Bipolar disorder is a complex mental condition you must treat as soon as possible.
In most cases, evaluation includes a physical exam. Your doctor will conduct lab tests and physical exams to determine whether you have underlying conditions that may lead to this problem.
Generally, bipolar disorder is a mental issue that affects your ability to function, energy, and mood. People with this problem can experience extreme emotional changes that can happen in various periods or episodes.
It is important to check here to understand the importance of visiting a counselor.
The most common episodes are depressive, where you are experiencing low energy and sad mood, while the second is manic, where you are irritable and happy.
People with this issue also have neutral moods between the episodes depending on the severity of the condition and whether you properly treat it in the first place.
If you suffer from bipolar, you will experience mood fluctuations that can change in hours or days depending on numerous factors. At the same time, these changes do not happen due to specific reasons, including social interaction and daily routines.
It is a severe condition that will affect your relationship with loved ones, which means it will be challenging to go to school or work without proper therapy.
We can differentiate two categories of bipolarity, including cyclothymic, bipolar I, and bipolar II disorder.
In most cases, it is a genetic disorder, which means it runs in families. Approximately ninety percent of people with this condition have a relative with depression or bipolarity. Other factors are alcohol, drugs, sleep disruption, stress, which may trigger an episode.
Although it is still unclear what happens in brains to trigger this issue, it happens due to dysregulated brain activity and chemicals. People with bipolar I disorder have other mental problems, including ADHD, substance abuse disorder, and anxiety.
Suicide risks are more significant among people who suffer from this issue than others, so you should treat them properly.
Bipolar I
The best way to diagnose this condition is when someone experiences a significant manic episode. Depending on circumstances, people will experience a significant increase in energy, enthusiasm, or irritable mood during the attack.
Some people will also experience hypomanic or depressive episodes, but they will have neutral mood periods in most cases.
Manic Episode
It is an episode that lasts approximately a week in which you will be high and possess plenty of energy. In these moments, you will experience symptoms such as:
- Fast speech
- Feeling energetic will decrease your requirement to sleep
- Quickly changing topics and ideas while speaking while experiencing racing thoughts you cannot control
- Increased restlessness and activity
- Higher chances of risky behaviors
- Distractibility
Depressive Episode
This period lasts up to two weeks where you will feel specific symptoms such as:
- Loss of interest in all activities
- Intense despair and sadness
- A feeling of guilt and worthlessness
- Decreased or increased appetite and sleep
- Fatigue
- Inability to concentrate
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Management and Treatment
By implementing a proper treatment, you can improve your situation and prevent the highs and downs mentioned above. The medication includes psychotherapy to learn about your condition in combination with meds to avoid mood changes.
The prescriptions include mood stabilizers to current imbalanced brain signaling. Since this is an ongoing problem, you must consume them without stopping.
Bipolar II
The main idea is that a person needs to have at least one major hypomanic and depressive episode. Between episodes, you can return to normal functioning.
In most cases, people with this episode will search for help during depressive options, while hypomanic moments can increase their performances in school and work, which can be pleasurable.
At the same time, people with this condition have additional mental problems, including substance use disorder and anxiety.
Enter this guide: https://www.who.int/health-topics/depression to learn more about depression.
Treatment
Keep in mind that treatments for both bipolar issues are similar, which means you should implement a combination of psychotherapy and medications. The most common prescription meds are antidepressants and mood stabilizers, depending on numerous factors.
If the depression is severe and medications cannot reduce it, the next step is to undergo ECT, which will help you out with the process.
Still, each treatment depends on an individual, which is why we cannot generalize. We still recommend you visit a psychiatrist to prevent potential issues from happening.
