The Episodes And Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder
At some point, everyone experiences mood highs and lows. Bipolar disorder affects both men and women. For many people, the first symptoms show up in their early twenties. However, research has shown that the first episode of bipolar disorder is occurring earlier: It often shows up in adolescence, and even children can have the disorder. Mood swings may be normal for most people but for those suffering from bipolar disease these highs and lows vary from one extreme to another. These mood swings can hamper daily life and can be dangerous.
It is a fact that a person suffering from bipolar disease can be unpredictable and confusing. The condition of bipolar disease is also chronic. If you suffer from this, don't feel embarrassed about it. You can manage your problem effectively if you learn what it's all about and how you can look after yourself.
A person is said to be suffering from bipolar disorder when they experience different moods within a normal period of time. This problem is also termed as manic depression. Bipolar means two poles of emotions at extreme ends of the spectrum. Those affected will experience mood swings from very high to very low in quick succession or maybe in a span of a day depending on the severity of the affliction.
A good analogy to explain this would be the planet earth itself which has two poles - the North Pole and the South Pole. The mania phase or extreme high would be the North Pole and the depression would be South Pole. If either of these phases goes on for a certain amount of time then it is termed as an episode. You must discuss these episodes in depth with your healthcare provider.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, there are four types of episodes that are identified with bipolar disorder.
The first episode is Depression where the person will feel sad for a really long time. Normal activities are difficult like getting out of bed, eating or drinking and other things that are normally enjoyed. The second is Mania where it starts is with a laugh or feel- good mood and the happy mood changes to becoming irritable and angry. It is easy to do risky things in this phase. The third is Hypomania which is a milder form of Mania. It starts with the person feeling satisfied and happy with things being done and it degenerates into depression at a very fast rate. The last episode is described as a Mixed Episode or Mood.
These episodes are dangerous because the person is at risk of being suicidal as well. If there are more than four episodes of depression or mania within a year then it is termed as rapid cycling. Symptoms for the two poles of bipolar depression differ from each other.
Under mania, the symptoms would include more energy, less need for sleep, a restless mind, quick to get distracted, racing thoughts and very talkative and confident but not much work gets done despite better concentration and overall, this is more risky if things appear to be going bad.
When depressed, the person feels sad, loses interest in normal things, feels guilty about small things, gets feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness, feels blue and will either sleep a lot or too little. There will be a change in weight either upwards or downward and a feeling of being tired all the time. There are also problems in taking decisions, concentrating on a particular job and excess energy or perhaps restlessness.
There are certain things that trigger mood swings and one must be aware of what they are. More often than not, the triggering factors are events that have occurred in the person's life. All events from happy ones to sad and unpleasant ones can act as the trigger for both manic and depressive episodes. Things like an upset sleep schedule, any change in the dosage of drugs or an increase in alcohol intake, or if medication is on, then irregular doses will also act as a trigger. There are some herbal products that may not suit the physiology of the person and might act as a trigger. If the person has problems related to thyroid or other such health conditions then the person is could be at risk for bipolar depression.
But each person is different and each person will experience different reasons for setting off a depressive or manic episode. For some, even seasonal changes or holidays, illness, marriage, divorce of a friend etc and other socially relevant incidents in one's life can act as a trigger. It might help treatment if you keep a mood chart where you record your high phases and low phases. This will give an idea of the time, duration and reason for the episode and make your treatment more effective.
Bipolar disorder is not a problem disease.There are many treatments available to help manage the disease. Talk to your health care provider so you can work out a plan that will help stabilize your mood swings. It also helps to join a support network such as a local support group for people with bipolar disorder.