Determining A Symptom Of Bipolar Disorder For What It Is Truly Worth
Michalis 'BIG Mike' Kotzakolios

All of us suffer from depression from time to time. It doesn't matter if we're the giddiest person in town. At one point in our lives, we will have to endure a period of terrible depression, often, for no apparent reason. It's normal. It's part of what makes us human.

What is not normal is a severe case of depression as manifested by sudden shifts in a person's emotions, often, for no apparent reason as well. Such a manic case tells the presence of bipolar disorder, a mental malady that causes extreme mood swings among people who are afflicted with the same.

But here's the challenge. How can you tell if the depression you're feeling is caused by normal forces or by bipolar disorder? How can you know if you could just allow the episode to run its course, or if you should seek professional help?

The answer lies in analyzing each and every symptom of bipolar disorder. Let's take a look at each and every one of them.

* Feelings of extreme emotions. It doesn't matter if you're feeling euphoria or moroseness. What counts is that such feelings are inexplicably extreme at times. You may feel very happy at one point, for no apparent reason. Or you can feel the weight of the world on your shoulders that often makes you want to break down and cry, again, for no apparent reason. This symptom of bipolar disorder is the weakest among the chain of manifestations associated with the malady. But coupled with other symptoms and it can be a clear gauge of the presence of bipolar disorder.

* Sudden shifts in emotions. Though some of the extreme emotions mentioned above may last for quite a period of time, they often change in a jiffy. You may have been experiencing extreme elation at one point, and in the next minute, you're sadder than a person in mourning. This symptom of bipolar disorder is said to be the most determinative of the malady.

* Hyperactivity becomes absolute laziness or fatigue. Again, as a consequence of the very nature of bipolar disorder, shifts in moods may also result in shifts in levels of activity. You may feel that you're capable of taking on the entire world one moment, but you'd be too lazy to even get off your bed the next minute.

A symptom of bipolar disorder should not be tackled by itself. Attendant circumstances, as well as other existing symptoms, should also be considered. If only one of the symptoms enumerated above is present, then chances are, it's not a consequence of bipolar disorder.

BIG Mike is a well known author, developer and Adsense expert as well as the owner of Niche Maniacs - a unique Adsense Marketing System designed to build long-term passive income streams from Adsense, Amazon, YPN, Chitika and other PPC services.