Since man started recording history, this depressive disorder has been known to be with us. When we read in the Old Testament, Job and the famous King David, suffered from this terrible mental disease . It was called by Hippocrates the Greek physician a black bile (melancholia). Negative in nature which affects how we feel, think and act, it is a clinical depression with a serious medical disorder. Written in literature arts many years ago, this depressive disorder or a bipolar depression disorder was portrayed as a weakness of temperament which was handed down by family members. It was Freud of the 20th century that linked the progress of depression to guilt and conflict.
Depression – The Two Divisions
Depression was divided into two – during the middle of this century:
• Endogenous: may be caused by the body itself but nobody knows its source and is probably linked to a genetic origin. Bipolar depression falls under this type of depression.
•Neurotic or reactive: depression is caused from outside, like the death of a loved one, losing somebody special and the loss of the only source of income. In 70s and the 80s, the focus changed from “the cause”, to the “effects” of depression on victims.
We may never know what causes depression or bipolar depression, but most would agree that:
• It is a syndrome that reflects severe sad, irritable mood which can be classed as abnormal sadness or grief. These feelings of sadness of depression are both intense and takes a long time when compared to the normal ups and downs.
•The characteristics include eating, weight and sleeping problems and the presence of negative thoughts, moods, and behaviors. The physical symptoms are, crying spells, aches in the body, very low energy in both work and sex.
• Depression increases the risks for coronary artery disease, HIV, asthma, and some other medical diseases. It can also increase the mortality rate of victims with this depressive conditions.
• In the United States alone the huge financial and human costs includes - treatment and other indirect costs, like lost in productivity and absenteeism of workers can be enormous.
Bipolar Depression
The unique trait of this illness is, it’s not the outside that is causing the depression, but the brain producing its lows with the feelings of worry, sad, angry, guilt, isolation and hopelessness. This disorder is caused by the brain’s neurotransmitters which can cause sleeping and eating problems and a shift in moods.
Problems with Not Treating
Like many serious diseases, bipolar depression can create havoc with those living together, it can drain out the energy level of those with the depressed person.
Bipolar Treatment of Bipolar Depression
Bipolar depression can be inherited within families and if you find that a member of your family or a friend are showing symptoms of bipolar depression like sleeping too much, sad, feelings of helpless, worthless, hopeless with decreased energy and concentration, please seek medical advice near you so they can be given bipolar treatment early.
