Things You Didn’t Know About Bipolar Disorder
Have you ever encountered someone who is overly happy and energized, or sad and depressed at other times? Are you confused over this erratic and unpredictable behavior? The unfortunate truth is that the person might have Bipolar Disorder.
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental condition that brings about severe highs and lows in a person’s behavior. This can bring about a drastic change in the person’s sleep, thinking, and energy levels. In between the ups and downs, the person feels completely normal. The highs and lows of the person’s mood can be considered as two poles. Thus, the name bipolar disorder.
What Are The Different Types Of Bipolar Disorder?
- Bipolar I disorder
Bipolar I disorder is characterized by extremely erratic behavior. The person will have ups and downs that will last for 1-2 weeks and require medical intervention to calm down.
- Bipolar II disorder
This type of disorder is also characterized by highs and lows in mood. But it is not as severe as bipolar I disorder.
- Cyclothymic disorder
These are periods of ups and downs that will last for two years in adults and one year in children. The symptoms may not be as severe as bipolar I and II.
What Are The Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder?
The peculiarity of bipolar disorder is that the person does not experience high and low moods in a set pattern. The pattern and severity changes from person to person.
Symptoms of a High mood
– Extreme happiness and excitement.
– High energy and less need for rest and sleep.
– High self-confidence.
– High sex drive.
Symptoms of a Low mood
– Making unrealistic plans.
– Dependence on alcohol and drugs.
– Getting easily distracted.
– Depressed and sad, followed by uncontrollable crying.
– Losing hope and confidence.
– Difficulty concentrating and making decisions.
– Lack of sex drive.
– Feeling sleepy most of the time.
– Thought of suicide and even attempting to do so.
What Are the Causes of Bipolar Disorder?
The exact cause of the bipolar disorder is not known. If you have first-degree relatives like parents or siblings with this condition, you are more likely to get it. Thus, genetics play a key role.
Sometimes, a highly stressful situation like the death of a dear one or a traumatic event can cause bipolar disorder.
How is Bipolar Disorder Treated?
Bipolar disorder needs long-term treatment and care. The different forms of treatment include
- Medication Mood stabilizers, anti-depressants, anti-anxiety medication, and antipsychotic drugs are used for treating this condition. The doctor will prescribe a combination of medicines to figure out what works for you. Once the right combination is figured out, you should take the treatment for a prolonged period.
- Psychotherapy This includes talking to the patient and the family members about the condition and setting a daily routine for the patient. It also involves teaching the patient to manage stress and other negative factors that trigger the condition.
Final Thought
A person is more likely to get bipolar disorder if it runs in the family. But the good news is that there is treatment for this condition. By effectively following the same as per your doctor’s advice, you can lead a normal life.
