All you should know about :Bipolar Disorders

 

Bipolar disorder is commonly known as manic depressive illness or manic depression which is called lifelong mood disorders and mental health condition that causes your moods and energy levels, thinking patterns and also your behaviour. These mood shifts can last for hours, days, weeks or months and also disturb your ability to carry out your daily activities.

Let’s see a few other types of bipolar disorder, which includes experiencing significant mood fluctuations commonly referred to as hypomanic/manic and depressive episodes. Typically, people with bipolar disorders are not always in a hypomanic/manic or depressive state, they also experience some normal mood period known as euthymia.

Types of bipolar disorder

Four types of bipolar disorder, including:

Bipolar I disorder: 

People with I disorder experienced one or more episodes of mania. Most people with these types of disorders have episodes of both mania and depression. But it’s not necessary for diagnosis. The other impact of depression episodes normally lasts at least 2 weeks. If your manic episodes should last at least 7 days or be so severe that you need hospitalization, then it will be diagnosed as bipolar I.

Bipolar II disorder:

Bipolar II disorder people mostly experience both depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes. But these types, people will never experience full manic episodes because this is the characteristic of bipolar I disorder. Due to chronic depression being more common in bipolar II, when comparing hypomania with bipolar I, II is less impairing than mania, bipolar II disorder is often weaker your body than bipolar I disorder.

Cyclothymic disorder (cyclothymia):

In this type, for at least two years they experience hypomania and mild depression. Typically, Cyclothymic disorders have a chronically unstable mood state but this type may have normal mood periods (euthymia) which usually lasts fewer than eight weeks.

Other specified and unspecified bipolar and related disorders:

If a person does not diagnosed with both bipolar I and bipolar II or cyclothymia but still that person experienced periods of clinically significant abnormal mood elevation then it will be considered as other specified or unspecified bipolar disorder.

Signs and symptoms of manic episodes

Most people with bipolar disorder will experience both mania or hypomania many times throughout their life but others may not experience them or in any rare cases.

Manic episode signs and symptoms:

• They experience Excessive happiness, hopefulness and excitement.
• They have Sudden and severe changes in mood, such as going from being happier to being angry and hostile.
• They experience Restlessness.
• They have Rapid speech and racing thoughts.
• They experience more energy and less need for sleep.
• They experience increased impulsivity and poor decision making, such as suddenly quitting your job.
• They make any grand or unattainable plans.
• They doing Reckless and risk-taking behaviour, such as drug and alcohol misuse and having unsafe or unprotected sex.
• They Feel like you’re unusually important, talented or powerful.
• Psychosis —  In the most severe manic episodes experiencing hallucinations and delusions

Signs and symptoms of hypomania

Certain people with bipolar disorder will experience milder manic-like symptoms which is called hypomania. With this hypomania you may feel very good and that you have more to be done. Hypomania people can often do well in social situations or at your workplace.

You may feel like you're doing something wrong. But your friends and family members will notice your mood swings and activity level changes and think that they are unusual for you. After the period of hypomania, you might experience severe depression.

Signs and symptoms of depressive episodes

They include:

• They have Overwhelming sadness.
• They have Low energy and fatigue.
• They feel like Lack of motivation.
• They have Feelings like hopelessness or worthlessness.
• They feel Loss of enjoyment of things that were once pleasurable for you.
• They experience difficulty in concentrating and making decisions.
• They have Uncontrollable crying.
• They feel irritable.
• They need Increased time for sleep.
• They experience insomnia or excessive sleep.
• Sudden change in appetite, causing weight loss or gain.
• Sudden thoughts of suicidal ideation (death or suicide)

Signs and symptoms of a mixed episode

Mixed episodes have symptoms of both manic and depressive moods together. In this type of episode, you have more negative thoughts that come with this depression state but also feel agitated, restless and high energy. Those who are experiencing mixed episodes, then people say this is the worst part of bipolar disorders.

Causes of bipolar disorder

Changes in your brain:

In people with bipolar disorder, Researchers have identified some differences in the average size or activation of some brain structures. But scanning the brain can’t diagnose the condition.

Environmental factors like trauma and stress:

Triggers of manic or depressive episodes are stressful events, such as the death of a loved one, a serious illness, divorce or financial problems. This stress and trauma play a vital role in the development of bipolar disorder.

Diagnosis of bipolar disorder

Your healthcare provider will use many tools to diagnose bipolar disorder, including:

• A physical examination.
• Your life’s full of medical history, which will include asking about your symptoms, lifetime history, experiences and family history.
• Laboratory medical tests, like blood tests, to rule out other conditions
• Evaluation of your mental health. Your doctor may perform the evaluation, or they may refer you to a specialist, like psychologist or psychiatrist.

Treatment

Treatment can be done for many people including those who are affecting severe forms of bipolar disorder. Your healthcare provider provides you a effective treatment plan which includes:

• Psychotherapy is called talk therapy.
• Some Medications.
• Treatments like Self-treatment strategies, like education and identifying the early symptoms of disorders or identifying possible triggers of episodes.
• Lifestyle habits of exercise, yoga and meditation. Lifestyle habits can support, but not for replacement, or any treatment.
• Other therapies that are very poorly responsive to medication, such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Lifestyle changes

To stop the abnormal behaviours that worsen the symptoms of bipolar disorder, your healthcare team will suggest you make some lifestyle changes. Few of these lifestyle changes include:

• You should quit drinking alcohol and/or using reused drugs and tobacco
• You must Keep a daily diary or mood chart
• You should Maintain a healthy sleep schedule
• Do Exercise regularly
• Do Meditation
• Should manage stress and maintain healthy relationships

Outlook

This is a lifelong illness. But it can be managed by long-term, ongoing treatment, such as medication and talk therapy, which enable you to live a healthy, purposeful life. More important part of this disorder is visiting your healthcare provider to monitor.

Your treatment plan and symptoms. Many of them are here to support you both emotionally and physically by friends and families and the healthcare team.