Bipolar Disorder is a mental disorder characterized by periods of depression, extreme mood swings, consistent changes in energy levels that can disrupt a persons day to day activities.
These consistent high and low moods are more severe, as a particular mood cannot be maintained for long when the mood does last, the cycle lasts for days, weeks, or months and is very intense.
Source: Osmosis from Elsevier
The causes of bipolar disorder are not completely understood but it appears to be hereditary in some cases. The symptoms of bipolar disorder can be confusing and should be diagnosed by a doctor. It varies widely with different people.
Causes of bipolar disorder
The cause of Bipolar disorder is a bit of a mystery to doctors and researchers until now. It’s not yet clear what causes some people to develop the condition and not others.
Possible causes include
Genetics
If your parent or sibling has bipolar disorder, you’re more likely than other people to develop the condition. However, it’s important to keep in mind that most people who have bipolar disorder in their family history don’t develop it.
The brain
Your brain structure may impact your risk for the disease. Abnormalities in the structure or functions of your brain may increase the risk.
Environmental factors
It’s not just what’s in your body that can make you more likely to develop bipolar disorder. External factors may contribute, too.
These factors can include: extreme stress, traumatic experiences, physical illness Each of these factors may influence who develops the bipolar disorder.
There are four types of moods in bipolar disorder, mania, hypomania, bipolar depression, and mixed episodes. These moods range with different symptoms and severity.
1. Bipolar depression: There is a difference between depression and bipolar depression especially in the way both are being treated.
A person may experience a disruption in sleeping pattern, weight loss or gain, feeling of worthlessness, sensitivity to light, noise that other people are not sensitive to in the same environment, inability to focus, work or go to school, fatigue, and restlessness.
2. Hypomania and mania: Hypomania is characterized by the feeling of euphoria, grandiose, heightened energy, hypomania is less intense than mania but can transition into mania. Mania is more intense and can go out of control. Symptoms include increased energy and creativity, recklessness, hallucinations, extreme energy.
3. Mixed episode: This mood is characterized by symptoms ranging from hypomania, mania, and bipolar depression. There are types of bipolar disorders a person can be diagnosed with cyclothymia, bipolar I disorder, bipolar II.
A person might experience this mood repeatedly, within hours or days, ranging from extremely low to extremely high. This is called rapid cycling and can leave one vulnerable to self-destruction.
Treatment for bipolar disorder
If you are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, don’t wait to get help. Neglecting the problem won’t make it go away; in fact, it might get worse.
Living with untreated bipolar disorder can lead to problems in everything from your career to your relationships to your health.
Bipolar disorder is treatable, so diagnosing the problem and starting treatment as early as possible can help avert complications.
If you’re unwilling to seek treatment because you like the way you feel when you’re manic, remember that the energy and excitement come with a price. Mania and hypomania often turn destructive, hurting you and the people around you.
People leaving with bipolar disorder can have a happy life, but if untreated otherwise, it becomes worse. Bipolar disorder requires lifelong term treatment, healthy support from loved ones, lifestyle change.
