Bipolar Disorder: What is it?

By Rebecca Palmquist

Bipolar Disorder: What is it?

Bipolar disorder is what we call a variety of exaggerated moods experienced by one person. These abnormal mood swings are considered an illness. There are ‘high’ moods and ‘low’ moods. The high moods can be positive feeling or negative feeling. They are called mania. The low moods are generally considered mostly negative and are called depression. An older name for this disorder is Manic Depression.

Mania can be euphoric which is happy, or dysphoric which is irritable. Everyone with this disorder is different. So a person may have any combination of these fluctuating symptoms. Some have few manic episodes and many depressive episodes, or vice versa.

Bipolar depression

Approximately one in four people have a mental illness. And about one out of a hundred will need treatment in hospital for bipolar disorder at least once. This illness transcends race and sex, affecting both equally. It often starts when a person is in their twenties.

Bipolar depression is not like depression alone. It tends to be less easily treated and requires more persistent care. It is often accompanied by a feeling of emptiness. Sometimes a person will feel hopeless and perhaps also sad. Activities they used to enjoy will usually no longer feel good. They may also feel anxious and this is often a strong sensation. Sleep often becomes difficult: either getting to sleep, staying asleep, or getting back to sleep.

The feelings of hopelessness can often become feelings of worthlessness. Especially regarding some situations and the idea that the future is no good. Sometimes the person’s interest in sex will change. They will find their concentration fluctuating. Social activities are of much less interest to them. Thoughts of suicide or plans for suicide may become more focused.

Bipolar mania

Bipolar mania also has several layers to it including irritability. A person who is manic will have an influx of thoughts that come hard and fast. As they try to communicate all the different thoughts, their words may become disorganized. So they become less clear to those around them. However they may not realize they are making less sense, and therefore they don’t realize why others are confused.

Irritability can also be accompanied by physical discomfort — unexplained before diagnosis. As well as the flush of racing thoughts and pressured speech, the person may sleep a lot less. Their minds move so fast. This rapid flow of ideas also will come with ‘grandiose’ thoughts. This may include the idea that they are more talented or have special gifts. Their grandiose thoughts can even become delusional. With this inflated frame of thought, their judgment can become poor. Their rational thinking and decision-making can become impaired. Also, during mania, a change in sex drive can occur.

Mixed episodes

Mixed Episodes can also occur in Bipolar Disorder. These involve fluctuations between mania and depression, at the same time.

Getting the proper diagnosis is so important in beginning to explore possible treatment. Bipolar I is the most common bipolar diagnosis. This is where there is a full-blown manic episode at least once with severe depressive episodes. Symptoms come and go but are definitely extreme.

Bipolar II has full-blown depressive episodes and hypomania. Hypomania is a milder form of mania. The person does not disconnect from reality. There is also Rapid Cycling when the mood cycling is more frequent than usual. This is when a person has four or more episodes of any mood within a year. These may alternate with periods of being well.

It’s important to get a proper diagnosis

If you think you may be bipolar it is important to get properly diagnosed. Only a mental health professional can diagnose you. The information here is not sophisticated enough to draw a diagnosis from. You can ask yourself some questions, however. These may help you decide whether or not to see a mental health care professional:

• What is ‘normal’ behavior for me?
• How does my day change when I’m depressed? When I’m manic?
• How does my view of myself, others, and the future change when I’m depressed? When I’m manic? Or when I’m normal?
• What do others notice, or say about me, when I’m depressed, manic, or normal?

Take a few minutes to write some answers down, or even ask someone you trust. This can go a long way to finding out more about yourself. And it can give you some valuable information to take to that health care professional if you decide to go.

Reproduced with permission, originally posted on bipoluv

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