bipolar

中文Bipolar disorder used to be known as manic depressive disorder or manic depression. It’s a serious mental illness, one that can lead to risky behavior, damaged relationships and careers, and even suicidal tendencies — if it’s not treated.

Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme changes in mood (poles) — from mania to depression. Between these mood swings, a person with bipolar disorder may experience normal moods.

“Manic” describes an increasingly restless, energetic, talkative, reckless, powerful, euphoric period. Lavish spending sprees or impulsive risky sex can occur. Then, at some point, this high-flying mood can spiral into something darker — irritation, confusion, anger, feeling trapped.

“Depression” describes the opposite mood — sadness, crying, sense of worthlessness, loss of energy, loss of pleasure, sleep problems.

But because the pattern of highs and lows varies for each person, bipolar disorder is a complex disease to diagnose. For some people, mania or depression can last for weeks or months, even for years. For other people, bipolar disorder takes the form of frequent and dramatic mood shifts.

“There’s a whole spectrum of symptoms and mood changes that have been found in bipolar disorder,” says Michael Aronson, MD, a clinical psychiatrist and consultant for WebMD. “It’s not always dramatic mood swings. In fact, some people seem to get along just fine. The manic periods can be very, very productive. They think things are going great.”

The danger comes, he says, when the mania grows much worse. “The change can be very dramatic, with catastrophic results. People can get involved in reckless behavior, spend a lot of money, there may be sexual promiscuity, sexual risks.”

The depressed phases can be equally dangerous: A person may have frequent thoughts of suicide. If you or someone you know has thoughts of death or suicide, contact a health care professional, loved one, friend, or call 911 immediately.

Bipolar disorder is equally difficult for families of those affected. The condition is the most difficult mental illness for families to accept, Aronson tells WebMD. “Families can more easily accept schizophrenia, to understand that it is an illness. But when a person is sometimes very productive, then becomes unreasonable or irrational, it wreaks more havoc on the family. It seems more like bad behavior, like they won’t straighten up.”

If this rings true — either for you or a loved one — the first step in tackling the problem is to see a psychiatrist. Whether it’s bipolar disorder or another mood-related problem, effective treatments are available. What’s most important is that you recognize the problem, and start looking for help.

For more information, check out the WebMD’s website on bipolar disorder.

两极性精神紊乱也称为躁郁紊乱或躁郁症。它是严重的精神病，如果不治疗，会造成危险的行为、受损的关系和事业、甚至自杀的倾向。（译者注：我得的就是躁郁症）

躁郁症的特点是从躁狂到抑郁情绪的极端两极变化。在两极变化之间，躁郁症患者可能有正常的情绪。

“躁狂”的表征是加剧的不安、精力旺盛、话多、鲁莽、有力、和欣快。乱花钱或随意危险的性行为也可能出现。然后在某个时间这个高飞的情绪会螺旋下降到一个黑暗的情绪:烦躁、糊涂、愤怒、和被困的感觉。

“抑郁”是另一端的情绪: 悲哀、好哭、无用的感觉、缺乏精力、失去兴趣、或睡眠的问题。

但是由于每个患者的情绪变化的样式不同，躁郁症是不容易确诊的疾病。对于有些人，躁狂或抑郁可能维持几个星期或几个月。对于另外一些人，情绪变化是经常和激烈的。

“躁郁症患者的症状和情绪变化是个连续谱，“迈克爱伦生（临床精神科医生和WebMD的顾问）这样说。”并不总是会有激烈的情绪变化。事实上，有些人看起来好好的。在躁狂时期，他们工作很有果效。他们会觉得一切都很好。“

“危险在于躁狂变糟的时候，“他说。”变化可以是非常激烈的，并带来灾难性的结果。患者会卷入鲁莽的行为、花掉很多钱、参与滥交和危险的性行为。“

抑郁期可以是同样地危险：患者会常有自杀的念头。如果你或你的亲友有自杀的念头，马上联系医护人员、亲友、或打911。

躁郁症让患者的亲友很难接受。它是最难接受的精神病，爱伦生医生告诉WebMD。“家人更能接受精神分裂，能明白它是一种疾病。但当一个人平时工作很有果效，然后却变得不讲道理或不理智，这对家庭会有更大的打击。因为这看起来似乎更像是坏的行为，就好像患者不想改正。“

如果你或你的亲友有这样的情况，解决问题的第一步是去看精神科医生。到底是躁郁症还是别的情绪方面的问题，目前都有有效的治疗。 至关重要的是你察觉了问题，并开始寻找帮助。

如果你想要知道更多的关于躁郁症的信息，请进入WebMD的网站。