Bipolar Disorder consists of alternating states between mania/hypomania and depression. This is seen through unusual shifts in a person’s mood, energy, activity levels as well as concentration. You may experience episodes with intense emotions and behavioral changes that are out of character, without being aware of its effects. These periodic changes are called mood episodes. The two main episodes are characterized by mania and depression.
Symptoms:
In a manic episode, you may:
Feel a heightened sense of emotions, such as extreme joy or extreme irritability, and become more touchy
Feel more active than usual
Feel a decreased need for sleep
Experience flight of ideas: talking quickly and unpredictably, jumping rapidly between different topics and ideas
Encounter racing thoughts
Feel as if you can accomplish multiple activities at once without experiencing fatigue
Feel as if you’re “on top of the world”; or have an unusual sense of power
Have an increased appetite, sex drive, and affinity towards other pleasurable activities
In a depressive episode, you may:
Feel melancholic, experience a low mood, or become anxious
Feel rather ‘slowed down” or restless
Have difficulty falling asleep, waking up too early, or sleeping excessively
Find it difficult to concentrate and make decisions
Feel as if you can’t accomplish simple tasks
Feel hopeless, with a decreased sense of self; experience suicidal thoughts
Have a decreased level of interest in most if not all activities
Types of Bipolar Disorders:
There are four types of bipolar disorders.
Bipolar I Disorder is diagnosed through at least one manic episode, followed by hypomanic or other major depressive episodes.
Bipolar II Disorder is characterized by at least one hypomanic episode and one major depressive episode, but not a manic episode.
Cyclothymic Disorder, on the other hand, is characterized by at least two years (or one year in the case of children and teenagers) of multiple periods that have symptoms of hypomania and depression. An important thing to note is that even if symptoms are hypomanic or depressive rather than manic or major depressive, they can still be severe and disrupt various aspects of daily life.
Risk factors:
Unfortunately, the exact causes of bipolar disorder are unknown and still undergoing research. However, environmental circumstances such as experiencing abuse, the death of a loved one, relationship instability, physical illness, overwhelming stresses of daily life, and even sleep disturbances act as risk factors for bipolar disorder. Other circumstances include chemical imbalances and genetics.
Treatments:
Fortunately, bipolar disorder has multiple treatment options that help alleviate symptoms! These include medications such as antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and medications related to relieving anxiety and sleeping problems.
Psychotherapy, on the other hand, can provide you with education, support, and strategies for intervention. Some types of psychotherapy are used along with medications, such as interpersonal and social rhythm therapy.
In addition, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a significant treatment option for depression which is even more helpful to bipolar depression when adapted for treating insomnia.
Outside of clinical treatments, you can lessen the effect of symptoms by getting in touch with others who have similar experiences and reaching out to people who support you. This can help prevent you from feeling isolated and discuss helpful ideas that have worked for others.
