression) may swing from moods of deep depression to periods of overactive, excited behaviour known as mania. Between these severe highs and lows can be stable times. Some people also see or hear things that others around them don't (known as having visual or auditory hallucinations or delusions).

Everybody has their ups and downs in daily life, but with bipolar disorder these changes are extreme. During the manic phase, people may feel euphoric, full of a sense of their own importance and brimming with ambitious schemes and ideas. They may spend money extravagantly, and build up debts. They may eat and sleep very little, and talk so quickly that it's difficult to understand them. They may be easily irritable and angry. Their libido can go into overdrive.

A person may be quite unaware of these changes in their attitude or behaviour. After a manic phase is over, they may be quite shocked at what they've done and the effect that it has had. People can be very creative during mania, and may feel that it's a very valuable experience.

Mania may flare up periodically, but depression is the most consistent symptom. People may feel overwhelming despair, guilt and worthlessness. They may feel chronic fatigue and gain weight, or have difficulty sleeping. They lose interest in everything. Problems concentrating and remembering things can make life very difficult and undermine the simplest tasks. The experience of bipolar disorder may provoke suicidal feelings.

The current diagnoses in the UK in 2006 are likely to be:

• Bipolar I or II, depending on the severity and the duration of the episodes of mania and/or depression.
• Cyclothymic disorder - with short periods of mild depression and short periods of hypomania.
• Rapid cycling - four or more episodes a year.
• Mixed states - periods of depression and elation at the same time.

(See www.nice.org.uk for 2006 guidelines to bipolar disorder.)

Some people have very few bipolar disorder episodes, with years of stability in between them. They may experience a couple of cycles (episodes) in their whole lifetime. Others have more frequent cycles.

About one to two per cent of the general population is diagnosed with bipolar disorder (a roughly equal number of men and women) usually in their 20s or 30s, although some teenagers are affected.

Ah dear. At least I'm beginning to recognize my ups and downs. Mania and depression is vile. Especially going from one to the other. And I think at the very least, education is needed. Understanding this thing is the way to figuring out how to really deal with it.