You might have observed someone behaving oddly with the sudden shift in their behavior. You went out with your friends expecting a fun time together, but suddenly one of your zealous friends loses enthusiasm instead prefers to spend time alone. You may attribute this abrupt mood transformation to a condition called bipolar disorder.
How Bipolar Disorder Influences Your Life?
Bipolar disorder is the most prevalent mental disorder these days. The condition results in evident fluctuations in mood, emotional state, energy level, and productivity. A particular mood episode may last for hours, days, or weeks similar to swinging between two extremes of a pendulum. The mood episodes range from manic to depressive. There may be intervals of moderate or neutral mood in between. Stress, sleep disturbances, drug and alcohol intake could be the triggering factors.
People suffering from the condition can have difficulty in maintaining healthy close relationships as well as in their education and professional lives. A timely diagnosis enables the patient to lead a productive life. Sometimes the family members can also seek professional help from mental health advocacy and support groups.
Bipolar disorder can be broadly divided into three main categories.
1. Bipolar 1
Bipolar 1 is accompanied by conditions such as anxiety, ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) or substance use disorders, and suicidal thoughts. During a manic episode, the patient exhibits an elevated energy level and is highly responsive to subtle nuances in their surroundings. Less urge for sleep, increased speech, flight of ideas, restlessness, false beliefs are the common symptoms. Depending on the severity of the condition, the patient may need clinical surveillance. A hypomanic phase is characterized by less manic symptoms that are comparatively less problematic to tackle. During a depressive episode, the patient may exhibit intense despair, lack of interest in favorite activities, fatigue, slowing down, and appetite or sleep disturbances.
Treatment
Medication, in the form of mood stabilizers as lithium, help to maintain the chemical imbalance in the brain. Psychotherapy helps the patients to understand and manage their problems. In severe cases when both medication and psychotherapy prove unsuccessful, electroconvulsive therapy ECT may be used on highly competent medical advice.
2. Bipolar 2
A person is diagnosed to have bipolar 2 disorder when he or she has gone through one major depressive or hypomanic episode. Between the two episodes, patients revert to their normal life activities between the onsets of episodes. After the depressive phase, the hypomanic phase seems manageable to yield better performance in normal daily life commitments. Bipolar 2 is blended with anxiety or substance use disorder which may trigger the symptoms of depression.
Treatment
Like bipolar 1, the treatment is based on medication and psychotherapy. The patient may require an additional dose of antidepressants during their depressive phase. For severe conditions, ECT may be induced.
3. Cyclothymic Disorder
It is the less severe form of bipolar disorder that can be labeled as mood swings, usually characterized as emotional fluctuation. A shift between depression and hypomania that occurs frequently exhibiting less severe symptoms for at least two years comes under cyclothymic disorder. Also, the symptoms appear shortly before at least two months.
Treatment
The treatment involves medication and psychotherapy. Talk therapy has proved effective in stress management dealing with these symptoms. Maintaining a record of moods helps to understand the pattern of mood fluctuations. Cognitive-behavioral therapy CBT provides you with a new lens through which to interpret and perceive negative thoughts. That results in the unlearning and then relearning of your present life situations.
Viewing the bright side
From an optimistic viewpoint, there are certain perks associated with the disorder.
● Increased Productivity: If people under the manic phase with elevated energy successfully maintain their focus, it may cause a boost in their productivity and intellectual ability.
● Improved Confidence: In some cases, manic episodes may improve self-esteem and self-confidence.
● Euphoria: The person may enjoy an intense feeling of happiness rarely experienced in the real state of mind.
Conclusion
Don't despair if you or any of your loved ones are diagnosed with bipolar disorder. With diligence and persistence, you can manage the condition. Seek help from professional resources.
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