Bipolar Disorder: What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder may be more common than you think. Many people may show episodes of Bipolar disorder and not even know it.  Bipolar disorder, sometimes called manic-depressive disorder, is a condition which causes mood swings, varying from very good to an irritable and depressed mood.  These “mood swings” can be very quick, from mania to depression.

People with bipolar disorder can experience four types of mood episodes: mania, hypomania, depression, and mixed episodes.  Each type of bipolar disorder mood has a unique set of symptoms.

A person in the manic state of their bipolar disorder usually feels heightened energy, creativity, and euphoria.  In the manic state, people with bipolar disorder often talk a mile a minute, sleep very little, and are hyperactive.  Mania may feel good at first, but it has the tendency to spiral out of control.  People in the manic state of their bipolar disorder may gamble away savings, engage in inappropriate sexual activity, or even make foolish business investments.

A person in the hypomania state of their bipolar disorder may be less intense, but still have that feeling of euphoria and energy.  The difference is that these people are also productive and able to carry on with their day-to-day lives, never losing touch with reality.  To most, people in the hypomania state of their bipolar disorder just seem to be in an unusually good mood, but this bipolar disorder state can result in bad decisions that may harm careers, relationships, or reputations.  Usually this bipolar disorder state escalates to full mania or is followed by major depression.

The opposite of the manic state involved in bipolar disorder is depression.  A person who is in their depressed state shows symptoms of feeling hopeless, sad or empty, irritable, fatigued, may have appetite or weight changes, sleep problems, and thoughts of death or suicide.  People in the depressed state of their bipolar disorder are more likely to develop psychotic depression, in which they’ve lost contact with reality, and experience major disability in social and work functioning.

A person in the mixed episode state of bipolar disorder may experience both symptoms of mania and depression.  Signs of this state may include depression combined with agitation, anxiety, insomnia, and racing thoughts.  This combination of high energy and low mood puts a person at a very high risk of suicide.

The following article from WebMD.com goes into a little more detail as to ‘what is bipolar disorder?’

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder used to be known as manic depressive disorder or manic depression. It’s a serious mental illness, one that can lead to risky behavior, damaged relationships and careers, and even suicidal tendencies — if it’s not treated.

Bipolar disorder is characterized by extreme changes in mood (poles) — from mania to depression. Between these mood swings, a person with bipolar disorder may experience normal moods.

“Manic” describes an increasingly restless, energetic, talkative, reckless, powerful, euphoric period. Lavish spending sprees or impulsive risky sex can occur. Then, at some point, this high-flying mood can spiral into something darker — irritation, confusion, anger, feeling trapped.

“Depression” describes the opposite mood — sadness, crying, sense of worthlessness, loss of energy, loss of pleasure, sleep problems.

But because the pattern of highs and lows varies for each person, bipolar disorder is a complex disease to diagnose. For some people, mania or depression can last for weeks or months, even for years. For other people, bipolar disorder takes the form of frequent and dramatic mood shifts.

“There’s a whole spectrum of symptoms and mood changes that have been found in bipolar disorder,” says Michael Aronson, MD, a clinical psychiatrist and consultant for WebMD. “It’s not always dramatic mood swings. In fact, some people seem to get along just fine. The manic periods can be very, very productive. They think things are going great.”

The danger comes, he says, when the mania grows much worse. “The change can be very dramatic, with catastrophic results. People can get involved in reckless behavior, spend a lot of money, there may be sexual promiscuity, sexual risks.”

The depressed phases can be equally dangerous: A person may have frequent thoughts of suicide.

If you or someone you know has thoughts of death or suicide, contact a health care professional, loved one, friend, or call 911 immediately.

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Bipolar disorder is equally difficult for families of those affected. The condition is the most difficult mental illness for families to accept, Aronson tells WebMD. “Families can more easily accept schizophrenia, to understand that it is an illness. But when a person is sometimes very productive, then becomes unreasonable or irrational, it wreaks more havoc on the family. It seems more like bad behavior, like they won’t straighten up.”

If this rings true — either for you or a loved one — the first step in tackling the problem is to see a psychiatrist. Whether it’s bipolar disorder or another mood-related problem, effective treatments are available. What’s most important is that you recognize the problem, and start looking for help.

Dealing with bipolar disorder isn’t always easy, but it doesn’t have to run your life.  Managing your bipolar disorder by making smart choices in your lifestyle and daily habits can have significant impacts on your moods.  If you find yourself struggling to control your bipolar disorder, and are unable to work in order to help support your family, Bander, Bander & Alves can help you get the disability you deserve.