What is Bipolar Disorder?

Mental Health Monday

If I did not treat my bipolar disorder, I would have a 20% chance of my life ending in suicide. 20% is a huge number, that’s roughly 1 in 5 people who have bipolar disorder that commit suicide. About 2.6% of the American population have bipolar disorder. Most people don’t view mental illnesses as life threatening, the reality is that they can be quite deadly.

Bipolar is a brain disorder that causes extreme shifts in a person’s mood and energy. Here are the symptoms of mania: (the fun stuff)

• Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
• Excessively “high,” overly good, euphoric mood
• Extreme irritability
• Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
• Distractibility, can’t concentrate well
• Little sleep needed
• Unrealistic beliefs in one’s abilities and powers
• Poor judgment
• Spending sprees
• A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual
• Increased sexual drive
• Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
• Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
• Denial that anything is wrong

Symptoms of depression: (the not so fun stuff)

• Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood
• Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex
• Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being “slowed down”
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
• Restlessness or irritability
• Sleeping too much, or can’t sleep
• Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain
• Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury
• Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

Something that most people are not aware of is that there are actually 5 types of bipolar disorder.

Bipolar I : involves episodes of severe mood swings, from mania to depression. Really high “highs”, not as low “lows”.

Bipolar II : is a milder form, involving milder episodes of hypomania that alternate with depression. Really low “lows”, not as high “highs”.  (this is what I have been diagnosed as)

Cyclothymic disorder: even milder mood changes.

Mixed Bipolar : there is both mania and depression at the same time.

Rapid Cycling Bipolar: is characterized by four or more mood episodes that occur within a 12-month period. Some people experience multiple episodes within a single week, or even within a single day. Rapid cycling tends to develop later in the course of illness.

For more information : NIMH