Depressive Episodes can be listed into at least eight groups. It is therefore important that victims of bipolar, parents, friends and co-workers know how to recognize the bipolar symptoms in a depressive mood. Be certain to educate yourself so you can offer help or seek it at the appropriate time for your friend or a loved one. Early diagnosis is critical with this mental disorder.
Loosing Energy: It is simply loosing energy when compared to the previous week or month and there is nothing mysterious about this bipolar symptom. When you compare your energy level to the previous month you find that you are not as energetic as before. If you look back you see that most nights you can go out for a run and dinner, but now you notice say at 3:00 pm or midday you have no more energy left. This can be noticed by your friends and family members. If you have actually stopped what you used to do it is a sign that you must try and do something about.
Fatigue - weariness from bodily or mental exertion : After the decrease in energy, depression can cause physical fatigue. While after sleep we feel refreshed, bipolar victims instead become unrefreshed. Getting up in the morning can be both difficult and tiring. Some may have a different experience, during the day they are full of energy but, once they get home they feel like they have been run over by a big bus.
Lethargy - state of being drowsy and dull, listless and unenergetic, or indifferent and lazy: It is a very serious symptom. They are unusually drowsy or lethargic - spending hours just sitting in a place and totally unresponsive and simply uninterested in doing anything because their feeling and mind is quite heavy.
Diminished Activity " Feeling of less important: This is usually caused by the loss of energy, being tired and listless. In other cases it may occur independently of those symptoms. If their level of activity begins to drop or non existence" an example will be she leaves her washing undone, or unable to do the simple things like raking the garden then, you know they have a symptom of bipolar.
Insomnia - inability to obtain sufficient sleep: Lying awake worrying, unable to get comfortable, feeling tensed or just having too many going on in the mind. Sleeping is a big task.
Hypersomnia " sleeping a lot: People in depressive mode have been known to sleep endlessly; some can sleep for more than 20 hours straight.
Loss of Interest in Pleasurable Activities : You normally love to go fishing, but now you are turning down your friends invitation. Jane loves to relax in her garden but, now she does not bother. Your son Tom has season tickets to the footy but has been staying home, and when you ask, he just shrugs and says, "I don't feel like going." One of the problem with this symptom is, it may be easier for others to spot than for the bipolar person.
Social Withdrawal: Because a lot will depend on the bipolar person's personality, it may be easier to describe bipolar symptom, than to notice it. You may be able to notice the symptom when they stop going to social functions, this if the person is an outgoing person. No one will be able to realize that the withdrawal symptom is more serious if the person is a well known "loner."
Some Other Changes
The eight listed above are those that are most commonly associated with the depressive episodes of depression, but there may be other changes in activity not listed above which may also come with depression.
Loosing Energy: It is simply loosing energy when compared to the previous week or month and there is nothing mysterious about this bipolar symptom. When you compare your energy level to the previous month you find that you are not as energetic as before. If you look back you see that most nights you can go out for a run and dinner, but now you notice say at 3:00 pm or midday you have no more energy left. This can be noticed by your friends and family members. If you have actually stopped what you used to do it is a sign that you must try and do something about.
Fatigue - weariness from bodily or mental exertion : After the decrease in energy, depression can cause physical fatigue. While after sleep we feel refreshed, bipolar victims instead become unrefreshed. Getting up in the morning can be both difficult and tiring. Some may have a different experience, during the day they are full of energy but, once they get home they feel like they have been run over by a big bus.
Lethargy - state of being drowsy and dull, listless and unenergetic, or indifferent and lazy: It is a very serious symptom. They are unusually drowsy or lethargic - spending hours just sitting in a place and totally unresponsive and simply uninterested in doing anything because their feeling and mind is quite heavy.
Diminished Activity " Feeling of less important: This is usually caused by the loss of energy, being tired and listless. In other cases it may occur independently of those symptoms. If their level of activity begins to drop or non existence" an example will be she leaves her washing undone, or unable to do the simple things like raking the garden then, you know they have a symptom of bipolar.
Insomnia - inability to obtain sufficient sleep: Lying awake worrying, unable to get comfortable, feeling tensed or just having too many going on in the mind. Sleeping is a big task.
Hypersomnia " sleeping a lot: People in depressive mode have been known to sleep endlessly; some can sleep for more than 20 hours straight.
Loss of Interest in Pleasurable Activities : You normally love to go fishing, but now you are turning down your friends invitation. Jane loves to relax in her garden but, now she does not bother. Your son Tom has season tickets to the footy but has been staying home, and when you ask, he just shrugs and says, "I don't feel like going." One of the problem with this symptom is, it may be easier for others to spot than for the bipolar person.
Social Withdrawal: Because a lot will depend on the bipolar person's personality, it may be easier to describe bipolar symptom, than to notice it. You may be able to notice the symptom when they stop going to social functions, this if the person is an outgoing person. No one will be able to realize that the withdrawal symptom is more serious if the person is a well known "loner."
Some Other Changes
The eight listed above are those that are most commonly associated with the depressive episodes of depression, but there may be other changes in activity not listed above which may also come with depression.
About the Author:
Ken P Doyle is an advocate for bipolar disorder and has a wealth of knowledge on mental illness. As an advocate he would like to share some FREE information and findings on bipolar medication and bipolar symptoms.
