MOOD/SLEEP/and other DISORDERS

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Seasonal Affective Disorder

(SAD) refers to a mood disorder in which a person has depression that worsens in the fall and winter, when the amount of sunlight per day lessens. Those with Bipolar and SAD tend to have their manic episodes during the summer months, that coincide with the days with the most sunlight.

Warning Signs:

Depression that gets worse in the later part of the year (Fall and Winter)

 

 Panic Disorder  

is an anxiety disorder where the person has unexpected panic attacks (see Panic Attacks at bottom). They tend to have a persistent concern that they will have additional attacks.

Warning Signs:

Recurrent unexpected panic attacks
At least one of the attacks has been followed by a one month (or more) of one (or more) of the following:
Persistent concern about having additional attacks
Worry about the implications of the attack or its consequences (E.G. losing control, having a heart attack, "going crazy")
A significant change in behavior related to the attacks

 

 Insomnia  

is defined as a person being unable to fall asleep or maintain sleep. In order to be diagnosed, the difficulty must last for at least a month, and cause a significant impairment or distress in an important area of functioning.

Warning Signs:

Unable to fall asleep or stay asleep
Tired or irritable
Worries about going to bed and sleeping because they are afraid they will be unable to sleep
May fall asleep during the day due to lack of sleep

 

A Nightmare Disorder

consists of repeated awakenings from sleep, normally in the second half of the sleep period.

Warning Signs:

Detailed memory of the dream
Dreams normally consist of threats to physical survival, security, or self esteem
Person becomes quickly oriented to their surroundings

 

A panic attack is a discrete period of intense fear or discomfort, in which four (or more) of the following develop abruptly and reaches a peak within ten minutes.

 

Bipolar Disorder
Symptoms

Bipolar disorder is often not recognized by the patient, relatives, friends, or even physicians. An early sign of manic-depressive illness may be hypomania--a state in which the person shows a high level of energy, excessive moodiness or irritability, and impulsive or reckless behavior.

Hypomania may feel good to the person who experiences it. Thus, even when family and friends learn to recognize the mood swings, the individual often will deny that anything is wrong.

In its early stages, bipolar disorder may masquerade as a problem other than mental illness. For example, it may first appear as alcohol or drug abuse, or poor school or work performance.

If left untreated, bipolar disorder tends to worsen, and the person experiences episodes of full-fledged mania and clinical depression.

 

PANIC ATTACKS
Warning Signs:

Palpitations, pounding heart, or accelerated heart rate.
Sweating
Trembling or shaking
Sensations of shortness of breath or smothering
Feeling of choking
Chest Pain or discomfort
Nausea or abdominal distress
Feeling dizzy, unsteady, lightheaded, or faint
De-realization (feelings of unreality) or depersonalizations (being detached from oneself)
Fear of losing control or going crazy
Fear of dying
Paresthesias (numbness or tingling sensations)
Chills or hot flushes