clothymia but still experiences periods of clinically abnormal mood elevation and depression.
Bipolar Disorder is a mental illness that causes dramatic shifts in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to think clearly. People with bipolar experience high and low moods, known as mania and depression, which differ from the typical difficulties that most people experience. This mental illness has an onset of the mid-twenties but can first occur in the teenage years. If left untreated bipolar disorder symptoms can take a heavy tolls on the individual’s life.
Bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed or undiagnosed, because the full range of symptoms may not always be obvious. Bipolar disorder can make the people living with it feel like they are on an emotional roller coaster; however, symptoms may be more mild and not wholly obvious to the person living with the disorder.
Signs and Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder Mania or Hypomania
- Extremely energetic, cheerful, or wired
- Intense sense of confidence and well being
- Feelings of euphoria
- Lack of need for sleep
It can also include:
- Highly distracted
- Poor judgement
- Racing mind
- Excessive talkativeness
Mania is more severe and can cause someone to have a break from reality. When this psychosis occurs, the person may be hospitalized or need inpatient care.
Signs and Symptoms of Major Depressive Episodes
Depressive episodes may last for several days or weeks, or longer. Often it may not be obvious that depression episodes are related to bipolar disorder and you may wonder, “How do I know if I have bipolar depression?” Bipolar depression often effects an individual’s ability to engage in their day-to-day life. Symptoms include:
- Excessive sadness, loneliness, or emptiness
- Feeling excessively worthless or guilty
- Feeling of hopelessness
- Difficulty with memory, concentration and decision making
- Preoccupation with death or suicidal thoughts
- Severe sense of fatigue
- Significant changes in appetite
Like many mental health disorders, the exact cause of bipolar disorder is largely unknown. Research has shown that there can be a number of factors that may contribute to the onset of BPD, including:
- Genetics – chances are increased if a parent or sibling has the disorder, but a genetic predisposition for the disorder does not mean someone will necessary develop the disorder as well.
- Stress – a stressful event such as death in the family, an illness, a difficult relationship, divorce, or financial problems may trigger manic or depressive episodes.
- Brain Structure and Function – Some evidence suggests that there is a difference in the average size or activation of some brain structures with people with bipolar disorder
It could take years to be diagnosed properly with bipolar disorder, which is why you may ask yourself “how do I know if I have bipolar?” Certain symptoms of bipolar disorder match other mental illnesses. The ups and downs of bipolar disorder can last for exceptionally long periods of time causing difficulty in pinpointing they type of disorder involved.
Because periods between cycles can last for weeks or months, untreated bipolar disorder can cause serious disruption in an individual’s life and relationships. Depressive episodes can lead to poor health and suicidal ideation, but can also mistaken for other types of depression which makes many people wonder “how do I know if I have bipolar depression?” Manic episodes can result in an individual engaging in life-endangering and risky behavior, but may also appear to be general elation, excitement, or talkativeness.
Those with bipolar disorder can also have other mental illnesses as well. Often, people with BPD may also be diagnosed with:
- Substance abuse disorders – dual diagnosis
- Eating Disorders
- Physical Health problems such as heart disease, thyroid problems and/or headaches or obesity
The Bipolar Disorder Stigma
The complexity of symptoms makes bipolar disorder difficult for many people to understand. Family, friends, coworkers, and teachers may not realize that someone is struggling with BPD and at