Bipolar Mental Disorder Symptoms

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic depression or manic-depressive illness) is a long-lasting mood disorder and mental health condition that causes extreme shifts in mood, thinking pattern, energy levels, and behavior. These shifts may last for a few hours, days, weeks or months and interfere with your ability to perform day-to-day tasks.

 

There is a vast range of bipolar mental disorder symptoms. There are some types of bipolar mental disorder, which involve facing specific fluctuations in mood, called hypomanic/manic and depressive episodes. However, people going through bipolar disorder aren’t always in a hypomanic or depressive/manic state. They also face periods of normal mood, referred to as euthymia.

 

Manic episodes

Manic episodes is the main feature of bipolar I disorder. To meet the basis for bipolar I disorder, you must have faced at least one manic episode in your life for at least a week with or without ever facing a depressive episode.

 

Mania is a condition in which you experience a period of irritable or abnormally elevated mood, as well as severe changes in thoughts, emotions, talkativeness, energy, and activity level. This highly energized level of physical and mental behavior and activity is an alteration from your general self and is visible by others.

 

People who are experiencing manic states may be involved in activities that cause them mental, physical, social or financial harm,  like driving recklessly or suddenly gambling or spending high amounts of money. They also periodically develop psychotic symptoms, like delusions and hallucinations, which can cause problems in identifying bipolar disorder from other disorders like schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder.

 

People with specific types of bipolar like bipolar II disorder face hypomania, which is a less extreme form of mania. It does not last as long as manic episodes and it doesn’t interrupt with daily functioning as much.

 

Depressive episodes

During a depressive episode, you face a depressed or low mood and loss of interest in common activities, along with many other symptoms of depression, like:

• Tiredness

• Changes in appetite

• Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness

 

Are There Various Types of Bipolar Disorder?

 

There are some types of bipolar disorder, including:

 

Bipolar I disorder: With bipolar I disorder, you face severe odd behavior, along with manic up periods which last at least a week or are so extreme that you need medical care. There are also commonly severe down periods that last at least 2 weeks.

 

Bipolar II disorder: With this disorder, you also face erratic highs and lows, but it isn’t as severe as bipolar I.

 

Cyclothymic disorder: This type contains periods of depressive and manic behavior that last at least 1 year in children and teens or 2 years in adults. The symptoms aren’t as extreme as bipolar disorder I or bipolar disorder II.

 

Unspecified or other specified bipolar disorder: This disorder formerly known as bipolar disorder not otherwise specified is now used to describe the conditions in which an individual has only a few of the mood and energy symptoms that describe a manic or hypomanic episode, or the symptoms and signs may not last for a longer time enough to be considered as clear-cut episodes.

 

Rapid cycling: This is not a kind of bipolar disorder, but this term is used to define the illness in people experiencing bipolar I or II disorder. It occurs when mood episodes occur four or more times in a period of 1 year. Women are more likely to get this type of illness than men, and it can occur and go at any time in the course of bipolar disorder. Rapid cycling is mainly caused by depression and carries a higher risk for suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

 

With any type of bipolar disorder, misuse of alcohol and drug use can lead to more episodes. Having alcohol use disorder and bipolar disorder, known as “dual diagnosis,” requires assistance from a specialist who can address both issues.

 

Bipolar Mental disorder Symptoms

The defining bipolar 1 mental disorder symptoms is a manic episode that lasts at least one week, while people having cyclothymia or bipolar II disorder experience hypomanic episodes.

 

But many people having bipolar disorder experience both depressive and hypomanic/manic episodes. These changing states of mood don’t always follow a set pattern, and depression does not always follow manic phases. A person may also face the same mood state multiple times along with periods of euthymia in between before experiencing the opposite mood.

 

Mood changes in bipolar disorder may happen over a period of weeks, months and occasionally even years.

 

An important outlook of the mood changes is that they are an evacuation from your regular self and that mood change is sated for a long time. In case of mania, it may be many days or weeks and many weeks or months in the case of depression.

 

The severity of the manic and depressive phases can vary from person to person and in the same person at different times.

 

Signs and Symptoms of Manic Episodes

Some people experiencing bipolar disorder will have episodes of mania or hypomania various times throughout their life; others can experience them only rarely.

 

Signs and symptoms of a manic episode may include:

• Excessive excitement, happiness, and hopefulness

• Sudden and severe alterationsin mood, like going from being joyful to being hostile and angry

• Restlessness

• Rapid racing thoughts and speech

• Less need of sleep and Increased energy levels

• Poor judgmentand Increased impulsivity, like suddenly quitting your job

• Making vast and unattainable plans

• Impulsive and risk-taking behavior, such as alcohol and drug and misuse and having unprotected or unsafe sex

• Feeling like you are unusually powerful, important, andtalented

• Psychosis, facing hallucinations and delusions (in the most extreme manic episodes).

 

Many times, people facing a manic episode are ignorant of the negative consequences of their actions. With bipolar disorder, suicide is a infinitive danger, some people become suicidal in manic episodes, not just depressive episodes.

 

If a person is experiencing an intense manic episode, especially if they are experiencing hallucinations and delusions, they usually need to be hospitalized to protect themselves and others from the possible harm.

 

Signs and Symptoms of Hypomania

Bipolar mental disorder symptoms commonly include hypomania. Some people with bipolar mental disorder have mild manic-like symptoms. This is known as hypomania. With hypomania, you commonly feel outstanding and find that you can get a lot done. People having hypomania can often function well at work or in social situations.

 

You may not feel that anything is wrong during a hypomanic episode. But your friends and family may notice changes in your mood swings and activity level and think that they are uncommon for you. After hypomania, you might face severe depression.

Signs and Symptoms of Depressive Episodes

The symptoms of depressive episodes in bipolar mental disorder are the same as those of major depression. They may include:

• Overwhelming sadness

• Fatigue and low energy

• Lack of motivation

• Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness

• Loss of enjoyment in activities once you enjoyed

• Difficulty concentrating and making decisions

• Uncontrollable crying

• Irritability

• Increased or less need for sleep

• Excessive sleep or insomnia

• A change in eating pattern or appetite, causing weight loss or gain

• Thoughts of suicide (suicidal idealization) or death

 

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, it’s necessary to get immediate care. Call  Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 911. Someone will be available to talk to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

 

Signs and Symptoms of a Mixed Episode

The symptoms of a mixed episode commonly include both manic and depressive symptoms together. During a mixed episode, you have the negative thoughts and feelings that come with depression but also feel restless, agitated, and high energy.

 

People who face mixed episodes always describe it as the worst part of bipolar disorder.

 

Causes of Bipolar Mental Disorder

The exact cause of bipolar disorder is not known, but multiple factors may be involved, like:

 

Biological differences: People with bipolar mental disorder appear to have physical changes in their brains. The consequences of these changes are still doubtful but may eventually help identify causes.

 

Genetics: Bipolar mental disorder is more common in individuals who have a first-degree relative, like a parent or a sibling, with the condition. Researchers are struggling to find genes that may be involved in causing bipolar disorder.

 

Risk Factors of Bipolar Disorder

Factors that can increase the risk of developing bipolar disorder or act as a trigger for first episode may include:

• Having a first-degree relative, like a parent or sibling, having bipolar disorder

• Periods ofextreme stress, like the death of a close one or other traumatic event

• Alcohol or alcohol abuse

 

Complications of Bipolar Mental disorder

Left untreated, bipolar mental disorder symptoms can result in serious issues that affect every area of your life, such as:

• Problems related to substance abuse

• Suicide or suicide attempts

• Legal or financial problems

• Damaged relationships

• Poor school or work performance

 

Co-occurring Conditions

If you have bipolar mental disorder, you may also have another health issue that needs to be treated along with bipolar disorder. Some conditions can worsen bipolar mental disorder symptoms or make treatment less successful. Examples commonly include:

 

• Anxiety disorders

• Eating disorders

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

• Alcohol or drug problems

• Physical health problems, such as thyroid problems, heart disease, headaches or obesity

 

Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder

A healthcare or mental health professional can diagnose bipolar disorder by the use of criteria set out in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th edition, text revision (DSM-5-TR).

 

The NIMH explains that to get a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder, a person must have suffered from symptoms of mania for at least 7 days, or fewer than 7 days if the symptoms were extreme enough to require hospitalization. They may also have had a depressive episode that lasts at least 2 weeks.

 

To get a diagnosis of bipolar II disorder, a person must have faced at least one cycle of depression and hypomania.

 

A mental health professional may perform a physical examination and order diagnostic tests, including urine and blood tests, to help find out other causes of bipolar mental disorder symptoms.

 

It can be difficult for a healthcare professional to diagnose bipolar disorder. People are more likely to get help with a low mood than a high mood. As a result, it can be challenging for a healthcare professional to differentiate it from depression.

 

If a person has psychosis, a physician may misdiagnose their condition as schizophrenia.

Other complications that can occur with bipolar disorder are:

 

• Substance use to cope with symptoms

• Anxiety disorder

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

 

The NIMH encourages healthcare professionals to look for signs and symptoms of mania in the history of a person to prevent misdiagnosis. Certain antidepressants may trigger mania in some people.

 

While a person having bipolar disorder may experience periods of neutral mood without any symptoms, bipolar disorder is a constant condition.

 

Treatments for Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar mental disorder can be treated. It’s a long-lived condition that requires ongoing care. People who face four or more mood episodes in a year, or who also have alcohol or problems, can have kinds of the illness that are much difficult to treat.

 

Treatment can make an immense difference. With a blend of things such as, medication, good medical care, lifestyle changes, talk therapy, and the support of family and friends, you can feel better. Manic depression or bipolar disorder, as it is also still sometimes known has no known  cure. It is a chronic health condition that generally requires lifetime management.  A lot of people with this condition perform well, they have families and jobs and live normal lives.

 

Medication

Medication is the main treatment, usually involve the following:

• Mood stabilizers such as, lamotrigine (lamictal), carbamazepine (tegretol), valproateor lithium

• Antipsychoticdrugs such as, quetiapine (seroquel), olanzapine (zyprexa), lurasidone (latuda), lumateperone (caplyta) and cariprazine (vraylar)

• Antidepressants

• Antidepressant-antipsychotic drugs, a combination of a mood stabilizer and an antidepressant

• Sleep medications or anti-anxiety medications, such as sedatives like benzodiazepines

 

It can take some time to find the right combination for you to treat bipolar mental disorder symptoms. You may need to try some things before you and your doctor find out what works best. Once you do, it is necessary to stay on your medication and talk with your physician before changing or stopping anything.

Pregnant and breastfeeding women should talk with their doctors regarding medications that are safe to take.

 

Talk therapy

 

 Talk therapy or psychotherapy is often recommended, too. There are various different types. Options can include:

• Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT):This is based on the concept that having a daily life routine for everything, from sleeping to eating, may help keep your mood stable.

 

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT):This helps you replace bad thoughts, habits and actions with more positive alternatives. It also helps you learn the ways to manage negative triggers and stress.

 

• Psycho-education:Learning more and teaching family members regarding bipolar disorder can help give you support when episodes happen.

 

• Family-focused therapy: This makes a support system to help with treatment and helps your dear ones recognize the beginning of an episode.

Other Treatments

 Other treatment options for bipolar mental disorder can include:

 

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)

Small amount of electricity shocks the brain and starts a small seizure to kind of reboot it and change the balance of some chemicals. While it is still a last treatment option when medications and therapy have not worked, it is much safer and better controlled, with fewer side effects and risks, than in the early days of this procedure.

 

Acupuncture

There is some evidence that this supportive therapy can help with the depression caused by bipolar disorder.

 

Supplements

 While some people take a few vitamin supplements to help with the bipolar mental disorder symptoms, there are many issues with using them. For example,  their ingredients are not regulated, they can leave side effects, and some can affect the working of prescribed medications. Always talk with your healthcare provider before using any supplement.

 

Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes can also help:

• Get regular exercise

• Stay on a schedule for sleeping and eating

• Learn to identify your mood swings

• Get support from family, friends or groups

• Keep a symptom chart or journal

• Learn to manage stress

• Find healthy sports and hobbies

• Do not use any recreational drugs or consume alcohol

 

Summary

Bipolar mental disorder is a serious health condition and can make you feel utterly alone. More than 2 million U.S adults are coping with this disorder right now. It involves changes in your thoughts, attentions, mood, and energy levels, with other symptoms.

 

It’s necessary not to blame yourself for your condition. Bipolar disorder is just a physical illness, not a sign of personal weakness. It’s like heart disease, diabetes, or any other health condition. Nobody knows exactly what causes bipolar disorder, but for a lot of people, it is a very manageable condition.

 

It can seriously disrupt the life of a person, but treatment can make huge improvements in the outlook and well-being of a person.

 

Treatment may not remove mood changes entirely, but working closely with a mental health professional can make symptoms more manageable and maximize quality of life.

 

The more you learn about your condition, the better you can manage your episodes. And support groups, where you may talk with people who are going through the similar things you are, also help.