Key Takeaways
- Bipolar disorder refers to experiencing intense mood swings between extreme highs (mania and hypomania) and lows (depression).
- The disorder can be mistaken and mistreated for any other mental health condition.
- Bipolar disorder is treatable with ongoing monitoring so that the individual can lead a productive life.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar Disorder is a form of depression that can cause instability in moods in everyday tasks. People with bipolar disorder have “episodes” where they can feel intensely depressed one day and super energetic or euphoric the next. These episodes can last from days to weeks.
Studies have found that bipolar disorder can suffer alongside or increase the risk of other mental conditions as well, such as anxiety disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), substance use disorder (SUD), and eating disorders.
More than 40 million people go through bipolar disorder every year. The causes of this mental health condition can be highly overwhelming situations, stress, pivotal life changes, environmental factors, and genetic factors. The disorder has three categories: bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, and cyclothymic disorder.
Bipolar I Disorder
The episodes of bipolar I disorder last most of the day for a week at least. It includes severe manic symptoms requiring immediate medical attention. Like maniac episodes, excessive depressive episodes can also occur that last for a couple of weeks. The patient can have both episodes together as well.
Bipolar II Disorder
Hypomania is seen in this disorder, which is an abnormal level of energy but less than what you may experience in manic episodes of bipolar I disorder.
Cyclothymia or Cyclothymic Disorder
There is less intensity and frequency of instability of moods than in bipolar I or II disorder in cyclothymia. Symptoms of this disorder last for a year or more in children and two years or more in adults.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Just like any other medical disorder, some symptoms can make you aware of bipolar disorder as well. To get a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, one would have to go through at least an episode of mania or depression. The following are its most common symptoms:
Symptoms of manic episodes include:
- Feeling extremely irritated easily
- Talking at a rapid speed
- Racing thoughts
- Careless actions
- Feeling agitated
- Being overly friendly
- Feeling restless
- Quick-tempered
- Impulsivity
- Overconfidence in one’s skills or strength
- Hallucinations/Delusions (rare but potentially present in severe scenarios)
Symptoms of hypomanic episodes include:
(These are similar to mania episodes but less intense)
- Feeling euphoric
- Increased self-esteem
- Heightened sexual desire
- Being overly confident
- Feeling restless
Symptoms of depressive episodes include:
- Low energy
- Losing interest in activities
- Feeling tired
- Oversleeping
- Feeling unfocused or confused
- Forgetting things
- Lack of sleep
- Low motivation
- Suicidal thoughts
If you or any other known person is suspected of having bipolar disorder, then the person should go through both a written and physical assessment to know whether they indeed have bipolar disorder or any other mental condition. The test MDQ (Mood Disorder Questionaire) seems to be the best screening equipment to identify if the patient is suffering from any mood disorders.
Treatment for Bipolar Disorder
After the diagnosis of bipolar disorder is complete comes the time to explore the ways of treatment. With a proper regimen, medicines, and therapies, bipolar disorder can be successfully treated. Here are its most popular treatments:
Counseling
This form of psychotherapy is among the most common ways to tackle bipolar disorder. It is needed so that the doctor can gain insights into your moods and patterns. After diagnosis, the doctor may provide some medication—these help in coping with your episodes.
You can use apps like eMoods Bipolar Mood Tracker, which will help you track your moods in just a few moments and send the report to your counselor.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is different from counseling. Its main aim is to change the patient’s harmful thoughts and patterns. CBT takes less time than counseling, as it is highly structured.
Medications
Medications provide the person with bipolar disorder with a stable mood. The medicines depend from person to person, with mood stabilizers and antidepressants being usually prescribed by doctors after looking at the condition of the patient. Even if the person with bipolar disorder feels okay, they typically need to continue the medication, as it helps in controlling mood dysregulation.
Psychiatrist and co-director of the Mclean Institute for Technology and Psychiatry, Dr. Justin Baker, Ph.D., says, “Today treatments are typically a combination of medication and psychotherapy medications are primarily what we refer to as mood stabilizers for an evening out the highs and the lows of psychotherapy.”
Lifestyle Management
There’s a need to manage your lifestyle to cope with bipolar disorder. It has been found that making healthier life changes like doing exercise, following a balanced diet, reducing stress, and seeking therapy can improve the condition of the person with bipolar disorder.
However, these lifestyle changes cannot fully treat the patient, and they would need to combine these healthier practices with other treatments.
Family Support
When you know you have strong family support, how can you count on it? It can help in boosting your overall health. Mauricio Tohen, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, says that support from family is better for the patient’s treatment-
“Outcomes are always better when a strong family support network exists.”
Coping Strategies
Once you learn to recognize your trigger points on when an episode of mania or depression can start, you can use the coping strategy suggested by the medical professional to calm down.
Conclusion
Bipolar disorder is not a rare mental health condition for either adolescents or adults. Though it can be difficult to live with it, you can live a happy life if you stick with the given treatment. The process most commonly involves taking medications, different psychotherapies, and making healthy lifestyle changes, and it will help me keep the symptoms at bay.
