Bi Polar Mood Disorder is an illness that causes the person to swing between strong and repeated feeling of:

1. Being uncontrollably high and excited.
2. Being stable.
3. Being low and becoming depressed

NOT EVERYONE WHO BECOMES DEPRESSED has Bi Polar Mood Disorder.


Jenny's Story.
Jenny's Dad, Mr. White, worked at the local banks as a bank manager. One day his boss from head office rang Mrs. White to say that he was worried because her husband had spent the day making up $500 gift vouchers for all the customers at the bank. An hour later Mr. White rang his wife to tell her he was going to help all the people of Australia by giving them the bank's money.
That night Jenny could hear her mum and dad fighting. Jenny's mum was crying because she said that Mr White had lost his mind. During the day he had given away all the families money as well as the bank's and had decided to travel through Australia giving away all that they owned. Jenny's mum couldn't make him understand that this was not OK.
Jenny found it hard to understand her dad because he was talking very fast and kept changing the subject. He kept telling her that she knew what he was talking about. Jenny was confused. Why was her dad acting so strangely? It was scary.

What is Bi Polar Mood Disorder?
Everybody has days in which they feel really happy or really sad about something that has happened in their lives. These feelings are normal. Some people, however feel really happy and excited and / or really depressed for no apparent reason. When a person has these mood swings over a long period of time he / she may have Manic Depression - Bi Polar Mood Disorder.
A person with manic depression can have a manic episode or a depressive episode. A diagnosis of Bi Polar Mood Disorder can only be made after a person has had episodes of depression and mania. A manic episode is when a person feels high and excited and has heaps of energy. A depressive episode is when a person is really depressed.
A person with Bi Polar Mood Disorder acts and behaves 'normally' between episodes.
The symptoms of Bi Polar Mood Disorder usually develop during a person's teenage or early adult years. The symptoms tend to develop for the first time after a stressful time in the person's life, such as moving from school to work or university.
Equal numbers of men and women are at risk of developing Bi Polar Mood Disorder. In Australia about one person in every 100 will need to be hospitalised for a short time because of Bi Polar Mood Disorder.
The symptoms of Bi Polar Mood Disorder can be treated with medication that usually stabilises mood swings and prevents further episode from occuring. It may take time for the doctor and the person to work out the right amount and type of medication that the person needs.
During a depressive episode the symptoms are the same as those of depression. A person who is feeling depressed may want to spend all their time alone, not talking to anyone and not doing the things they used to do and enjoy.

During a manic episode the major signs (symptoms) of mania include :

1. Feeling uncontrollably "high".
2. Feeling irritable.
3. Being more talkative than usual and talking very quickly.
4. A fast flow of ideas.
5. Not needing or wanting to sleep.
6. Being easily distracted.
7. Insensitivity to other people.
8. Spending lots of money.
9. Not realising danger.

1. Feeling uncontrollably "high".
A person suffering from Bi Polar may feel like everything that they do is wonderful. In Jenny's story her father's feelings of being able to cure poverty by giving away the bank's money is an example of feeling high.

2. Feeling irritable.
A person with Bi Polar may become irritable because other people do not share their feelings of being able to conquer the world.

3. Being more talkative than usual and talking very quickly.
A person with Bi Polar may feel that she / he needs to tell everyone her / his thoughts immediately. She / he may not pause between sentences, making it very hard to understand her / him.

4. A fast flow of ideas.
A person with Bi Polar thinks very quickly. They may jump from one subject to another. When a person has been manic for some time their ideas may flow so fast that it is difficult to understand what they are saying - it may sound jumbled.

5. Not needing or wanting sleep.
When a person is manic they may not have time to sleep because of the number of ideas and thoughts racing through their mind.

6. Being easily distracted.
A person who is manic becomes easily distracted because they have so many ideas or thoughts in their minds at any one time. They may have difficulty concentrating.

7. Insensitivity to other people.
When a person is manic they may become very self-centred or selfish. This means they may not be interested in or understand how others are feeling. They may not be aware that what they say and do affects other people. For example in Jenny's story , Mr. White could not understand why his wife and boss were upset that he was giving away their money.

8. Spending lots of money.
A person with mania may spend large amounts of money without thinking about the effects this will have. They may spend all their own or family's savings. They may believe they are going to win Lotto or be rewarded for their generosity.

10. Not realising danger.
A person with mania may believe they have special powers or that nothing can harm them. They may drive dangerously, invest money in foolish business deals or gamble.