Bipolar is a term that gets tossed around without a clear understanding of what it means or how it’s treated. This disorder is often misdiagnosed, not recognized by victims or their families, or left untreated for long periods of time. Learning the dangers of bipolar disorder and understanding treatment options offers hope where there might have been hopelessness.
Rest assured, there is a way to live—and even thrive—with bipolar disorder.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder was formerly known as manic depression, a health condition featuring massive mood swings. The former name comes from the highs (mania) and the lows (depression.)
It’s true that certain people may be “up and down” at times, but those living with bipolar symptoms can experience such extreme mood swings that they feel overwhelmed.
While we don’t recommend self-diagnosis, you should know that there are several forms of bipolar disorder, including:
- v Bipolar I: You’ve had at least one manic episode followed by a depressive episode. In extreme cases, mania can lead to a break from reality.
- v Bipolar II: You’ve had a depressive (hypomanic) episode, but you’ve never suffered through a manic episode.
- v Cyclothymic disorder: You’ve experienced several years of extreme highs and lows.
- v Drug or disease-induced manic depression: You experience symptoms caused by substance abuse or medical conditions like Cushing’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke, etc.
If you read this list and had a “light bulb” moment, you are not the first person to realize that their experience mirrors undiagnosed bipolar disorder. There’s no need to fear. As you learn the risk factors and symptoms, you will feel better prepared to help yourself or a loved one.
Causes of Bipolar Disorder and Risk Factors
The risk factors associated with bipolar disorder are intangible and remain the subject of massive research efforts. Currently, we believe that bipolar disorder Is caused by:
- v Genetics: If you have a family history of bipolar disorder, you may have a predisposition to this condition.
- v Biological changes: Researchers believe that bipolar sufferers experience physical changes to their brains which are, as yet, unknown.
- v Drug or alcohol abuse
- v Periods of extreme stress (loss of a loved one, a bitter divorce, severe work anxiety, etc.)
In the best situations, you can recognize your family history or current circumstances and seek counseling as soon as possible to combat the potential onset of this condition. As you read further and notice the symptoms in yourself or someone else, try to make a change so that the condition does not progress unchecked.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Because bipolar disorder is a two-pronged, look out for the signs of a major manic episode and a depressive episode. You may not be a medical professional, but major episodes cause problems at work or school and feel “different” from what most people would consider a minor bout of anxiety or “the blues.”
Manic episodes could look like:
- v An abnormal level of jumpiness or “wired” behavior
- v Massive bursts of energy or activity
- v Severe agitation
- v Euphoria
- v Talkativeness
- v Unorganized or “stream of consciousness” thoughts
- v Severe distraction
- v Extreme spending, risk-taking, foolish decisions, and other behaviors that seem out of character
- v The sufferer notes they “don’t need to sleep”
Depressive episodes might present as:
- v An overall feeling of hopelessness
- v Severe irritability
- v Severe weight loss
- v Loss of appetite
- v Insomnia (or sleeping constantly)
- v Fatigue
- v Restlessness
- v An overwhelming feeling of guilt
- v Inability to focus
- v Suicidal Ideation
Keep in mind that these symptoms present differently in children and adolescents. More often than not, younger bipolar patients experience pronounced mood swings that fall well outside “teenage angst.”
Complications of Bipolar Disorder (I added this header because there was a term for it. Of course, you could drop this header and just add the content at the end of the symptoms section)
If left unchecked, bipolar disorder can lead to complications that stretch far beyond the disorder itself, impacting the individual, their family, and friends.
Social complications might include:
- v Drug or alcohol abuse (self-medication)
- v Suicide or suicide attempts
- v Legal problems
- v Financial difficulties
- v Broken relationships
- v Poor performance at school or work
At times, you may be diagnosed with a co-occurring condition like:
- v An anxiety disorder
- v An eating disorder
- v ADHD
- v Addiction
- v Physical issues like heart disease, thyroid problems, obesity, chronic headaches, etc.
- v Learn as much as you can. Reading this article Is a good first step.
- v Listen without fixing. When those suffering from mental health conditions feel heard, they experience a sense of calm that often allows to take the next step to treatment or management of their condition.
- v Be a cheerleader, letting your friend or loved one know you will always be there for them.
- v Remain active in their treatment. No one wants to tackle bipolar disorder (or any other mental health condition) alone.
- v Help create a plan to manage severe episodes
- v Never push your friend or loved one. They need your support, but pushing them only makes recovery that much more difficult.
- v Put yourself in their shoes, leading to a level of understanding that only comes with compassion.
- v Be patient
- v Stay optimistic
Supporting Those Suffering From Bipolar Disorder
The best way to support someone suffering from bipolar disorder is to recognize you are not a medical professional. Knowing that you cannot solve the problem, there are steps you can take to be a champion for victims of bipolar disorder:
Seek Treatment at Tranquil Grove Behavioral Health
Bipolar disorder isn’t a life sentence. You can learn to cope with (and even thrive) while experiencing bipolar symptoms at Tranquil Grove Behavioral Health. Tucked among the pines and sugar maples of central North Carolina, our facility just outside Raleigh gives you or your loved one a place to heal and grow.
At Tranquil Grove, we believe in offering a diverse range of treatments. With each methodology, you grow deeper in your understanding of bipolar disorder and how to live well. You will enjoy and be enlightened by:
- v Individual therapy—Working privately with your therapist to not only understand your condition but unpack your life story in a healthy, non-judgmental space.
- v Group therapy—Learning from others with similar experiences, confirming that you are not alone in your struggle.
- v Multimodal therapies—Art therapy, music therapy, dance, and experiential activities like hiking.
- v Medication management—Ensuring that any prescribed medications are taken. You also receive support so that you better understand the side effects of any medications you take and how to manage those complications going forward.
To schedule a tour or gather more information, you may contact us online, email support@tranquilgrovebehavioral.org, or call 855-TRANQIL. Our friendly and professional staff is ready to help you seek mental health treatment and better understand your options. Bipolar disorder will not and, should not, define you.
***I gave you two titles because I kind of like both, but “Bipolar Disorder: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment” would work better on a much more compassionate love and kisses site where the 5 Things You Should Know maybe goes on a site for a clinic that’s a little bit more straightforward…not rude straightforward, but you know like a therapist who says, “I’ll be happy for you when you succeed, but I’m still gonna call you out on your bullshit.”
***Also, I’ve got a list of alternate headers because you could get a few different angles on them if you use Google’s People Also Ask or just write in a “professional tone”
***Also, I know there’s a lot of notes, but bear with me…literally every sentence in both of these samples can be adjusted for the region and Its circumstances. For example, If we’re talking about a region with massive adult addiction, we can skew more towards families and lifelong recovery, but If we’re talking about a region where youth addiction Is rampant, we can talk more about helping kids get back on track, etc. That’s a little softer—you see my point.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Are You Born With Bipolar Disorder or Do You Develop It?
What Are the Early Warning Signs of Bipolar Disorder?
What Happens When Bipolar Disorder Goes Untreated?
How Do I Help Someone With Bipolar Disorder?
How to Treat Bipolar Disorder
