Bipolar Disorder – Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes extreme mood swings. As the name suggests, Bipolar means two poles. Sometimes a person can feel high alleviation in his mood that is called mania, or hypomania and the other time he becomes low with a depressed mood. When he becomes depressed, he feels low, hopeless, sad, and loses interest and pleasure in most activities. When he reaches mania or high mood, he may feel full of energy and enthusiasm, hopeful, euphoric. These mood swings can affect his daily activities including sleep, comfort, behavior, and many other things.

Symptoms of Bipolar disorder

1. High or manic phase – During the high phase period, the person is full of energy, excitement, and enthusiasm. He can do anything without thinking of its negative outcomes. He can take any decision without proper judgment or even risk too. Some of its symptoms are as given below-

• A feeling of obsolete happiness

• Sleeping little but not feeling tired

• Feeling able to do anything

• Increased libido

• Sometimes person claims that he has a special connection with God or may assume himself a celebrity or any historical character

• Continuous thought running in mind

• High self-esteem

• Excessive happiness, excitement, and energy

• Restlessness

2. Depressed phase – During this phase person behave as he has nothing good in his life. He may feel the following symptoms.

• Intense sadness

• Hopelessness

• Lack of interest in daily activities

• Loss of energy and excitement

• Thought of self-harm, suicide

• Sense of guilt

• Insomnia

• Anxiety

• Low self-esteem

• Fewer sex drives

Bipolar disorder causes

According to medical science, there is no cause of bipolar disorder, however, researchers are saying that few factors may cause this condition in some people. If we talk about those factors, then Genetics would be the first to consider. People having bipolar disorder may transfer this illness to its generations. However, scientists are not sure about it, how it happens and why. The second thing to pay attention om is how and in which environment your brain develops; it also may be one of the reasons behind this disorder.

How it is diagnosed

To diagnose bipolar disorder, a patient may have undergone various mental tests, physical examinations, interviews, or lab tests. Bipolar disorder can’t be diagnosed with blood tests or body scan techniques; however, doctors may ask for a blood test to examine other illnesses caused by this. After reviewing the patient, if the doctor found any symptoms of a disorder, he may refer the patient to mental care. At mental care, Psychologist evaluates patients by examining his thoughts, emotions, and feelings. He may take extra information from the patient’s family members to know more about the patient’s daily activities and how he handles them.

Treatment

Like diabetes and thyroid, bipolar disorder is a long-term condition. Proper diagnosis and treatment can reduce the frequency and severity of mood swings. The combination of medication, therapy, and counseling work well to overcome this condition.

• Psychotherapy- Behavioral program, family-focused therapy is conducted.

• Medication- Medicines to stabilize mood, anti-depressant

• Self-management strategies- By providing education and information and counseling regarding the disorder

• Another wellness program- Aerobic exercise, meditation, and yoga

Treatment may vary depending on the person’s age, medical history, and severity of the disorder. If you find any person with such condition, try to consult a psychiatrist as soon as possible otherwise condition may become worsen.