Here you can find information about the particular disorder you are suffering from, just scroll down to read information about Bipolar, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD):

About Bipolar Disorder

Emotional highs and lows are part of life for everyone. But, if you have bipolar disorder these ups and downs can be so extreme that they can interfere with your daily life. Sometimes they can even be dangerous.
One day you may feel so depressed that you cannot get out of bed, and you do not enjoy the things you used to. Work seems impossible. On another day you may feel great, full of energy and creativity. On days like these, people around you might think that your actions are reckless and out of control.
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong medical condition that can be confusing and unpredictable--but you do not have to be embarrassed. It can be hard for people with the condition and for their families and friends. While there is no cure, the good news is that there are many treatments available to help treat the symptoms of bipolar disorder.

What is Bipolar Disorder?

• Bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depression) is a serious, lifelong medical condition. It affects more than 2 million people in the United States.
• Bipolar disorder is a treatable illness. And when symptoms are treated, life can be better.
• The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown. It's a medical condition. Bipolar disorder may be related to a chemical imbalance in the brain, genetics, or abnormalities in brain structure.
• People with bipolar disorder can have mood swings, including depression (extreme lows) and mania (extreme highs).
• A period of depression or mania is called an episode. Individuals may experience episodes of depression or mania throughout life.
• Episodes may be separated by long periods with few or no symptoms. To help keep bipolar disorder under control, medication is often taken even when few or no symptoms are present.

What are the types of episodes in bipolar disorder?

Depression

• While most people feel sad or "down in the dumps" from time to time, people with bipolar disorder may have depression that is so severe they cannot function. They may not have the energy to get out of bed or to eat, and they do not enjoy the things they used to.
• Bipolar depression can come back again. Worst of all, a person with bipolar depression may begin to think of suicide.

Mania

• Mania is the other side of bipolar disorder. Episodes of mania can range from mild to severe or even mixed.
• Mania can start with a pleasurable sense of high energy, creativity, and social ease. Soon it may progress to extreme highs, agitation, and irritability. Increased irritability can lead to arguments with family members and friends. Some individuals may even become violent.

Hypomania

• Most of the symptoms of hypomania are the same as mania, but milder. A person may feel better than usual and may be more productive. But the "feel good" period can develop into full-blown mania or depression.

Mixed

• During mixed episodes, symptoms of mania and depression occur at the same time or flip-flop throughout the day. People with mixed episodes may be at risk for suicide.

What are the types of bipolar disorder?

There are several types of mood disorders:

• Bipolar I disorder (BP I) is the most common type of bipolar disorder, in which a person has one or more manic or mixed episodes. Often, individuals also had one or more depressive episode.
• Bipolar II disorder (BP II) is a classification of bipolar disorder in which a person has one or more major depressive episodes and at least one episode of hypomania (a milder version of mania).
• Cyclothymic disorder is a long-term fluctuating mood disturbance with periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms.

What is rapid cycling?

Rapid cycling in bipolar disorder is defined as at least 4 episodes of a mood disturbance within a year. These mood swing episodes may be:

• Manic
• Mixed
• Hypomanic
• Depressive

The episodes are followed by a return to normal or near-normal moods, or a switch to a completely opposite mood episode.

What is ADD?

ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) is a diagnosed disorder, which affects concentration, attention span and the ability to focus on the task at hand.

ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity) is usually much easier to identify. Apart from their difficulties with concentration and memory, children and adults with ADHD often have associated behavioral problems in class, at home and in the workplace, due to their impulsive behavior and hyperactivity.

Children and adults with ADD (without hyperactivity) often go unaided and undiagnosed. They may be very intelligent people, but because of their concentration and memory problems they perform poorly in school, college and the workplace and seldom reach their full potential.

They often feel listless and can lack motivation and energy because of their constant struggle to concentrate and focus on their work. Sometimes they can even develop depression due to their inability to reach their potential and the negative feedback they receive from those around them.

Children and adults with ADD are often unfairly called 'stupid', 'dumb', 'lazy' and other hurtful names, when all they need is some help and understanding.

What are the symptoms?
 

• Easily distracted by sounds and other things happening in the environment
• Difficulty following instructions and completing tasks despite the desire to do so
• Forgetful and negltful of chores and tasks
• Difficulty concentrating and maintaining focus on the task at hand
• Short attention span
• Tendency to daydream
• Often seems not to be listening
• Forgets what has been studied very quickly
• Often loses possessions or forgets appointments
• Often loses track of time

What is OCD and the Symptoms of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder?

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is an Anxiety Disorder which has as its main characteristics obsessive thoughts and ideas, which are sometimes accompanied by compulsive behaviors and actions, often designed to ward off the obsessive thoughts.

There are currently no medical tests, which can diagnose OCD. Diagnosis is usually based on information about symptoms as well as clinical observation. Diagnosis of OCD can be made by Psychiatrists, Clinical Psychologists, medical Doctors, Pediatricians or by a multi-disciplinary team.

In order to make a formal diagnosis of OCD, the following symptoms must be present (DSM lV-TR)

Obsessions

• Recurring and persistent ideas, thoughts or images that are often experienced as senseless, intrusive and difficult to control.
• Attempts to ignore or suppress these thoughts or to neutralize them with another thought or action.
• The person realizes that these thoughts, images or ideas are the product of his or her own mind, yet finds them almost impossible to resist.

Compulsions

• Repetitive, intentional and often stereotyped behavior performed in response to an obsession or according to certain rules.
• Although the behavior is intended to neutralize or prevent some dreaded event or situation, it is clearly not connected in a realistic way with what it is designed to prevent or is excessive (e.g. repetitive hand washing in order to prevent death).
• The obsessions or compulsions cause a great deal of distress and anxiety, are time consuming (take more than an hour a day) or significantly interfere with the person's health, social or occupational functioning. The person is often secretive and may attempt to conceal the compulsive thoughts and behaviors.

While the above symptoms are necessary to make a formal diagnosis of OCD, they can be present in a less severe form. In this case, the person would not be diagnosed as suffering from a psychiatric disorder, but is rather said to have obsessive thoughts or compulsive behaviors.

This sometimes happens with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depression. Most people experience some obsessive thoughts and behaviors at some time in their lives, especially under stress. In small children it is very common and quite normal (e.g. don't step on the cracks or the bears will get you!) to have some compulsive behaviors. In both adults and children, it is only when the above criteria are fulfilled and there is a great deal of anxiety and distress associated with the thoughts and behaviors that a formal diagnosis can be made.

What causes OCD?

There are various theories or explanations for OCD.

Psychoanalytical and psychodynamic theorists often see the obsessive thoughts and compulsions as a defense against anxiety or repressed subconscious impulses. Other theorists believe that the symptoms of OCD may be learned through various mechanisms during childhood or adulthood. There is also strong evidence that some people have an inherited tendency to develop OCD and that OCD is linked to problems in brain chemistry, neurotransmission or receptor functioning. Research suggests, for example, that people with OCD frequently have abnormalities or deficiencies in serotonin levels and that their symptoms improve when this serotonin imbalance is addressed with medication. It is likely that there is no one single explanatory cause for the development of OCD and a combination of factors may often be responsible.

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