Bipolar Disorders
Bipolar disorder can affect how someone feels, their energy levels, and their ability to do things. It can make their mood change a lot. People with bipolar disorder have times when they feel very happy or irritable (called manic or hypomanic episodes) and times when they feel very sad (called depressive episodes). They also have periods when their mood is normal. With the right treatment, people with Bipolar Disorder Reduce Mental Health can live a good life and do well.
Around eighty to ninety percent of individuals with bipolar disorder have a family member who also experiences the condition or depression. Factors like stress, irregular sleep patterns, substance abuse, and alcohol can contribute to mood swings in people who are already susceptible. While the exact brain-related causes of bipolar disorder are not fully understood, it is believed that an imbalance in brain chemicals can lead to dysregulated brain activity. On average, the disorder tends to begin around the age of 25.
Bipolar I Disorder
A manic episode is what leads to the diagnosis of bipolar I disorder. People with bipolar I disorder experience intense bursts of energy and may feel extremely euphoric or excessively irritable during a manic episode. Additionally, individuals with bipolar I disorder also have periods of normal mood, and some may also experience depressive or hypomanic episodes.
Symptoms of Bipolar I Disorder
Manic Episode
A manic episode is a time that lasts for at least one week when a person shows at least three of the following behavior changes and feels excessively happy or irritable for most of the day, almost every day.
Reduced need for sleep, as evidenced by the feeling of energy despite getting significantly less sleep than usual
- larger or more rapid speech
- When speaking, have erratic or uncontrollably racing thoughts or change topics quickly.
- Distractibility
- heightened activity (e.g., restlessness, working on several projects at once)
- higher risk-taking behavior (e.g., reckless driving, spending sprees)
During a manic episode, the noticeable behaviors must be evident to the person’s friends and family, and they should be different from the person’s usual behavior. The symptoms of the condition should be severe enough to disrupt the person’s daily responsibilities, such as work, family, or social obligations. Often, individuals experiencing symptoms of a manic episode require hospitalization to ensure their safety.
Hypomanic Episode
A hypomanic episode is marked by less severe manifestations of manic symptoms, and it only needs to last for a continuous period of four days instead of a full week. Unlike manic symptoms, hypomanic symptoms typically do not cause significant disruptions to daily functioning. However, it’s important to be aware that bipolar disorder can have negative effects on Mental Health.
Major Depressive Episode
A major depressive episode refers to a specific period when an individual encounters at least five of the symptoms listed below (including at least one of the first two symptoms), consistently persisting for a minimum of two weeks. Bipolar disorder can have negative effects on mental health.
- Extreme melancholy or despair
- loss of interest in once-favorite activities
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Fatigue
- Either more or less sleep
- Changing or decreasing one’s appetite
- Pacing or agitation, or slowed speech or movement
- Difficulty paying attention
- Recurring suicidal or death thoughts
Management and Treatment
With proper treatment, symptoms of Bipolar Disorder Reduce Mental Health often improve. Medication is the primary approach for managing bipolar disorder, but talk therapy, also known as psychotherapy, can also be beneficial. Psychotherapy helps many patients comprehend their condition and adhere to their prescribed medications, thereby reducing the risk of future mood swings.
The most commonly prescribed medications for bipolar disorder are known as “mood stabilizers,” which include drugs like lithium. These medications aim to restore proper balance to disrupted brain signaling. Since bipolar disorder is a chronic condition characterized by recurring mood episodes that can impact mental health, ongoing preventive treatment is recommended. Treatment for bipolar disorder is personalized, and patients may need to try different medications before finding the one that works best for them.
Bipolar II Disorder
To receive a diagnosis of bipolar II disorder, an individual must have encountered at least one major depressive episode and one hypomanic episode (as mentioned earlier).
Once the occurrence of new episodes subsides, individuals with bipolar II disorder can resume their regular activities. Many individuals seek treatment after experiencing their first depressive episode because hypomanic episodes can be enjoyable and may even enhance performance in work or school settings. It is not uncommon for individuals with bipolar II disorder to also have co-occurring anxiety disorders and substance use disorders, which can further intensify symptoms of depression or hypomania.
Treatment
Similar to bipolar I, bipolar II is treated with both medication and psychotherapy. Depending on the specific symptoms, mood stabilizers and antidepressants are commonly prescribed medications for bipolar disorder. In cases where medication proves ineffective and depressive symptoms are severe, Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) may be considered as a treatment option. The course of treatment for bipolar disorder is individualized and varies for each patient, taking into account their specific needs and circumstances.
Disorder Cyclothymic
A milder version of bipolar disorder called cyclothymic disorder involves a lot of “mood swings,” with frequent episodes of hypomania and depressive symptoms. Cyclothymia patients experience emotional ups and downs, but with milder signs and symptoms than those of bipolar I or II disorder.
Symptoms of cyclothymic disorder include the following:
- Numerous periods of hypomania and depression have been present for at least two years, but the symptoms do not fit the description of a hypomanic or depressive episode.
- The symptoms (mood swings) have been present for at least half of the two years and have never subsided for longer than two months.
Treatment
Medication and talk therapy are two possible forms of treatment for cyclothymic disorder. Bipolar Disorder Reduce Mental Health talk therapy can often relieve the stresses brought on by mood swings. A useful way to spot patterns in mood swings is to keep a mood journal. Cyclothymic individuals may begin and stop treatment over time.
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Why is Mental Health Important?
Stabilizing constructive behaviors, emotions, and thoughts requires maintaining good mental health and treating any mental health conditions. Focusing on mental health care can boost productivity, improve our self-perception, and strengthen bonds with others.
Taking care of our mental health not only makes it easier for us to function on a daily basis, but it can also help us combat or at least control some physical health issues that are closely related to mental health issues. For instance, since stress and heart disease are linked, reducing stress may benefit heart disease.
Taking care of our mental health can also have the following advantages:
- Lifting our spirits
- Lowering our fear
- Fostering a greater sense of inner calm
- Higher level of clarity
- Enhancing our connections
- Increasing our sense of self
Know that there is assistance available if you or someone you care about requires mental health care. Keep in mind that the sooner you start treating
a mental health condition, the higher the likelihood that treatment will be effective. Individual or family therapy, support groups, online resources,
community clinics, or asking a friend or relative for help are all options for getting support.