Bipolar Disorder And The Symptoms
Bipolar Disorder is a disorder with pronounced changes or swings in mood. Some people describe this as feeling "high" and others feeling "low". In the United States, about 2% of adults 18 years or older are believed to have bipolar disorder.
In this post, you will learn what bipolar disorder is and what symptoms to look for in yourself or your loved ones. We will also discuss some ways that you can take action to find out if you may be at risk of the condition and how to get help.
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder or manic-depressive illness is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, and ability to function. These shifts are also known as mood episodes. Mood episodes can have profound effects on day-to-day life.
The moods of someone with bipolar disorder alternate between states that can be very different from each other. A person with bipolar disorder may feel sad, hopeless and tearful (like they are "going through the motions" of living) one day and happy, energetic, optimistic and even euphoric the next. It is this extreme change in mood that defines bipolar disorder as a brain disorder rather than just a mental state.
Every person diagnosed with a mood disorder — like bipolar disorder, major depression or dysthymia — experiences the symptoms in their own unique way but many have certain things in common. Here, we provide you with some general information about what bipolar disorder is and how it affects people. We also discuss some of the treatments available. No two people are alike and some treatments work better for one person than another so be sure to talk to your health care provider about what might work best for you.
The basics of bipolar disorder… Bipolar disorder causes your moods to swing from one extreme to another — from very low (depressed) to very high (manic). You might feel like you're on top of the world, like nothing can stop you, or feel like life is just one big mess that you can't fix.
What are the symptoms and signs of bipolar disorder? Mood episodes
These episodes are what doctors look at when they try to decide if someone has bipolar disorder. Some people have only a few episodes in their lifetime, others have many more.
An episode of depression is different from a "down" mood everyone gets from time to time. People who are depressed often lose interest in activities that they used to enjoy. They may feel hopeless about their future and find it difficult to concentrate and make decisions. They may also talk about or even attempt suicide.
An episode of mania is different from the "pop" of a happy person or the rush of energy that comes with being overly busy or stressed. In the manic phase, people may feel euphoric and carefree. They may be hyperactive and irritable and their sense of humor may seem inappropriate. They might make big plans for the future but often have trouble carrying them out (such as starting a business). Manic episodes can lead to reckless behavior, such as excessive spending, sexual promiscuity, irresponsibility, aggressiveness and other risk-taking behaviors that can cause embarrassment, humiliation and even legal problems.
Thoughts and behaviors
Having a mood disorder is not only about the feelings that you have. It is also about the thoughts and behaviors that follow. Most people who suffer from bipolar disorder can see their thoughts clearly and recognize their inappropriate behavior, but often it's difficult to stop thinking or acting in these ways. People with bipolar disorder may find themselves doing things that they know are harmful to themselves, such as abusing drugs or alcohol or even driving too fast under the influence of mania.
Thoughts and behaviors can happen during any phase of bipolar disorder — just like in normal life — but they are most commonly seen during manic episodes.
During manic episodes, people may feel like they have "super powers" — they may think they can do and say anything and not get in trouble. They may believe that nothing bad can happen to them, like they are invincible. All of this can lead to very bad decisions, such as excessive spending on shopping sprees, risky sexual encounters or even violent outbursts.
During depressive episodes, people tend to be preoccupied with the things that are wrong in their lives. They may feel worthless or guilty about past actions (even though these actions were typical during a manic episode). They may also feel like life isn't worth living and even consider taking their own life during a depressive episode.
Sleep, appetite, sex and energy
Feelings of depression and/or mania can significantly impact a person's sleep patterns, appetite and energy level. This is why it's important to keep track of your symptoms during an episode. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact their health care provider for treatment immediately.
Sleep disturbances are a common symptom in bipolar disorder. People may have trouble sleeping, have nightmares or feel more tired than usual the day after a depressive episode. Hypersomnia is another possible symptom — people may find it difficult to sleep or wake up too early during manic episodes because they are very active. They may also have changes in appetite and/or weight during a manic episode. During a manic episode, people can put on a lot of weight — as much as 20 pounds or more — and this might lead to high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Thoughts about harming self or others
Most people who suffer from bipolar disorder are able to recognize that their thoughts about harming themselves or others is not appropriate. They may even recognize the negative impact that their behaviors can have on the people around them. But instead of acting on these thoughts and removing themselves from harm, they may choose to ignore them or say they were joking. This is a common symptom of bipolar disorder and it can be frustrating for everyone involved.
Other common symptoms of bipolar disorder…
Disturbing thoughts are not the only symptoms of bipolar disorder. Some people may have...
Repeated thoughts and visual images that tell them that they will hurt people or themselves.
Changes in sleeping and eating habits, such as skipping meals or overeating.
Erratic behavior, such as spending sprees or risky behaviors like drug or alcohol abuse.
Social withdrawal, such as losing interest in friends and family members, failing to work or attend school, having fewer social contacts and being unable to maintain relationships with friends and family members.
Sudden changes in memory, such as forgetting things, losing track of time and having trouble recalling previous events or conversations.
Changes in the way that people think about themselves and their experiences.
Hallucinations — hearing voices (auditory hallucinations), seeing things that are not there (visual hallucinations) or feeling as if things are numb or tingly (tactile hallucinations).
Thought disorder — thinking too much, too often and/or not making sense.
Suicidal thoughts — planning to harm oneself or others, attempting suicide and being willing to take extreme risks to achieve this goal. Many times these thoughts can only be triggered when someone is already symptomatic, such as during a manic episode.
Conclusion
No one wants to talk about these issues, but they affect millions of people every year, and their voices must be heard.
Some people are ashamed or embarrassed about having bipolar disorder… and some even think that it's not really an illness. But it is a real illness — just like diabetes, heart disease or any other medical condition. Symptoms of bipolar disorder can range from mild to severe — but no matter how uncomfortable it may be to talk about these things with your friends, family members or co-workers, the more you talk about bipolar disorder and all of its symptoms, the more normal it will become, and the more we'll be able to help those who suffer from it.