Bipolar disorder: Causes, Symptoms, and Remedies

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder, previously known as mood disorder, is a mental illness that causes pathological mood swings from depression to mania. It is a chronic disease and has recurring episodes of mania and depression. Affecting men and women alike, it usually starts between the ages of 15 and 25. People with bipolar disorder experience unusual changes in their energy, mood, and capacity to think clearly.

Based on the pattern and intensity of the symptoms, bipolar disorder has been categorized. The primary forms of bipolar disorder are as follows:

Bipolar Disorder I:

People with bipolar disorder I experience episodes of mania. The mania is usually followed by hypomania (mild mania) or depressive episodes. The episodes of mania may last from a week to months, and depressive episodes may last 6-12 months if left untreated. If episodes last for more than a week, immediate medical assistance is needed. Bipolar disorder I is established as the most severe form of manic-depressive disorder.

Bipolar Disorder II:

A person with bipolar disorder II has major depressive symptoms along with occasional episodes of hypomania, or mild mania. While the depressive episodes can linger for at least two weeks or more, the hypomanic episodes last for at least four days. Bipolar disorder II patients tend to have more depressive episodes than pure and complete manic episodes. The well-being period between the episodes is shorter than that of bipolar disorder I. Bipolar disorder II is considered to be associated with a high risk of suicide.

Cyclothymic Disorder:

Cyclothymic disorder is less severe than bipolar disorder I and II. This is a chronic (long-term) condition. Hypomanic symptoms are less severe and lean toward irritability, while hypomanic symptoms are euphoric in bipolar disorder II. One episode of this disorder may last up to 2 months, and the disorder itself may last 2 years. The cyclothymic disorder may continue as a low-grade chronic condition or develop into bipolar disorder I or II.

Other Specific Bipolar Disorder or Related Disorders:

These include substance-induced bipolar disorder and bipolar disorder linked to other conditions. These bipolar disorders have symptoms of bipolar disorder but do not fit into any of the 3 types mentioned above.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

The mood of people with bipolar disorder swings from mania to depression. To understand the symptoms of mania, we need to understand the symptoms of mania and depression.

Symptoms of Mania

Euphoria/Exaggerated Euphoria: Euphoria, or exaggerated euphoria, is a very intense state of happiness where one may feel "on top of the world."

Distractibility: Not able to focus or give attention to any activity, easily distracted

Insomnia: Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep

Irritability: Feeling angry or frustrated over small things. This can include aggressive behavior and agitation.

Grandiosity: Symptoms may include very high self-esteem, feeling of uniqueness, invulnerability, etc. In severe cases, the person may become delusional and feel all-powerful (god-like), having celebrity status, etc.

Fast Speech and Excessive Thoughts: The person may talk too fast and switch rapidly from one thought/idea to another.

Increased Activity: The person may increase their activity. It could be related to any field, such as school, work, etc.

Poor Judgment: The individual may engage in high-risk behaviours like gambling, unrestrained shopping sprees, etc. These actions could cause financial problems. Poor judgment and impulsive behavior may cause problems in social functioning, relationships, the workplace, etc.

Symptoms of Depression

• Sadness and fatigue (loss of energy)
• Insomnia, excessive sleeping, or shallow sleeping.
• Appetite changes
• Inability to make decisions or concentrate
• Agitation
• Loss of interest or pleasure in life
• Thoughts or attempts of suicide
• Feeling guilty, pessimism, helplessness, low self-confidence

Remedies

Bipolar disease is a recurrent disease. It can be treated. The primary and major goals of bipolar treatment are to:

• Reduce the intensity and the severity of acute episodes of mania and depression

• Stop cycling from one episode to another

• Make the episodes less frequent

• Help the patient function as normal as possible between 2 cycles.

Medicines:

Medicines have improved the effectiveness and quality of treatments for bipolar disease significantly. Medications such as Seroquel, Eskalith, Trileptal, Depakote, etc., have changed the landscape of bipolar disorder treatment.

Electroconvulsive Therapy:

Electroconvulsive therapy, commonly known as shock therapy, is a non-medicine therapy. It is used to treat bipolar disease and other mental illnesses such as depression. It has been refined over the years since its introduction and is now considered a safe therapy. 

Psychotherapy:

Psychotherapy is added to medicine. It is a very important procedure. Therapies such as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy, etc are used in treatment programs for bipolar disorder. These therapies help the patient adjust to the reality of the illness and give them the support and courage to fight the illness.

Support and Awareness: 

Proper understanding of bipolar disease is vital to patients, their family members, and people involved in the patient's life on a day-to-day basis. The more they understand the illness, the easier it will be to cope with the symptoms and handle them with care without causing further complications.

Conclusion 

Bipolar disorder is a severe medical condition. If not treated on time, it can take a very heavy toll on the patient. Bipolar disorder used to be included with mood disorders such as depression, but it is now seen as a whole new category and is mentioned as bipolar and related disorders. It affects both men and women. Bipolar disorder can be confused with depression as it has similar characteristics as depression, especially bipolar disorder II. The main difference between depression and bipolar disease is the episode of mania. In bipolar disorder II, the mania may be less severe and short-lived, which makes it easier to determine the disorder. That is why consultation with a certified doctor is necessary. Consult with a doctor immediately if you experience symptoms of mania or depression, such as feeling like hurting yourself or others, hopeless, scared, overwhelmed, seeing or hearing things not present at the moment, etc. Get in touch with your doctor immediately if your symptoms worsen, if you are experiencing some side effects of a medicine, or if you have any other problems.