Bipolar Disorder
The most common questions about Bipolar Disorder I and II and mood disorders in general.
General Questions
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder that is defined by episodes of severe mood fluctuation, from high (mania or hypomania) to low (depression). Manic episodes are often categorized by feelings of euphoria, high energy, productivity, and/or irritability, while depression is associated with feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and/or anhedonia (lack of enjoyment of things that typically give you pleasure).
Contrary to popular belief, individuals with bipolar disorder do not experience these changes to mood on an hourly or even daily basis. Depending on the individual, these episodes may last weeks or even months at a time before transitioning.
What are the Different Types of Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder describes a group of mood disorders. Each of the following, while related, are considered their own diagnosis:
- Bipolar I: Individuals who have experienced at least one manic episode preceded or followed by hypomanic and/or depressive episodes.
- Bipolar II: Individuals who have experienced at least one depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode, without ever experiencing a manic episode.
- Cyclothymic Disorder: A rare and milder mood disorder characterized by positive and negative swings in mood for a period of at least two years.
- Related Mood Disorders: It is worth noting that there are several other disorders or reasons for experiencing episodes of mood changes, including disease such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or stroke, as well as due to drug interactivity.
Are You Born With Bipolar Disorder?
Individuals with bipolar disorder often start exhibiting symptoms of the condition as a young adult, with the most common age of diagnosis being late teens or early twenties.
While there is a genetic component to bipolar disorder, and bipolar disorder diagnoses often run in families, there is no one gene that is known to cause the disorder, and it is believed that many genes are involved in its transition and development.
What Causes Bipolar Disorder/Who is at Most Risk for Developing Bipolar Disorder?
While the exact cause bipolar disorder is not entirely understood, the following are all risk factors that can contribute:
- Brain Chemistry: Individuals with bipolar disorder have been studied to have changes within their brain structure when compared to those that don’t.
- Genetics: Individuals with a first-degree relative who have bipolar disorder are more likely to inherit the condition.
- High Stress Episodes: Periods of high stress such as losing your job or experiencing the death of a loved one has been linked to bipolar episodes
- Drug and Alcohol Use: Overuse of drugs and alcohol has been linked to bipolar episodes.
What is a Manic Episode? What is a Hypomanic Episode?
While they share many of the same symptoms, manic and hypomanic episodes are considered two different types of mood episodes. The difference is that manic episodes are considered more severe, and can lead to interpersonal conflict and dangerous decisionmaking if not carefully monitored.
Symptoms of mania and hypomania include:
- Lack of need to sleep
- Feeling increased energy, agitation, or productivity
- An exaggerated feeling of confidence or wellbeing (euphoria)
- Racing or distracted thinking
- Uncharacterstic decision making, including gambling, spending sprees, and sexual involvement
Manic episodes may require hospitalization due to their severity. In some cases, they can also lead to the individual experiencing a break in reality, which is called psychosis.
Is Bipolar Disorder a Serious Mental Health Diagnosis?
Bipolar disorder is considered a serious mental health diagnosis due to the severity of these episodes of mood swings and the fact that many individuals experiencing this condition can be led to make decisions that might be harmful to themselves and others if their condition is not managed.
Individuals with bipolar disorder can go on to live happy, healthy, and successful lives with proper assistance and awareness of their condition and its unique needs.
Treating Bipolar Disorder
How is Bipolar Disorder Diagnosed?
To be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, individuals must experience at least one episode of mania or hypomania along with severe depressive episodes. Through dialogue with the patient, mental health professionals then seek to understand the pattern of these episodes and behaviors in order to provide a more accurate diagnosis of bipolar I or II as well as associated conditions.
To rule out other physical causes for these symptoms, a physician may also conduct a physical exam and lab tests. These are to rule out disorders such as hyperthyroidism which can cause changes to mood as well as associated behaviors.
How is Bipolar Disorder Treated?
Bipolar disorder is most often treated with a combination of medication and psychotherapy/counseling.
Medications such as mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and occasionally antidepressants can help patients limit or eliminate mood swings by reducing the severity of these episodes, while talk therapy can provide individuals with the techniques they need to identify early warning signs by working to understand previous episodes.
Do Bipolar Patients Always Need Medication?
Patients with bipolar disorder require consistent and lifelong treatment, including medication.
It is a common problem for individuals to want to discontinue their medication in periods in which they feel better, but skipping maintenance treatment during these periods can lead to relapse of symptoms, including the return of manic, hypomanic, or depressive episodes, which can be extremely dangerous.
Please talk to a mental health professional and your doctor before discontinuing any mental health treatment.
How Does Therapy Help Bipolar Patients?
Therapy can help individuals with bipolar in a variety of ways, including:
- Understanding Their Condition: Your therapist can help you understand your condition, how it has historically presented itself in your life, and what you can do to work through it in the future.
- Self Evaluation and Condition Management: By working with you to help you understand early warning signs of episodes in the past, therapists can empower you to complete self evaluations and manage your condition through early recognition and open communication.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: By learning to recognize your symptoms and work through them, cognitive behavioral therapy can be a useful tool in navigating what can otherwise be a scary and overwhelming condition.
- Family-Focused Therapy: Bipolar disorder can often affect your relationships with others, including your family. Family focused therapy can help you strengthen your support system by working through past experiences, understanding why they happened, and how to improve them in the future.
- Encouragement of Complementary Health Approaches: Your therapist can help encourage you to introduce and be consistent with helpful lifestyle changes such as exercise, limiting alcohol consumption, relaxation techniques, and more.
What are Some Lifestyle Changes I Can Make to Improve Bipolar Symptoms?
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health disorder that requires a comprehensive treatment plan. While lifestyle changes cannot replace the need for treatment, they can be helpful for helping manage symptoms.
Some helpful lifestyle modifications include:
- Limiting the use of drugs and alcohol
- Exercising regularly
- Finding and developing a support system
- Staying in communication with your therapy team
- Relaxation techniques such as breathing, meditation, etc.
- Limiting stress in your life, when possible