Bipolar disorder leads to unusual shifts in mood, energy and activity levels thus hampering the ability to carry out normal day to day tasks. Usually, a person with bipolar disorder experiences fluctuations in moods that swing from low to high and back again in varying degrees. The two extremes of this disorder are mania and depression. Symptoms of bipolar disorder are different from the normal mood fluctuations that people go through from time to time.
Bipolar disorder often develops in a person’s late teens or early adult years. It is extremely difficult to diagnose bipolar disease as the symptoms may be disjointed and may indicate several problems. Like diabetes or heart disease, bipolar disorder is a long-term illness that must be carefully managed throughout a person’s life and might need lifelong medication.
Symptoms
Bipolar disorder is generally referred to as a manic –depressive illness. An overly joyful or overexcited state is called a manic episode and an extremely sad or hopeless state is called a depressive episode. Intense emotional states that occur in different periods are called mood episodes. Sometimes a mood episode includes mixed symptoms of both mania and depression which is called a mixed state. Due to the presence of this two poles of mood, the disorder is called a bipolar disorder or referred to as manic-depressive illness. It is found that people with bipolar disorder experience long-lasting period of unstable moods rather than discrete episodes of depression or mania.
Symptoms of mania or a manic episode include mood changes and behavioral changes:
Mood changes
- Long period of feeling “high” or overly happy
- Feeling “elated’ or “hyper”
- Extremely irritable mood or agitation
Behavioral changes
- Talking very fast, switching from one idea to another, having racing thoughts
- Having unrealistic belief in one’s abilities
- Impulsive high risk or pleasurable behavior
- Can get easily distracted
- Being restless
- Limited sleep patterns
Symptoms of depression or a depressive episode include mood changes and behavioral changes:
Mood changes
- Long period of feeling worried or empty
- Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed including work or socializing
Behavioral changes
- Feeling tired or ‘slowed down’
- Having problems concentrating, remembering and making decisions
- Being restless or irritable
- Dramatic changes eating, sleeping or other habits
- Thinking of death or suicide or attempting suicide
Progression of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder usually lasts a lifetime. Many people affected by this disorder may be free of specific symptoms but may experience lingering symptoms. There are basically two types of Biopolar disorders, but the symptoms remain the same despite the type and is evaluated by severity of the disorder. As the condition progresses over time, the frequency and severity of the episodes tend to increase more so if no medication is taken.
Medication and treatment
The first step is to get a proper diagnosis done. It is difficult to identify Bipolar disorder by undergoing extensive and costly blood test or a brain scan but this will help in ruling out related medical complications like a stroke or brain tumor. The doctors may then refer the patient to a psychiatrist who might do a complete evaluation of symptoms and talk with close family members.
There is no specific cure for bipolar disorder. But proper treatment helps most people to gain better control of their lives
The response to medication may differ from patient to patient. Several combinations of medications might need to be tried before identifying the best course of treatment. can be found. Keeping track of daily mood symptoms, sleep patterns and life events can help in treating the disorder effectively.
