Bipolar disorder is a condition that causes a person to go back and forth in a positive or negative mood and depression.

This kind of mood swing can occur very quickly, like an “on” and “off” switch. Although there is no knowledge on the direct cause of bipolar disorder, it is quite evident that it is passed on through genetics. Bipolar disorder usually begins somewhere between the ages of 15-25 and can affect both men and women. Bipolar Disorder can be categorized into several types; Bipolar disorder type I, Bipolar disorder type II, and Cyclothymia.

Bipolar disorder type I are people who are usually very depressed and have encountered at least one manic episode. However, people who have bipolar disorder type II do not encounter full mania. The person is more likely to encounter high levels of energy (which alternate with episodes of depression), also known as hypomania, but not as extreme as mania. Finally, cyclothymia is a more mild form of bipolar disorder. People with this type of bipolar disorder have less severe mood swings.

There are triggers in people with bipolar disorder which cause them to have a manic episode or go into a state of deep depression. Some examples that may trigger a person to have a manic episode are childbirth, the use of antidepressants or steroids, not enough sleep and drug use. If a person does have a manic episode, it could last for days or even months. Some of the symptoms seen from someone who has a manic episode are that they are easily distracted, are not sleeping, have poor temper control, are binge eating/drinking/drug use, are very agitated or irritated, and have poor judgment.For the person who is in the depressed phase of bipolar disorder, some symptoms may be sadness, lack of concentration or remembering, loss of appetite, weight gain, feeling worthless or hopeless, and lack of energy. Unfortunately, there is a high risk of suicide for those who have bipolar disorder.

People with bipolar disorder often turn to alcohol or drug abuse, which in turn, can make the symptoms and suicide risk worse. Paranoid personality disorder (PPD) is a type of condition known as eccentric personality disorder. The sufferer usually appears to be odd or peculiar.Often, people with this disorder are suspicious of others and do not trust others because they also suffer from paranoia. This disorder is seen more often in men than women and is more likely to begin in early adulthood.

People with paranoid personality disorder often believe that others are out to harm, threaten, or demean them. This type of disorder interferes with their ability to have a close relationship with others. Some examples of symptoms seen in a person with this disorder are:

  • Doubting the loyalty or trustworthiness of people Believing others are using or deceiving them
  • Unforgiving and holding grudges against others
  • Hypersensitivity
  • Reacting with anger
  • Having difficulty relaxing
  • Hostility, stubbornness, and argumentative
Although the exact cause of paranoid personality disorder is unknown, it is most likely to involve a combination of biological and psychological factors. There seems to be a genetic link between the two disorders because people who have relatives with schizophrenia are more likely to have paranoid personality disorder. This disorder may also be due to a physical or emotional traumatic experience that may have occurred in early childhood.

References

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