According to the report by World Health Organization approximately 40 million people throughout the world are living with bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder which was earlier known as manic depressive illness or manic depression is a mental disorder that causes abnormal, extreme mood shifts, and changes in energy levels and concentration within a person. Due to misconceptions and stigma attached to it, many people are not treated properly or refuse to take treatment. Even though it is a lifetime condition with the help of proper medical treatment and therapy people with bipolar disorder can live a good life.
Types of Bipolar Disorder
Following are the types of Bipolar disorder:
1. Bipolar I Disorder
Bipolar I disorder is characterized by manic episodes that last 7 days or more or manic symptoms like faster or more than usual speech, out-of-control thoughts, impulsive behaviour, etc. that need immediate medical attention. A person may also go through major depressive episodes that last up to 2 weeks or more. A person doesn’t need to experience this episode to be diagnosed with Bipolar I disorder.
2. Bipolar II Disorder
Bipolar II disorder is defined by mood shifts from high to low. The ‘high’ mood also called hypomania is when the person experiences high levels of energy and feels elated more than what normal humans feel which is followed by depressive episodes. Most people with bipolar II disorder experience episodes of depression more often than hypomania.
3. Cyclothymic Disorder
Cyclothymic disorder or cyclothymia is a mood disorder that causes mood shifts, however, they are not as intense as the one caused in bipolar I and bipolar II disorders. You might feel elated for a period followed by feeling low. Even though the mood shifts are not as extreme as the ones in bipolar I and bipolar II disorder it is critical to seek medical help as it causes trouble functioning in daily life and increases the risk of bipolar I and bipolar II.
4. Other Specified and Unspecified Bipolar and Related Disorders
If the person is experiencing unusual mood shifts but does not fit in the diagnostic criteria for Cyclothymia or bipolar I and bipolar II disorder he is said to be experiencing other specified and unspecified bipolar disorder.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Bipolar disorder causes a person extreme mood shifts. He might experience intense feelings of happiness and bursts of energy for a period followed by a period of depression
1. Symptoms of Mania
Symptoms of mania may include the person feeling unusually happy and energized, getting irritated, illogical thinking or delusion. The person may also feel self-important and full of new ideas and new plans, getting easily distracted making decisions or saying things that are not how they usually behave which may seem harmful and risky to others.
2. Symptoms of Depression
During depression or emotional low a person may experience symptoms like losing interest in everyday tasks, feeling hopeless, feeling drained, eating less, not being able to sleep, self-doubt, and feeling worthless. In some cases, the person may even experience suicidal thoughts during such depressive episodes.
3. Diagnostic Criteria
The first step in the diagnosis of bipolar disorder is taking the advice of a medical professional, who is likely to first evaluate to rule out any other conditions. If no other illness is found then the doctor will evaluate the patient’s mental health and assess the person’s symptoms under the diagnostic criteria mentioned in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM 5).
To be diagnosed with bipolar disorder person must have experienced at least one episode of hypomania or mania. To diagnose what type of bipolar disorder the person may be suffering from, the doctor may evaluate the pattern of symptoms and assess how severe episodes affect your life.
Causes and Risk Factors
The accurate cause of bipolar disorder is not yet found out, but certain factors that might be involved include –
- Biological differences: people suffering from bipolar disorder appear to have different brain structures, even though research does not tell how much of important it is.
- Genetics: genetics may play a role in causing bipolar disorder. There are more chances for a person to have bipolar disorder if a sibling parent or any other first-degree relative has the condition.
- Research says that there might be a connection between childhood trauma and bipolar disorder. If the person has experienced sexual or emotional abuse, neglect or any traumatic event he might develop bipolar disorder.
- Drugs or alcohol may cause a person to experience some of the symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Treatment Options
First and the most important thing is to take advice from a mental health professional for the treatment of the condition. Bipolar disorder is a condition that lasts a lifetime; treatment helps the patient in managing the symptoms.
- Medications: Certain medications help in treating the symptoms of mania and depression. Medications also include mood stabilizers like antipsychotic medicines or anticonvulsant medicines that need to be taken regularly, every day for a long time.
- Psychological treatment: For people suffering from bipolar disorder it can be very difficult to maintain relationships in their life, psychological treatments like therapy can help the patients in dealing with depressive episodes and maintain relationships in their life.
- Lifestyle changes: Lifestyle changes like exercising, doing things that you love, following a daily routine, eating a healthy balanced diet and getting proper sleep can have a positive effect. Also, people who are suffering from dealing with this condition should avoid consuming alcohol and drugs and also limit their caffeine intake.
- Support Systems: Having people around you who love and support you can help a lot. Talking with friends and family during difficult days can be comforting. There are also support groups that help people deal with bipolar disorder.
Living with Bipolar Disorder
Along with proper medical treatment, certain self-help strategies can help in controlling the symptoms of bipolar disorder and living a good life.
Coping Strategies
- Stress often causes mood shifts, do not take on too many activities or tasks that can cause you stress.
- Following a daily schedule and having a good sleep schedule can also help in managing the symptoms of the disorder.
- Monitoring mood and symptoms helps in keeping track of the symptoms and in noticing any changes or differences early
- People having bipolar disorder may get impulsive and make risky or harmful decisions, so before making any decision consult any close and trusted person.
Support Groups and Resources
Joining support groups can have a positive effect on the person dealing with bipolar disorder. There are support groups where there are people who are going through similar conditions, talking to them; and hearing about their stories can be reassuring and comforting.
Stigma and Misconceptions
There is a lot of stigma attached to bipolar disorder; it starts due to a lack of awareness and understanding about the condition among the people. This lack of awareness causes isolation, bullying and discrimination against people having bipolar disorder. People often mistake bipolar disorder with mood swings, we have often heard statements like, “She has so many mood swings, she must be bipolar”. Such statements increase the misunderstanding about the disorder. Bipolar disorder is not the same as having minor mood swings.
Another misconception about the condition is that the patient having the condition will constantly have emotional shifts. The mood episodes are not constant, they cannot be predicted. It is important to understand that bipolar disorder is a condition and not that person’s identity. There is more to a person than just his disorder. Awareness and education about the condition are necessary to end the stigma and misconceptions about bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder is a serious and complicated disorder. It is important to seek professional medical help and get proper treatment for it. If there is anyone around you who is suffering through this condition provide them with support and care. Make people around you aware of this disorder so that people going through the condition are not isolated and discriminated against. Even if it is a lifelong condition the symptoms of the disorder can be managed through medical treatment and several self-help strategies.
FAQs
What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder where the person experiences unusual and extreme mood shifts, and changes in energy levels and concentration which causes them trouble to function properly in their daily life.
What are the symptoms of hypomania?
Symptoms of mania include a person feeling extremely elated and overly energetic. He might feel irritated and think illogically. The person may start feeling self-important and full of new ideas and new plans, he would get easily distracted make impulsive and risky decisions or say things that are out of character for them.
What are the symptoms of depression?
Lack of energy, loss of interest in activities, reduced food intake, lack of sleep, feeling hopeless, self-doubt, trouble concentrating or making decisions, not being able to perform simple tasks, etc. are some of the symptoms experienced by people during the depressive phase. It can also cause suicidal thoughts in some cases.
What lifestyle changes can help in managing the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
Lifestyle changes like following a daily schedule, eating healthy food, exercising regularly, following a proper sleep schedule, doing things that you love, avoiding stress, etc. can help in coping with the symptoms of bipolar disorder.
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