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If You Think You Have Bipolar Disorder, Read This

Updated: Oct 14, 2023

If You Think You Have Bipolar Disorder, Read This

Extreme alterations in mood, energy level, and behavior are hallmarks of bipolar disorder, a persistent mood disease. A person can have bipolar disorder, and it’s not unusual. The NIMH estimates that 2.8% of U.S. adults, or roughly 5 million people, have bipolar disorder. While there is currently no known cure for bipolar disease, numerous effective treatments are available. With the help of these treatments, you can learn to cope with episodes of depression or bipolar disorder, which will alleviate your symptoms and enhance your quality of life.

What is bipolar disorder?

Mood swings, energy levels, thought processes, and behavior is severely disrupted by bipolar disorder, a mental health illness that lasts a person’s entire life. These changes can hinder your ability to go about your routine for several hours, days, weeks, or months.

Hypomanic, manic, and depressed periods characterize those who suffer from one of several subtypes of bipolar illness. People with bipolar disorder can experience both hypomania and mania, and depression. They also have bouts of euthymia or a state of happiness.

Symptoms

The International Bipolar Association reports that symptoms can differ from person to person. Some persons may experience a protracted episode that lasts for months or even years. Some people have their “highs” and “lows” simultaneously, or very quickly, one after the other.

Manic symptoms include:

  1. Extreme levels of joy, anticipation, and energy

  2. Suddenly shifting from a cheerful disposition to one of irritability,

  3. anger, and hostility

  4. Restlessness

  5. Disorganized talk and lack of focus

  6. Enhanced vitality and decreased sleepiness

  7. Extreme levels of sexual desire

  8. Setting ambitious but improbable goals

  9. Having a lack of good sense

A person with bipolar illness may exhibit the following symptoms during depressive phases:

  1. Sadness

  2. Consumption of resources

  3. Despair or a lack of self-esteem

  4. Disinterest in activities they used to enjoy

  5. Not being able to focus

  6. Forgetfulness

  7. Talking slowly

  8. Lower levels of sexual desire

  9. Lack of capacity for pleasure

  10. Uncontrollable crying

  11. Having a hard time deciding what to do

What Are the Causes of Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder has multiple possible origins. Scientists are looking into what causes it in some people, and they’ve identified a few potential triggers.

For example, sometimes it’s just a matter of genetics, meaning you get it from your parents. Brain development may potentially have a role. However, the particular mechanisms and underlying causes are unknown to science.

What Are the Treatments for Bipolar Disorders?

Treating bipolar disorder is possible. This is a chronic condition requiring continuous medical attention. It’s a lifelong health issue that needs constant attention. Many people with this illness lead healthy, productive lives with families and careers. Some people with the disorder have more difficult-to-treat types, such as those who experience four or more mood episodes each year or struggle simultaneously with substance abuse.

  1. Drug treatment

Mood and symptom stabilization medications exist. Typically, a doctor will recommend a mix of:

  1. Lithium antidepressants and other mood stabilizers medications for sleep or anxiety, anticonvulsants, and second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) for treating manic episodes

  2. Over time, the doctor may need to make adjustments to the dosage. Although everyone responds differently to medications, certain medicines can cause unwanted side effects. People should consult their physician if they have medication questions or concerns.

  3. Psychotherapy and counseling

It can alleviate symptoms and gain the skills necessary to manage bipolar disorder through psychotherapy. Individuals can benefit from therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) by learning how to:

  1. The ability to identify and control important antecedents like stress

  2. Locate the beginnings of an incident and take corrective action

  3. Pursue means of prolonged periods of emotional stability.

  4. Ask for assistance from someone you trust, such as friends and family or your professors and coworkers.

These measures can help a person maintain good relationships at home and in the workplace. When diagnosing a kid or adolescent with bipolar disorder, doctors sometimes suggest family counseling.

  1. Lifestyle remedies

Keeping a steady mood and controlling symptoms is possible with the help of specific lifestyle changes. Those things are:

  1. Maintaining a schedule

  2. Eating in a balanced and nutritious manner

  3. Developing a regular sleeping schedule and implementing measures

  4. to avoid sleep disruptions

  5. Engaging in regular physical activity

You should talk to your doctor before starting any supplement regimen.

Takeaway

Mood, energy, and focus shifts are just a few symptoms of bipolar disorder, a severe but surprisingly common mental health disease. It can cause significant disruption. However, treatment dramatically improves the prognosis. Closely working with a doctor during treatment can make symptoms more bearable and improve quality of life, but it may not eradicate mood changes.

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