Bipolar disorder is more than just manic depressive disorder. The feeling of bipolar disorder goes beyond the extreme highs and lows that people with this illness experience on a daily basis. Bipolar is an illness that affects not only the patient but also everyone around them in some way.
Here are 10 things you should know about living with bipolar disorder:
Things go from bad to worse
Bipolar individuals often experience intense emotional states. When they’re depressed, they feel at their lowest point emotionally, while when they’re in a manic episode they are usually experiencing intense feelings of happiness or irritability. This results in drastic mood swings which make it seem like every day gets progressively worse for them.
Racing Thoughts
People with bipolar have racing thoughts that come quickly and furiously which causes them to be unfocused on one single thing. This makes tasks like sleeping difficult because their brain just won’t shut down at night.
Frustration
Ever feel upset, frustrated, or annoyed for no reason? This is something bipolar individuals feel every day of their lives. They often deal with extreme irritability because of the way they are feeling inside combined with the severe mood swings they experience every now and then. 4) Extreme Emotions – People with bipolar disorder feel extremely sad, happy, angry, scared all at once sometimes causing them to explode in emotions that aren’t appropriate to whatever situation is taking place around them. Or sometimes these feelings build up inside them until it seems like they’re ready to burst.
Lack of Energy
Also known as psychomotor retardation, people suffering from bipolar disorder often lack the energy and motivation necessary to complete everyday tasks. They may even sleep for days at a time due to fatigue. This only makes them feel worse about themselves and intensifies their feelings of sadness and/or irritability.
The Long Term Plan
People with bipolar disorder have a really hard time thinking ahead or looking into the future because all they can think about is how terrible things are now. Living in the moment is extremely important to these individuals which is why it’s also difficult for them to think about what they will be doing week, let alone next year. 7) Distorted Perceptions – People with bipolar disorder have a very difficult time understanding what is real or not because their emotions and moods distort everything around them. This means they may experience paranoia, become delusional, or even hallucinate during manic phases of the illness.
Extreme Anxiety
Bipolar individuals often suffer from extreme anxiety because of all the symptoms they are experiencing on a daily basis. They worry about having another episode and that makes them feel extremely anxious which in turn causes more stress and then they become even more nervous. It’s an ongoing cycle that doesn’t know how to stop most days. 9) No Self Esteem – Having bipolar disorder can make you feel like you’re worthless most days. You may even feel as though you aren’t good enough, smart enough, or pretty/handsome enough to exist in this world. This makes it hard to have healthy self-esteem which only makes the illness worse over time.
Hopelessness
The hopelessness of bipolar is unlike anything else out there because people suffering from this disorder know they will never be normal again and that they will always live with intense feelings of sadness at times and intense feelings of happiness other times. They also know they can never change these feelings no matter how hard they try sometimes which makes them want to end their life altogether.
A person with bipolar depression will show signs of depressive symptoms and some show signs of depressive episodes. Bipolar disorders come in different types of episodes. One of the most common episodic types is bipolar depression which is a depressive episode that comes along with a manic episode or hypomanic episodes.
People diagnosed with bipolar or a person experiencing should seek a healthcare professional to help avoid self-harm and any dangerous situations. American psychiatric association always advises someone with bipolar disorder to take the medications and also they advice diagnosis or treatment. Johns Hopkins University gives education to victims to help them get a better understanding of their well-being and the wellness advice will help them reach their good emotional highs and help predict the warning signs and other symptoms on their lifelong condition.
Treatment of bipolar disorder is through medications and as one idea suggested by the international journal of psychology also advises rapid cycling can help in increased energy and the patient will stop feel tired and feel sad.
The author of the book of bipolar disorder written by richard hammen also writes that many sufferers can control their moods with medication, but some need electroconvulsive therapy to treat severe symptoms.
The National Institute of Mental Health suggests getting help from mental health care professionals for best results. The website given by them gives helpful information.
A hypomanic period is the only time that people feel energetic, happy, and productive. They have an elevated or irritable mood that comes with increased energy for four days. It’s important to know because if you’re in a hypomanic state, it means that you are “high” on life, but not actually manic. But if your depression is severe enough where you indulge in risky behaviors a milder form of treating the depression is going to support groups and you will always avoid any emergency room fiasco.
Bipolar depression and mental health
Mental health caused by a mental health disorder can be medically reviewed, some of their symptoms include irregular sleep patterns, suicidal thoughts, and frequent mood shifts. The patients will be given a treatment plan to control symptoms and someone with bipolar disorder and depression can also resort to going to a support group and resume their new normal life.
Treating mental illness
The national alliance of bipolar disorder advocate for people with depressive episodes due to their mental health condition. Manic depression is a type of mood disorder where the patient can go from extreme highs to severe lows. The depressive episodes have the following symptoms including but not limited to a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities, overwhelming feeling of sadness and emptiness, insomnia, fatigue both mental and physical, extreme weight loss for no reason, poor concentration, indecisiveness and even thoughts of death or suicide. That is called manic depression.
Mental health issues
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health issue where a person experiences extreme mood swings, going from being very depressed and unhappy to being extremely happy and full of life. What often happens is the person in a bipolar state is so happy they form unrealistic plans or ideas which can lead them to being very compulsive. They are usually in such a high that they feel like everything is going to be perfect and they will never have any more problems. This can lead them to make poor choices.
Facts about bipolar disorder
According to various sources, there are lots of facts about bipolar disorder. These include being at high risk for addiction to drugs, alcohol and nicotine. They’re also more likely to self-harm through cutting or other destructive behaviors. Bipolar disorder is also associated with a higher risk of depression, suicidality (including suicide attempts), anxiety disorders, eating disorders, ADHD, PTSD, and other co-occurring mental health conditions like personality disorders, bipolar II disorder, bipolar I disorder cyclothymic disorder, and substance use disorders.
A mental health professional will help with mood stabilizers to bipolar disorders and manic episodes, bipolar diagnosis will help reduce any bipolar episodes.
What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is an illness characterized by episodes of mania and deep sadness. Mania makes someone feel extremely energized, enthusiastic, and happy, but it can also cause them to be irritable, enraged, or suspicious. When people have bipolar disorder, they may experience a bout of depression as they struggle with the condition.
