Over 5.7 million adult Americans are living with bipolar disorder. This is a mental illness that involves extreme mood swings and depression. It affects both men and women, but the two genders will typically be diagnosed at different points in life and often experience different symptoms. There isn’t an exact cause for developing bipolar disorder. That’s why it’s important to search online to understand whether you might be at risk for this condition.
Since there is no cure for bipolar disorder, those diagnosed must learn how to manage their illness. Whether you’re currently living with bipolar disorder or are worried about a loved one, you can learn more about how this condition is treated with a search online.
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes extreme changes in someone’s mood, energy and behavior. This means a person can go from experiencing emotional highs (mania or hypomania) to extreme lows (depression). If untreated, this condition can greatly impact someone’s sleep, activity, judgment, and ability to think clearly.
There are three main types of bipolar disorder. These types are based on the severity and duration of the altered mood.
Bipolar I
- The most severe form of the illness
- Characterized by at least one manic episode or mix episodes, and one or more major depressive episodes
- Episodes can last for at least one week or potentially months
Bipolar II
- Characterized by predominantly depressive episodes and occasional hypomanic episodes
- May be periods of normalcy between functioning
- High risk of suicide
Cyclothymic Disorder
- Characterized by shorter, less severe chronic fluctuating moods of hypomania and depression
- Separated by periods of normal mood
- Some people will develop more severe form of bipolar illness, others may remain chronically cyclothymic
There isn’t a known cause for why people develop this condition. It’s possible for a diagnosis to be linked to genetics, brain structure and environmental factors like extreme stress, traumatic experiences or physical illness.
Signs and Symptoms
The main symptoms involved with bipolar disorder are mania, hypomania and depression.
Mania involves extreme highs of excitement, euphoria and energy. It might lead people to go on spending sprees, have unprotected sex and drug use. Hypomania is similar to mania, but less extreme and typically related to people diagnosed bipolar disorder II.
Depression can affect people differently. The main symptoms one might experience from a depressive episode include:
- Deep sadness
- Hopelessness
- Loss of energy
- Lack of interest in activities they once enjoyed
- Too little or too much sleep
- Suicidal thoughts
Bipolar disorder affects men and women differently. While men tend to be diagnosed earlier in life, women aren’t usually diagnosed until their 20s or 30s. Another key difference between genders is that men are more likely to experience severe manic episodes, whereas women commonly experience more depressive episodes.
It’s possible for teens and children to experience bipolar disorder symptoms. A child’s symptoms may overlap with other disorders such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They can experience manic and depressive symptoms, which are very pronounced and more extreme than a typical change in mood.
Teen symptoms are similar to those of an adult. Some symptoms of manic episodes in teens include acting out, taking part in risky behavior, or being very happy. Some signs of a depressive episode include sleeping or eating too much or too little, withdrawing from activities and friends, or showing little excitability.
Diagnosing and Treatments for Bipolar Disorder
If you are experiencing mild or extreme symptoms of bipolar disorder, it’s important to visit a doctor. The sooner you can get a diagnosis, the sooner you’ll be able to manage your symptoms and understand your condition better.
A doctor will likely refer you to a psychiatrist where you will talk about your thoughts, feelings and behavior patterns. They might even ask permission to get information from friends and family about your symptoms for an outsider perspective. The doctor can also have patients keep a daily record of their moods, sleep patterns and other factors to help determine an accurate diagnosis.
After meeting the criteria for bipolar disorder, doctors will then decide on a course of treatment to help keep symptoms manageable. These treatments will become a lifelong routine as there is no cure for this mental condition.
There are several medications you could be prescribed depending on your symptoms. To control manic or hypomanic episodes, you could take mood stabilizers like lithium or valproic acid. Antidepressants could be prescribed to manage depression, in which case a mood stabilizer or antipsychotic might also be prescribed to prevent triggers of a manic episode.
Ultimately the type or combination of medication given to a patient will depend on their unique symptoms and behavioral patterns. Medications can help to balance your mood and therapy can work to keep track of symptoms and behavior.
Living With Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that can be managed with treatments and by understanding the condition. It’s important to stay on top of your treatments to avoid a relapse back into a severe mania or depressive episode.
If you are ever experiencing suicidal thoughts, contact a doctor or your psychiatrist immediately. They will be able to help you keep calm and stabilize your mood with immediate treatment.
To find out how bipolar disorder can specifically impact certain genders and age groups, start an online search.