This blog provides general information, not advice. Therefore, you should obtain relevant professional or specialized advice before taking any action based on the information contained in this blog or refraining from any action. If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition, you should seek immediate medical attention from a doctor or professional healthcare provider.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
People with bipolar disorder may experience extreme mood swings throughout their lives. They have depressive episodes in which they feel depressed, sad, hopeless, and fatigued for weeks or months. They do, however, also have “manic episodes,” in which the emotional pendulum swings in the other direction. Those who are suffering from mania feel euphoric. They have a lot of energy, are excessively active, and may appear exuberant or even aggressive at times due to inner restlessness or irritation. Patients may develop grandiose delusional ideas about themself and their abilities. Sometimes, both depression and mania can occur simultaneously, leaving patients severely depressed but also anxious and overly active.
Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive illness. However, this term is medically outdated.
Many people with bipolar disorder suffer from manic and depressive episodes several times in their life. Between such episodes, patients may have long periods of balanced mood and are able to live and work normally.
How Frequent is Bipolar Disorder?
Around 3 in 100 people develop bipolar disorder in the course of their lives.
Men and women are affected equally often – this is in contrast to purely depressive disorders (unipolar depression), in which the proportion of women predominates. The first symptoms predominantly appear in early adulthood. Those affected by bipolar disorder often also suffer from other mental illnesses such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive and personality disorders, ADHD or addictions.
The illness usually first manifests itself in early adulthood. However, crises can also trigger bipolar disorder later in life.
What Are Signs of Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder symptoms are classified as depression or manic. More than half of all bipolar disorders begin with a depressed episode.
The following symptoms can manifest themselves in a depressive phase:
- depressed mood and loss of interest and pleasure
- feeling empty, loss of appetite and non-specific symptoms such as shortness of breath, heart problems, dizziness and headaches
- fleep disorders, concentration and thought disorders
- feelings of guilt, self-doubt and suicidal thoughts
- lack of facial expressions and very quiet, slowed speech
However, if mania develops, these signs are added:
- extreme moods ranging from excessive cheerfulness to irritability
- overactivity, reduced need for sleep, increased urge to talk or take any action
- tendency to overestimate oneself and recklessness
A manic phase is not as easy to recognise as a depressive phase. It often develops very slowly and initially begins with an elevated mood. A possible, but rarer symptom of mania can be delusions of grandeur. The resulting inflated self-confidence can also be accompanied by hallucinations. Those affected then believe things such as that they have superhuman abilities, will become famous or will change the world.
How is Bipolar Disorder Diagnosed?
Recognising bipolar disorder is not that easy. It cannot be recognised by clear physical symptoms, as is the case with high blood pressure, for example. The medical term ‘bipolar disorder’ covers a broad spectrum of mood swings and changes, which can occur very individually and to varying degrees in those affected. The course of the illness can also vary from person to person.
Therefore, a medical or psychotherapeutic consultation is necessary to make a diagnosis. A psychiatrist diagnoses bipolar disorder based on the observed and described symptoms, for example, during regular appointments. A so-called mood diary may be helpful. In it, patients should record their mood daily, but also the quality of their sleep, medication, and stress-inducing events. This way, not only the treating doctor gains insights into the illness, but also the patients themselves.
It is advisable to involve relatives or friends if there is a suspicion of bipolar disorder. They often perceive the behavior differently than the affected person themselves – especially the impact on the professional, family, or social environment. Their views can help doctors better assess the course of the illness that has occurred so far.
What are Causes of Bipolar Disorders?
Experts assume that various factors come together in the development of bipolar disorder. Hereditary factors could play a role: The risk is increased if parents or other close family members such as siblings are affected by bipolar disorder. Often, it is stressful life events that trigger the onset of the illness. New findings suggest that in people with bipolar disorder, the metabolism of certain neurotransmitters such as dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, and GABA in the brain does not function properly.
Persistent stress, early loss experiences, or traumatic events, such as sexual, emotional, or physical abuse, can also play a role. In people with bipolar disorder, other mental disorders such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, and addiction disorders, personality disorders, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often occur as well.
How is bipolar disorder treated?
Bipolar disorder is not curable. However, with the right treatment, the symptoms can be kept in check and those affected can live well with the illness. An important pillar is medication and psychotherapy.
The treatment of bipolar disorder pursues the following goals depending on the constellation:
- The improvement of an acute manic or depressive phase. To alleviate the patient’s suffering, in addition to medication therapy, other forms of therapy are also considered. The maintenance therapy aims to stabilize the patient and prevent a relapse after an improvement or regression of the symptoms. Within this stage of therapy, psychotherapy often begins as well. In addition, the psychiatrist will assess and adjust the medication over time.
- The goal of prophylaxis is to keep the patient long-term stable and to prevent further phases of the illness. The use of mood-stabilizing medications is reduced to an individually appropriate level. The affected person gathers experiences and strategies to manage bipolar disorder as independently as possible. For this, methods from psychotherapy are suitable.
Through psychotherapy, affected individuals learn to cope with the illness. This includes recognizing one’s own limits and early warning signs, maintaining a balance between stress and relaxation, and better managing everyday life and stressful events. Occupational therapy, sports, artistic therapies, or bodywork can be complementary components of a psychotherapeutic treatment.
Psychotherapy is usually accompanied by long-term medication. Usually, antidepressants, mood stabilisers and antipsychotics are prescribed – always individually tailored to the person affected. Although medication cannot prevent recurring episodes one hundred per cent, it can mitigate them and extend the time between individual episodes.
In addition, many patients and relatives find it helpful to discuss bipolar disorder with like-minded people in a self-help group.
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Read More And Share Awareness
March 30th is World Bipolar Day. This worldwide awareness initiative provides us a chance to share information and resources that help eliminate the stigma around bipolar disorder and support those living with the condition on their journey to wellness..
