What is bipolar disorder (manic depression) and how is it treated?

About Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is often referred to as manic depression and is a mental illness that causes serious changes in mood. At TMS Center of New Orleans, we've seen that these drastic swings in mood can cause distress or harm to a person's personal and professional relationships.

Bipolar disorder's cause is not known and it often runs in families. 

Bipolar Disorder Symptoms

Pronounced mood disturbances usually begin between teen years and the mid-20s, but the symptoms typically persist for a lifetime. The mood episodes are often interspersed with periods of feeling “normal”. 

Common symptoms of manic depression include, but aren't limited to, some of the indicators below.

Manic/Mania Symptoms (Feeling Up)

  • Feeling extremely happy, like nothing can make you sad
  • Feeling a special connection with famous people, leaders, or even God
  • Hyperactivity and trouble sitting still
  • Risky behavior such as careless driving
  • Sexual activity that isn’t “usual” for you
  • Unable to control how quickly you think or speak
  • Changing discussion topics quickly
  • Feeling like you don’t need to sleep as much
  • Sudden feelings of rage or inability

Depression Symptoms (Feeling Down)

  • Loss of interest in doing things you enjoyed before
  • Severe feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthless
  • Constantly feeling tired or having a lack of energy
  • Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
  • Trouble concentrating and focusing
  • Noticeable change in eating habits (weight gain or loss)
  • Thinking about death or suicide

Learn more about depression

Bipolar Disorder Treatment

Because it can have a serious impact on your life and relationships with other people, it is important to seek a safe treatment for bipolar disorder.

If this condition is diagnosed and treated properly, the symptoms may be reduced. Going without adequate treatment for long periods of time can make a person with bipolar disorder more susceptible to more frequent mood episodes. 

Treating bipolar depression with TMS is not currently FDA-approved in the United States as it is with unipolar depression. This treatment may only be done after a discussion and evaluation with a qualified physician, and our TMS Center of New Orleans team can help provide guidance if needed.

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