While the term bipolar is used in everyday language as a synonym for unpredictable or inconsistent behavior, this greatly diminished the seriousness of the disorder. Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness that affects nearly 6 million Americans.
Unfortunately, half of Americans experiencing symptoms of bipolar disorder do not have access to adequate mental health care.Due to the condition’s similarity to other disorders, many people are also misdiagnosed.
On average, people with bipolar show symptoms for eight years before receiving a proper diagnosis. Once in treatment, however, results are promising. With the right medication and treatment plan, millions of people with bipolar disorder are able to lead full and healthy lives.
Table of Contents
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that manifests as extreme shifts between high and low emotional states. Many people also experience intermittent periods of normal emotional regulation. These mood changes are cyclical, and often not related to external circumstances. However, stressful situations can trigger a bipolar episode.
While researchers are still investigating the causes of bipolar disorder, evidence shows that the condition is partially hereditary.
Having a first-degree relative with bipolar disorder is a major risk factor. However, genetic factors only increase susceptibility. Neuroscientists theorize that an external event, such as serious illness, trauma, or drug use usually triggers the disorder.
Bipolar disorder appears equally amongst men and women, but societal and biological factors contribute to different symptoms and diagnostic rates. For example, gender norms make it more difficult to identify mania in men, while women are more likely to seek treatment. Conversely, women tend to experience bipolar symptoms in a more cyclical fashion due to their menstrual cycle.
Symptoms
Bipolar disorder is defined by three main phases. The severity and duration of each phase varies from person to person.
1.Mania
Known as the high phase, manic episodes involve an elevated mood, impulsivity, and erratic behaviors. Researchers believe mania is caused by an overabundance of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine.
Severe manic episodes can make it difficult for an individual to perform their day-to-day responsibilities. People in mania often exhibit poor judgment and may make irrational choices concerning their finances. Mania also causes a sense of indestructibility that can result in reckless and dangerous behaviors. In very severe cases, mania can cause visual and auditory hallucinations and delusions of grandeur.
A manic episode can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. However, for most people, it lasts around 6 to 7 days. Since people in mania often feel euphoric and creative, they are less likely to seek help or treatment in this phase. However, the loss of impulse control and increase in risk-taking can cause an individual to become a danger to themselves. As a result, many people are hospitalized during a manic phase.
2.Depression
Depressive episodes usually follow the manic phase, but this is not true for every individual. During a depressive phase, an individual will seem very different from how they appeared in mania. Instead of having boundless energy, they will become lethargic, sad, and withdrawn. They may lose interest in their hobbies or socializing with other people.
Severe depression can lead to physiological changes, including reduced or increased appetite, weight changes, and altered sleeping patterns. Some people may develop suicidal ideations.
The bipolar depressive phase is very similar to unipolar depressive disorder. As people are more likely to seek treatment during the depressive stage, they are often misclassified as depressed. Unfortunately common medications for unipolar depression can worsen manic episodes.
3.Hypomania and Rapid Cycling
Some people with bipolar disorder experience two other types of symptoms; hypomanic episodes and rapid cycling.
Hypomania, as the name suggests, is a milder form of mania. While more severe symptoms such as psychosis do not appear in hypomania, it can still cause disruptions to an individual’s everyday life. Hypomania is not exclusive to bipolar disorder.
It can also appear in individuals with schizoaffective disorder, a personality disorder defined by disordered thinking patterns and psychosis.
Rapid cycling refers to the time period between elevated and low moods. If an individual goes through at least four cycles of manic and depressive phases within one year, they meet the criteria for rapid cycling. If four simultaneous episodes occur within four weeks, then this is defined as ultra-rapid cycling.
Many people with bipolar disorder do experience a period of rapid cycling, but it is usually temporary. However, rapid cycling is a permanent feature for one out of five individuals with the disorder.
Types of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is classified into four distinct categories. While each type goes through the above mentioned episodes, the exact symptoms differ.
1.Bipolar I
Bipolar I features both episodes of mania and depression. People with Bipolar I usually experience their first manic episode in their late teens or early twenties. As the manic phase is more pronounced in Bipolar I, individuals with this order are much more likely to be hospitalized during their manic phase.
2.Bipolar II
Bipolar II is similar to bipolar I, except that an individual experiences hypomania rather than mania. People with bipolar II spend more time in depressive episodes than individuals with bipolar I.
Since the manic episode is less intense, people with bipolar II are often misdiagnosed with unipolar depression.
3.Unspecific
Some people’s symptoms don’t fit neatly into either bipolar I or II. For example, an individual may experience high and low mood, but the duration doesn’t meet the definition for bipolar disorder. The unspecific label may also be applied to bipolar symptoms that appear after heavy drug or alcohol use. People who only experience hypomania are also classified as unspecified.
4.Cyclothymia
Cyclothymia features both depressive and manic episodes, but the fluctuations and symptoms are much milder than those related to bipolar disorder. While these mood swings don’t directly interfere with everyday life, people with cyclothymia may have difficulty managing their relationships or responsibilities. There is also some concern that untreated cyclothymia can progress into bipolar disorder.
Cyclothymia is very rare. People with the condition are often diagnosed with other mood disorders, such as anxiety, borderline personality disorder, or depression.
5.Diagnosis
Most people experiencing bipolar disorder probably understand that something is not right. Taking an online bipolar depression test can serve as a first step toward identifying symptoms. However, bipolar disorder can only be officially diagnosed by a qualified medical professional.
A psychologist or mental health specialist will review the patient’s personal and family history to assess their risk of bipolar disorder. They will also conduct other exams to rule out other possible causes, including neurological issues or substance use.
Since emotional dysregulation is common in individuals under 18, bipolar disorder is rarely diagnosed in teens and children. However, young people can develop bipolar disorder.
Treatments
Bipolar disorder treatments work to both minimize symptoms and provide healthy coping strategies for managing the disorder.
Medication
Many people benefit from taking a class of medicines known as mood stabilizers. These drugs reduce the extreme effects of mania and depression. Finding the right combination of medication can take time.
Therapy
Research shows that talk therapy is effective for people with bipolar disorder. During a therapy session, the patient will learn how to recognize their emotional patterns and episode triggers.
Since social support is also important for maintaining mental health, people with bipolar disorder are encouraged to attend group therapy. In some cases, a therapist may recommend family or couples therapy to help the individual’s loved ones understand how to provide support.
Holistic Treatments
Healthy lifestyle habits are also key to managing bipolar disorder. Following a sleep routine and practicing stress management techniques can make everyday life more predictable and reduce the onset of bipolar episodes. Relaxing exercises such as mindfulness meditation and yoga can also complement prescription drugs and traditional therapies.
