SIGNS YOU HAVE BIPOLAR DISORDER

Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme changes in mood, from mania to depression. Between these mood episodes, a person with bipolar disorder may experience normal moods. Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). 

When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. When your mood shifts to mania or hypomania (less extreme than mania), you may feel euphoric, full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior and the ability to think clearly.  Episodes of mood swings may occur rarely or multiple times a year. While most people will experience some emotional symptoms between episodes, some may not experience any.

Although bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, you can manage your mood swings and other symptoms by following a treatment plan. In most cases, bipolar disorder is treated with medications and psychological counseling (psychotherapy).

Overview

• Bipolar disorder, also known as bipolar affective disorder, is a mood disorder. It used to be called manic depression.
• Bipolar disorder can cause your mood to swing from an extreme high to an extreme low.
• Manic symptoms can include increased energy, excitement, impulsive behaviour and agitation.
• Depressive symptoms can include lack of energy, feeling worthless, low self-esteem and suicidal thoughts.
• You can also have psychotic symptoms. Psychotic symptoms can mean that you see and hear things that feel real but they don’t exist.
• There are different types of bipolar disorder.
• We don’t know what causes bi-polar. But it is thought to be a combination of genetic and environmental causes
• Bipolar disorder is treated with medication or talking therapies.
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When you feeling Mania

During a manic phase of bipolar disorder, you may:

• feel very happy
• have lots of energy, ambitious plans and ideas
• spend large amounts of money on things you cannot afford and would not normally want

It's also common to:

• not feel like eating or sleeping
• talk quickly
• become annoyed easily

You may feel very creative and view the manic phase of bipolar as a positive experience.

But you may also experience symptoms of psychosis, where you see or hear things that are not there or become convinced of things that are not true.

Hypomania

Hypomania is like mania but you will have milder symptoms. Treatment for hypomania is similar to the treatment for mania.

Depression

Symptoms of depression can include:

• low mood,
• having less energy and feeling tired,
• feeling hopeless or negative,
• feeling guilty, worthless or helpless,
• being less interested in things you normally like doing or enjoying them less,
• difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions,
• feeling restless or irritable,
• sleeping too much or not being able to sleep,
• feeling more or less hungry than usual,
• losing or gaining weight, when you do not mean to, and
• thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts.

Psychosis

Sometimes you can have psychotic symptoms during a severe episode of mania or depression. Symptoms of psychosis can be:

• hallucinations. This means that you may hear, see, or feel things that are not there, and
• delusions. This means you may believe things that are not true. Other people will usually find your beliefs unusual.

Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder can reflect your mood. For example, if you have a manic episode you may believe that you have special powers, or are being monitored by the government. If you have depressive episode, you may feel very guilty about something you think you have done. You may feel that you are worse than anybody else or feel that you don't exist.

Causes of bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a common mental health disorder, but it’s a bit of a mystery to doctors and researchers. It’s not yet clear what causes some people to develop the condition and not others.

Possible causes of bipolar disorder include:

Genetics

If your parent or sibling has bipolar disorder, you’re more likely than other people to develop the condition (see below). However, it’s important to keep in mind that most people who have bipolar disorder in their family history don’t develop it.

Your brain

Your brain structure may impact your risk for the disease. Abnormalities in the structure or functions of your brain may increase your risk.

Environmental factors

It’s not just what’s in your body that can make you more likely to develop bipolar disorder. Outside factors may contribute, too. These factors can include:

• extreme stress
• traumatic experiences
• physical illness

Each of these factors may influence who develops bipolar disorder. What’s more likely, however, is that a combination of factors contributes to the development of the disease.

Bipolar symptoms in women

Men and women are diagnosed with bipolar disorder in equal numbers. However, the main symptoms of the disorder may be different between the two genders. In many cases, a woman with bipolar disorder may:

• be diagnosed later in life, in her 20s or 30s
• have milder episodes of mania
• experience more depressive episodes than manic episodes
• have four or more episodes of mania and depression in a year, which is called rapid cycling
• experience other conditions at the same time, including thyroid disease, obesity, anxiety disorders, and migraines
• have a higher lifetime risk of alcohol use disorder

Women with bipolar disorder may also relapse more often. This is believed to be caused by hormonal changes related to menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause. If you’re a woman and think you may have bipolar disorder, it’s important for you to get the facts.

Symptoms

There are several types of bipolar and related disorders. They may include mania or hypomania and depression. Symptoms can cause unpredictable changes in mood and behavior, resulting in significant distress and difficulty in life.

• Bipolar I disorder. You've had at least one manic episode that may be preceded or followed by hypomanic or major depressive episodes. In some cases, mania may trigger a break from reality (psychosis).
• Bipolar II disorder. You've had at least one major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode, but you've never had a manic episode.
• Cyclothymic disorder. You've had at least two years — or one year in children and teenagers — of many periods of hypomania symptoms and periods of depressive symptoms (though less severe than major depression).
• Other types. These include, for example, bipolar and related disorders induced by certain drugs or alcohol or due to a medical condition, such as Cushing's disease, multiple sclerosis or stroke.

However, many people with bipolar disorder have found the following tools to be helpful in reducing symptoms and maintaining wellness:

• Talk to a supportive person
• Get a full eight hours of sleep
• Cut back on your activities
• Attend a support group
• Call your doctor or therapist
• Do something fun or creative, or write in your journal 
• Take time for yourself to relax and unwind
• Increase your exposure to light
• Exercise
• Ask for extra help from loved ones
• Cut back on sugar, alcohol, and caffeine
• Increase or decrease the stimulation in your environment
• Develop an active daily routine
• Keep stress to a minimum
• Avoid eating junk food

Healthy sleep habits for managing bipolar disorder

• Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day.
• Avoid or minimize napping, especially if it interferes with your sleep at night.
• Instead of viewing screens or other stimulating activities before bed, try taking a bath, reading a book, or listening to relaxing music.
• Limit caffeine after lunch and alcohol at night as both interfere with sleep.

The importance of support in bipolar disorder recovery

"People with bipolar disorder do better when they have support from family members and friends. They tend to recover more quickly, experience fewer manic and depressive episodes, and have milder symptoms."

 

If I experience mood swings does that mean I have bipolar?

"No, everyone has good and not so good days and experiences mood swings."

Bipolar disorder and the family 

Living with a person who has bipolar disorder can cause stress and tension in the home. On top of the challenge of dealing with your loved one’s symptoms and their consequences, family members often struggle with feelings of guilt, fear, anger, and helplessness. Ultimately, the strain can cause serious relationship problems. But there are better ways to cope.

 

The first step to successfully dealing with bipolar disorder is for families to learn to accept the illness and its difficulties. When you’re feeling frustrated or guilty, remember that bipolar disorder isn’t anyone’s fault. Accepting bipolar disorder involves acknowledging that things may never again be “normal.” Treatment can make a huge difference for your loved one, but it may not take care of all symptoms or impairments. To avoid disappointment and resentments, it’s important to have realistic expectations. Expecting too much of your family member is a recipe for failure. On the other hand, expecting too little can also hinder recovery, so try to find a balance between encouraging independence and providing support.

Supporting a person with bipolar disorder

Sticks and stones can break bones, but words hurt, too. Talking carelessly can shatter self-esteem and stifle a person’s motivation to have a life again. Instead, use statements that are more likely to strengthen relationships and support recovery.

What you can say that helps:

• “You’re not alone in this. I’m here for you.”
• “I understand that it’s your illness that causes these thoughts and feelings.”
• “You may not believe it now, but the way you’re feeling can and will change.”
• “I may not be able to understand exactly how you feel, but I care about you and want to help and support you.”
• “You are important to me. Your life is important to me.”
• “I love you, and I care." or “I’ll be your friend no matter what.”
  

Common Misconceptions about Bipolar Disorder

In addition to the unwarranted stigma that surrounds bipolar disorder, there are many misconceptions about its symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. These are several prevailing myths:

• Individuals cause their disorder. Bipolar disorder is caused by a complex interplay of genetic, biological and environmental factors.
• You can will yourself out of mood swings. Left untreated, bipolar disorder can wreak havoc on a person’s life. It requires both medical treatment and psychotherapy.
• You’ll never be normal. “Many patients in the beginning feel like they won’t be able to accomplish their goals, that bipolar will prevent them from getting married or getting the job of their dreams,” Reilly-Harrington said. She adds that though your life might require certain changes, you can pursue your dreams. For instance, her student patients might take fewer classes every semester and take longer to graduate, but they still achieve a college degree.
• Bipolar is easy to diagnose. “It’s often very difficult to diagnose bipolar disorder based on an initial visit, even a prolonged one,” said Elizabeth Brondolo, Ph.D, a clinical psychologist specializing in bipolar disorder and professor at St. John’s University in New York. This typically occurs because our self-awareness changes with mood.”It can be hard to translate the experiences and moods you have into the symptoms identified in the DSM or other scales,” said Brondolo, who also co-authored Break the Bipolar Cycle: A Day-to-Day Guide to Living with Bipolar Disorder. For instance, what might appear to you as confidence and clever ideas for a new business venture might be a pattern of grandiose thinking and manic behavior. While you’re focused on your business experience, others notice your mood and behavior, Brondolo said. Same with irritability, a symptom that often goes unrecognized: You’re more focused on feeling frustrated than looking inward. Because you might not be a reliable reporter, talk to your loved ones to get objective impressions, Brondolo said.

Telling Others about Your Diagnosis

Having a support system is critical in successfully managing bipolar disorder. But you might be uncertain about who to tell. According to Reilly-Harrington, be very selective. She emphasizes that it shouldn’t feel like a secret, but you should realize that people’s reactions vary widely. Because many people don’t understand the disorder, patients can feel disappointed after disclosing that they have it.

Many patients, though, do have positive experiences. For one of Brondolo’s patients, who worked in a very supportive environment, telling her boss allowed the patient to be herself and do her job more effectively. 

However, every workplace and family member is different. Brondolo suggests first consulting your therapist or doctor. Also, examine your concerns, Brondolo said. Ask yourself, “What am I worried about?” “How can I potentially be harmed?” Consider turning to support groups to learn about other patients’ experiences, suggests Reilly-Harrington.

If you’re ready to disclose your diagnosis, be straightforward, said Brondolo. It’s helpful to give information about the disorder since myths abound.

Resource:
https://psychcentral.com
https://www.helpguide.org/articles/bipolar-disorder/living-with-bipolar-disorder.htm
https://www.healthline.com/health/could-it-be-bipolar-signs-to-look-for