Bipolar disorder (also called “manic depression” or “manic depressive disorder”) is a mental illness that causes an individual to experience extreme shifts in mood, energy, thinking, and behavior. People with this disorder may feel the highs of mania one minute, and feel extremely depressed the next. The moods experienced with bipolar disorder are more than just a few bad moments— they are cycles that can last anywhere from days to months. Also, these changes in mood are so severe that they hinder people’s ability to function on a daily basis.
The symptoms of bipolar disorder typically begin to manifest themselves in the late teens or early in their adult years, though many people may develop this disorder at other points in their lives. Though a definitive cause of the disorder is unknown, it’s believed that both genetic and environmental factors are responsible. Children who have a parent or sibling with bipolar disorder have an increased risk of developing the disorder.
Some of the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder are listed below:
Signs of a manic state
- Feeling extremely happy.
- Talking faster than is normal.
- Feeling agitated.
- Overconfidence.
- Decreased sleep.
- Irritability.
- Racing thoughts.
- Behaving impulsively.
- Engaging in high-risk behaviors, such as reckless driving, gambling, or excessive spending.
Signs of a depressive state:
- Feeling sad or hopeless.
- Irritability.
- Low self-esteem.
- Abandoning favorite activities.
- Having difficulty concentrating or remembering.
- Experiencing unusual sleep habits such as sleeping too much or too little.
- Thinking about death or suicide.
People frequently ask me how I treat patients who have bipolar disorder. In truth, there are many paths to successful treatment, which is why the most important step in the entire process is proper diagnosis. Since bipolar disorder is often overdiagnosed, it’s crucial that a thorough and accurate assessment be made at the beginning of the process. When it is verified that bipolar disorder is present, things such as mood stabilizers and medications can be used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Though it’s a great help, when it comes to the treatment of bipolar disorder, medication alone usually doesn’t fix the problem. Most people with bipolar disorder, benefit greatly from psychiatric care that helps them understand things that may trigger episodes and also how different coping techniques can delay or altogether prevent episodes. Self-care plays an important role in managing bipolar disorders. Some of the self-care strategies for bipolar disorder include sleep, rest, diet, exercise, meditative and spiritual practices, and avoidance of stress. The ultimate goal of psychiatric care is to help patients be able to lead happy, productive, and fulfilling lives.
The tendency to try to figure out if you have bipolar disorder is not unusual, especially if you’ve spotted what you believe are signs in yourself. Trying to diagnose yourself is likely to cause you unnecessary worry, however, and there’s no need to put yourself through this. Your best option is to see a psychiatric nurse practitioner who can conduct an appropriate assessment to determine whether you have bipolar disorder, another mental health disorder, no mental health disorder, or perhaps symptoms resulting from substance misuse.
If you are interested in treatment for bipolar disorder, or if you have any questions for me, feel free to contact me here. I look forward to speaking with you soon.