Mental health illness with periodic, strong emotional states that impact a person’s mood, energy, and capacity to perform are hallmarks of bipolar disorders. The episodes that can range from a few days to many weeks are referred to as mood episodes. Manic and hypomanic episodes are defined as periods of extreme happiness or irritability, whereas depressive episodes are defined as periods of extreme sadness or the loss of the capacity for joy or pleasure. Periods of neutral mood are also common in people with bipolar illness. People with bipolar disorder can live happy, fulfilling lives if they receive treatment.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
People with bipolar disorder are associated with at least five of these symptoms present in their Major depressive episodes:
- Prolong depression characterized by intense melancholy despair or a sense of emptiness
- Energy loss
- A feeling of being slower than normal or ongoing uneasiness.
- Loss of enthusiasm for things you used to like.
- Periods of excessive or insufficient sleep.
- A feeling of shame or unworthiness.
- Difficulty focusing, paying attention, and making choices
- Suicidal thoughts or thoughts of death.
- Changes in weight or appetite
While many people with bipolar illness have substantial depressive episodes, this is not the case for everyone. You may have a few depressive symptoms, but not all five required to identify a severe episode, depending on your kind of bipolar illness.
What distinguishes bipolar illness from borderline personality disorder?
Although bipolar disorder and borderline personality disorder have many symptom that are sometimes mistaken for one another, they are to different disorders. BPD is characterized by electronic pattern of a sudden, moment to moment changes in behaviour, mood, and self image that are frequently brought on by interpersonal confrontrations. While non suicidal self harm is not frequent in bipolar disorder, it is in BPD.
Since bipolar disorder encompasses separate, longer lasting bouts of mania/ hypermania and/or sadness, it differs from borderline personality disorder. Number of factors including changes in sleep patterns, stress, drugs, and substance abuse, can cause manik or depressed episodes.
Diagnosis
Examination for bipolar disorder may involve the following to determine whether the person have bipolar disorder or not:
- Physical examination: identify any medical issues that could be causing your symptoms, your health care provided me perform blood work and a physical examination.
- Mental health evaluation: you can be referred to psychiatrist by your healthcare provided who will discuss your thoughts emotions and behavioral pattern with you.
- Mood charting: to aid with diagnosis and therapy, you could be requested to record your moods, sleep habits and other aspects of your life on a regular basis.
Treatment of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder and associated diseases are best treated by a psychiatrist a medical professional who diagnosis and treats mental health issue. A Psychiatric nurse, social worker or psychologist could potentially be a part of your treatment team. The goal of treatment for bipolar illness is to control its symptoms, which are lifelong diseases. Treatment by involve the following depending on your needs:
- Medications. In order to stabilize your mood, you will frequently meet to begin taking medications immediately.
- Ongoing medical care. Even once you feel well, you must continue taking your medication for the rest of your life. Minor mood swing my develop into full blown mania or depression, or your symptoms could return if you stop taking your medication.
- Either intensive outpatient programs or programs that need a partial hospital stay. To help you manage your symptoms, these program of intense counselling and support for a few hours everyday for several weeks or months.
- Treatment for drug or alcohol abuse. You will also require treatment to address any substance abuse issues you may have. Bipolar disorder can be extremely difficult to control without this therapy.
- Hospital Admission. If you are acting recklessly, contemplating suicide, or have lost your sense of reality, the doctor could advise you to stay in hospital. Receiving mental healthcare at a hospital can help you be safe, happy, and in control. This holds through whether you are expecting a significant depressive episode or a manic one.