While we all experience
mood changes in response to life's events, some people's moods fluctuate up and
down much more than usual. People with bipolar disorder can have extreme moods
of feeling really high, very active and euphoric ('manic'); or feeling really
low ('depression'). When these shifts in moods cause changes in how you’re
behaving and how you are able to function in your everyday life, it's important
to get help.
Bipolar disorder,
previously known as manic depression, is a mental disorder that causes periods
of depression and periods of abnormally elevated mood.
Bipolar disorder is a
chronic mental health condition with strong changes in mood and energy. One in
50 (1.8%) adult Australians experience bipolar disorder each year.
People experiencing
bipolar disorder can have:
• depressive episodes: low mood, feelings
of hopelessness, extreme sadness and lack of interest and pleasure in things
• manic or hypomanic episodes: extremely
high mood and activity or agitation, racing thoughts, little need for sleep and
rapid speech.
These changes in mood
can last a week or more, and affect our thoughts and behaviour.
Bipolar disorder needs
long-term management, which may include medication and psychological therapies.
Bipolar disorder affects how we are able to function in our everyday life.
Untreated, it makes it hard to consistently cope at work, home, school or
socially.
When someone is
experiencing bipolar disorder, their behaviour and thoughts can be beyond their
own control.
Friends, family and workmates
can often be the ones to notice first.
What are the early
warning signs of bipolar disorder?
One early bipolar
symptom may be hypomania. When someone is hypomanic, they can feel great,
highly energetic and impulsive.
Common early warning
signs for hypomania and mania, include:
• not sleeping (the most commonly
experienced sign)
• agitation, irritability, emotional
intensity
• energised with ideas, plans, motivation
for schemes
• intense expression laden behaviour with
implied extra meaning
• inability to concentrate
• rapid thoughts and speech
• spending money more than usual
• increased sexual drive, flirtatiousness
• increasing incidence of paranoid
thoughts
• neglecting to eat, losing track of time
• reading extra symbolism into words,
events, patterns (seeing ‘codes’)
• increased use of telephone or writing –
making contact with many people
• insistent and persuasive
• increased intake – or binges – of
alcohol and/or drugs
• arguments with friends or family
• increased ‘driven’ activity without
stopping to eat, drink or sleep
• increased interest in
religious/spiritual ideas or themes
• taking on more work or working to
extremes in hours or projects.
If you recognise some
of these changes in behaviour, it’s important to find help with a mental health
professional.
Symptoms
There are several types
of bipolar and related disorders. They may include mania or hypomania and
depression. Symptoms can cause unpredictable changes in mood and behavior,
resulting in significant distress and difficulty in life.
• Bipolar
I disorder. You've had at least one manic episode that may be preceded or
followed by hypomanic or major depressive episodes. In some cases, mania may
trigger a break from reality (psychosis).
• Bipolar
II disorder. You've had at least one major depressive episode and at least
one hypomanic episode, but you've never had a manic episode.
• Cyclothymic
disorder. You've had at least two years — or one year in children and
teenagers — of many periods of hypomania symptoms and periods of depressive
symptoms (though less severe than major depression).
• Other
types. These include, for example, bipolar and related disorders induced by
certain drugs or alcohol or due to a medical condition, such as Cushing's
disease, multiple sclerosis or stroke.
Symptoms
In Children And Teens
Symptoms of bipolar
disorder can be difficult to identify in children and teens. It's often hard to
tell whether these are normal ups and downs, the results of stress or trauma,
or signs of a mental health problem other than bipolar disorder.
Children and teens may
have distinct major depressive or manic or hypomanic episodes, but the pattern
can vary from that of adults with bipolar disorder. And moods can rapidly shift
during episodes. Some children may have periods without mood symptoms between
episodes.
The most prominent
signs of bipolar disorder in children and teenagers may include severe mood
swings that are different from their usual mood swings.
When
To See A Doctor
Despite the mood
extremes, people with bipolar disorder often don't recognize how much their
emotional instability disrupts their lives and the lives of their loved ones
and don't get the treatment they need.
And if you're like some
people with bipolar disorder, you may enjoy the feelings of euphoria and cycles
of being more productive. However, this euphoria is always followed by an
emotional crash that can leave you depressed, worn out — and perhaps in
financial, legal or relationship trouble.
If you have any
symptoms of depression or mania, see your doctor or mental health professional.
Bipolar disorder doesn't get better on its own. Getting treatment from a mental
health professional with experience in bipolar disorder can help you get your
symptoms under control.
When
To Get Emergency Help
Suicidal thoughts and
behavior are common among people with bipolar disorder. If you have thoughts of
hurting yourself, call your local emergency number immediately, go to an
emergency room, or confide in a trusted relative or friend.
If you have a loved one
who is in danger of suicide or has made a suicide attempt, make sure someone
stays with that person. Call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.
Or, if you think you can do so safely, take the person to the nearest hospital
emergency room.
Causes
The exact cause of
bipolar disorder is unknown, but several factors may be involved, such as:
• Biological differences. People with
bipolar disorder appear to have physical changes in their brains. The
significance of these changes is still uncertain but may eventually help
pinpoint causes.
• Genetics. Bipolar disorder is more
common in people who have a first-degree relative, such as a sibling or parent,
with the condition. Researchers are trying to find genes that may be involved
in causing bipolar disorder.
Risk
factors
Factors that may
increase the risk of developing bipolar disorder or act as a trigger for the
first episode include:
• Having a first-degree relative, such as
a parent or sibling, with bipolar disorder
• Periods of high stress, such as the
death of a loved one or other traumatic event
• Drug or alcohol abuse
Complications
Left untreated, bipolar
disorder can result in serious problems that affect every area of your life,
such as:
• Problems related to drug and alcohol use
• Suicide or suicide attempts
• Legal or financial problems
• Damaged relationships
• Poor work or school performance
Co-occurring
conditions
If you have bipolar
disorder, you may also have another health condition that needs to be treated
along with bipolar disorder. Some conditions can worsen bipolar disorder
symptoms or make treatment less successful. Examples include:
• Anxiety disorders
• Eating disorders
• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
(ADHD)
• Alcohol or drug problems
• Physical health problems, such as heart
disease, thyroid problems, headaches or obesity
Prevention
There's no sure way to
prevent bipolar disorder. However, getting treatment at the earliest sign of a
mental health disorder can help prevent bipolar disorder or other mental health
conditions from worsening.
If you've been
diagnosed with bipolar disorder, some strategies can help prevent minor
symptoms from becoming full-blown episodes of mania or depression:
• Pay attention to warning signs.
Addressing symptoms early on can prevent episodes from getting worse. You may
have identified a pattern to your bipolar episodes and what triggers them. Call
your doctor if you feel you're falling into an episode of depression or mania.
Involve family members or friends in watching for warning signs.
• Avoid drugs and alcohol. Using alcohol
or recreational drugs can worsen your symptoms and make them more likely to
come back.
• Take your medications exactly as
directed. You may be tempted to stop treatment — but don't. Stopping your
medication or reducing your dose on your own may cause withdrawal effects or
your symptoms may worsen or return.
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