Last reviewed: March 25, 2012.
Bipolar disorder is a condition in which people
go back and forth between periods of a very good or irritable mood
and depression. The "mood swings" between mania and
depression can be very quick.
Bipolar disorder affects men and women equally.
It usually starts between ages 15 -
25. The exact cause is unknown, but it
occurs more often in relatives of people with bipolar disorder.
Types of bipolar disorder:
People with bipolar disorder type I have had at
least one manic episode and periods of major depression. In the past, bipolar disorder
type I was called manic depression.
People with bipolar disorder type II have never had full mania.
Instead they experience periods of high energy
levels and impulsiveness that are not as extreme as mania (called
hypomania). These periods alternate with episodes of
depression.
A mild form of bipolar disorder called cyclothymia involves less severe mood
swings. People with this form alternate between hypomania and mild
depression. People with bipolar disorder type II or cyclothymia may
be wrongly diagnosed as having depression.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001924/
Table of Contents
The key feature of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is
excessive worry.
Everyone worries to some degree at some point about something in
their lives. However, the worry experienced by individuals with GAD
is clearly out of proportion to the actual likelihood or impact of
the feared event. The worry is longstanding.
Themes of worry may include health, finances, job responsibilities,
safety of one's children or even being late for appointments. The
worry is difficult to control and interferes with the task at hand.
For example, students may find it difficult to get their schoolwork
done and parents often describe difficulty letting their child get
on the school bus. These feelings of worry and dread are
accompanied by physical symptoms such as pain from muscle tension,
headache, frequent urination, difficulty swallowing, "lump in the
throat" or exaggerated startle response.
For some people this chronic anxiety and worry have become the
standard approach taken to all situations and health experts
recognize this condition as Generalized Anxiety Disorder. While the
exact cause for GAD is uncertain, experts feel that it's a
combination of biological factors and life events. It's not
uncommon for some people with GAD to also have other medical
disorders such as depression and/or panic disorder . These may be
influenced by the activity certain chemicals systems in the
brain.
Symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder
The first sign is
chronic, irrational worry that can’t be turned off. This can focus
on a variety of topics from health to money to job
responsibilities. The worry, while ever present, can peak to the
point that it prevents functioning.
Worries can be accompanied by physical symptoms that include
trembling, twitching, muscle tension, headaches, sweating or hot
flashes. The person might feel lightheaded, out of breath,
nauseated or have to go to the bathroom a lot. Some people might
feel they have lumps in their throats. Others startle more
easily.
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/anxiety/gad.html
