Bipolar disorder is a type of mood disorder that affects 1-4.3% of the US population. This disorder is usually indicated by periods of high mood, known as mania. Manic episodes alternate with early onset. Bipolar disorder often has early symptoms. Studies have shown that 1.8% of children and adolescents show the presence of bipolar. However, the disorder is diagnosed in the late twenties or early thirties. This article will help you determine whether you or a loved one has bipolar disorder.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Identifying the Symptoms
Step 1. Recognize the signs of mania
During periods of mania, it is common to experience feelings of euphoria, creativity, and heightened awareness. Manic periods can last several hours or last for days or weeks. The Mayo Clinic describes the signs of mania as follows:
- Having a "happy" feeling, very happy, even in some cases the sufferer feels invincible. This is often accompanied by a feeling that the sufferer has special powers or resembles God.
- Having a mind that easily jumps from one topic to another, making it difficult for sufferers to concentrate on one particular thing.
- Speaks so quickly that others cannot understand what he is saying, and feels restless and uneasy.
- Being able to stay up late or only needing a few hours of sleep, but not feeling tired the next day.
- Shows reckless behavior. During a manic episode, the sufferer may have sex with multiple partners without the use of protection, gamble large amounts of money, make risky investments, spend money on expensive goods, resign from work, and so on.
- Seems very irritable and has an extreme inability to tolerate other people. This can develop into a tendency to start debating and fighting with others who disagree with him.
- In certain cases, sufferers may experience delusions and hallucinations as well as certain visions. (eg believing to have heard the voice of God or an angel).
Step 2. Recognize the symptoms of bipolar
For those who experience it, periods of depression are usually longer and more frequent than periods of mania. Watch for these symptoms:
- Inability to experience pleasure or joy.
- Feeling hopeless and unable. Generally sufferers also feel worthless and feel guilty.
- Sleeping longer than usual and feeling tired and lethargic all the time.
- Gaining weight and having a change in appetite.
- Thinking about death and suicide.
- Note that bipolar depression often looks a lot like Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). The difference between these two disorders can be seen by experts. He or she will look at the patient's history of mania and the severity of the mania episodes.
- Medications used to treat MDD are often ineffective for treating bipolar depression. Bipolar depression is also often accompanied by irritability and mood swings that people with MDD don't show.
Step 3. Understand the signs of a hypomanic episode
A hypomanic episode is an abnormal and persistently elevated mood. These episodes last for four days, and sufferers can also become irritable and experience other symptoms. Hypomania differs from manic episodes in that it is usually less severe. Watch for signs such as:
- Feeling happy
- Easy to get angry
- Increased self-confidence
- Decreased need for sleep
- Speaking with pressure (speaking quickly and intensely)
- Many ideas arise (when the sufferer's brain seems to be moving quickly from one idea to another)
- Always out of focus
- Psychomotor agitation, such as shaking legs or tapping fingers, or being unable to sit still
- With hypomania, the sufferer may not have problems with social or work life. This condition usually does not require hospitalization. People with hypomania may feel excited, and have an increased appetite or sex drive. However, he will still be able to work and manage ordinary tasks without much of a negative impact.
- A person in a hypomanic episode can usually complete work assignments. He can also have appropriate (though perhaps intense) interactions with his coworkers. With full mania, routine tasks at work will be difficult to complete without making mistakes in judgment. Similarly, inappropriate social interactions can lead to negative consequences. Delusions and hallucinations are also absent in hypomania.
Step 4. Understand mixed features
In some cases, sufferers may experience mania and depression at the same time. These sufferers experience depression and irritability, have racing thoughts, feel anxious, and experience insomnia at the same time.
- Mania and hypomania can be said to qualify for mixed features if they display three or more symptoms of depression.
- For example, imagine the patient is engaging in a risky behavior. He also has insomnia, is hyperactive, and has racing thoughts. It meets the criteria of full mania. If the sufferer also experiences at least three of the symptoms of depression, this is a manic episode with mixed features. Examples are feelings of worthlessness, loss of interest in hobbies or activities, and repeated thoughts of death.
Part 2 of 3: Understanding the Different Forms of Bipolar Disorder
Step 1. Know the characteristics of bipolar I disorder
This form of bipolar disorder is the most common and is characterized by mania-depressive behavior. Patients who can be categorized as having this disorder are patients who have gone through at least one period of mania or a mixture. These sufferers may also experience periods of depression.
- People with bipolar I are usually most likely to experience excitement that leads to dangerous actions.
- This form of disorder often interferes with the work life and relationships of sufferers.
- Those affected by bipolar I are more likely to attempt suicide, with a suicide rate of 10-15%.
- People with bipolar I are also at high risk of having or developing a substance abuse problem.
- There is a relationship between bipolar I and hyperthyroidism, so sufferers are advised to see a doctor.
Step 2. Recognize the symptoms of bipolar II disorder
In this type of disorder, the manic episodes are less intense, but the depressive episodes are very deep. Sufferers sometimes experience a muted version of hypomania, but the underlying cause is usually depression.
- People with bipolar II are often misdiagnosed as having depression. Learn more about the differences between bipolar depression and regular depression.
- Bipolar depression differs from MDD in that it is often paired with symptoms of mania. Sometimes the two overlap. It takes an expert to distinguish this condition.
- For people with bipolar II, periods of mania can be indicated by feeling anxious, irritable, or having racing thoughts. Passion for creativity and activity is less common.
- As with bipolar I, in bipolar II there is a high risk for suicide, hyperthyroidism, and substance abuse.
- Bipolar II tends to be more common in women than men.
Step 3. Learn the signs of cyclothymia
Cyclothymia is a milder form of bipolar. This type of bipolar disorder involves mood swings with less severe episodes of mania and depression. These mood swings tend to occur in a cycle, with alternating periods of mania and depression. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM):
- Cyclothymia begins early in life and its onset usually occurs in adolescence and early adulthood.
- Cyclothymia is common in both men and women.
- As with bipolar I and II, there is an increased risk of substance abuse for those affected by cyclothymia.
- Sleep disturbances are also common with cyclothymia.
Part 3 of 3: How to Recognize Bipolar Disorder
Step 1. Watch for mood swings
These changes are generally in line with the changing seasons. In some cases, the sufferer will experience periods of mania or depression during certain seasons, while in other cases the change of seasons will trigger the onset of cycles of mania as well as depression.
Periods of mania are usually more common in the summer. Periods of depression are more common in the fall, winter, and spring. This rule is not a fixed rule, some people can experience depression in the summer and mania in the winter
Step 2. Understand that bipolar disorder does not necessarily make a person unable to function normally
Some sufferers may have difficulty in working and studying at school, but some other sufferers can move well in daily activities.
People with bipolar II and cyclothymia can often be active at work and school. People with bipolar I tend to have a hard time in their daily activities
Step 3. Be aware of substance abuse problems
About 50 percent of sufferers experience dependence on this substance. They use alcohol or drugs to stop racing thoughts during periods of mania, as well as drugs to cheer them up during depression.
- Substances such as alcohol have their own effect on mood and behavior. Bipolar disorder can be difficult to distinguish because of the consumption of this substance.
- People who abuse drugs and alcohol have a greater risk of suicide. This is because substance abuse can increase the severity of mania and depression.
- Substance abuse can also trigger a cycle of manic depression.
Step 4. Watch for detachment from reality
People with bipolar disorder often lose touch with reality. This occurs during both periods of extreme mania and periods of major depression.
- This can be shown as a dangerous ego as well as a sense of guilt that is out of proportion to the real event. In some cases, psychosis and hallucinations occur.
- Disengagement from reality is most common in bipolar I during manic and mixed episodes, but is less common in bipolar II and almost never in people with cyclothymia.
Step 5. Visit a specialist
A personal diagnosis is only useful for determining the next step in getting help. Many people with bipolar disorder live without treatment, but the disorder can be better managed with the help of medication. Psychotherapy with a psychiatrist or counselor can help a lot.
- Medications used to treat bipolar disorder include mood stabilizers, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and anti-anxiety medications. These drugs work by blocking and/or regulating certain chemicals in the brain, and regulating dopamine, serotonin, and acetylcholine.
- Mood stabilizers work to regulate a person's mood, by preventing the extreme highs and lows of bipolar disorder. These types of drugs include Lithium, Depakote, Neurontin, Lamictal, and Topamax.
- Antipsychotic drugs help reduce symptoms of psychosis such as hallucinations or delusions during mania. These types of drugs include Zyprexa, Risperdal, Abilify and Saphris.
- Antidepressant medications used to treat bipolar depression include Lexapro, Zoloft, Prozac, and others. To manage anxiety symptoms, a psychiatrist may prescribe Xanax, Klonopin, or Lorazepam.
- Medication should always be prescribed by a psychiatrist or doctor. These drugs should be taken to avoid health complications.
- If you think you or a loved one has bipolar disorder, see a therapist or psychiatrist for a professional diagnosis.
- If you or a loved one has frequent thoughts of suicide, contact a trusted friend or close person immediately. If you live in the US, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 for advice.
