manic depression

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Word: Manic Depression

Definition: Manic depression is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood changes. People with this condition experience episodes of mania (very high energy and excitement) and depression (very low energy and sadness).

Usage Instructions:

• Part of Speech: Noun
• Context: Used in discussions about mental health, psychology, or personal experiences related to emotional well-being.

Example Sentence:

• "After years of struggling with manic depression, she finally found a treatment that helped balance her mood swings."

Advanced Usage:

In a clinical or psychological context, you might see the term "bipolar disorder" used instead of "manic depression." The term "bipolar disorder" is now more common and is used to describe the same condition in a more specific way.

Word Variants:

• Bipolar Disorder: The modern term for manic depression.
• Manic: Related to the high-energy state.
• Depressive Episode: Refers specifically to the low-energy state.

Different Meanings:

• In a non-medical context, "manic" can describe someone who is overly excited or energetic about something, but this is not an official use related to the mental health condition.

Synonyms:

• Bipolar disorder (more modern term)
• Emotional instability (broader term)
• Mood disorder (general term for disorders that affect mood)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• On a rollercoaster: This idiom describes experiencing many ups and downs, similar to the mood swings of someone with manic depression.

  • Example: "Her emotions have been on a rollercoaster since she started treatment."

• In a funk: This phrase means feeling sad or down, similar to a depressive episode.

  • Example: "He was in a funk all week, unable to shake off his sadness."

Conclusion:

Understanding manic depression is important for recognizing how it affects people's lives. If someone talks about experiencing manic depression, it means they go through very high and very low emotional states.

Academic

Noun

1. a mental disorder characterized by episodes of mania and depression

Synonyms

• bipolar disorder
• manic depressive illness
• manic-depressive psychosis