Bipolar
Bipolar
Bipolar Disorders (Bipolar I, Bipolar II, and Cyclothymic Disorder) (formally called Manic Depression) is a group of mood disorders that are brain-based and are characterized by extreme emotional states (i.e., mood episodes) that include some emotional high points (mania and hypomania) and some emotional low points (depression). Mania or hypomania is experienced as feeling very energetic, euphoric, or unusually irritable. Manic and hypomanic episodes last almost all day, for at least four days to a week (if not longer) and cause significant disruption in functioning. Depression associated with a Bipolar Disorder is usually characterized by sad mood, loss of interest in activities, difficulty concentrating, and other depressive symptoms. The mood episodes cause noticeable impairment in functioning and impact most areas of functioning (i.e., sleep habits, spending, work or school productivity, activity levels, relationships, judgement, and behavior). Bipolar Disorders usually have a genetic component and tend to run in families. Bipolar Disorder can present in adolescents and adults and the average age of the first episode is 25 years old. If you have experienced significant mood swings as described above, then evaluation by one of our providers could be helpful to figure out if you are living with a Bipolar Disorder. Importantly, treatment for Bipolar Disorders can be helpful to reduce mood episodes and improve overall quality of life. A combination of medication management and therapy has proven useful for reduction of Bipolar Disorder symptoms and individuals with well-treated Bipolar Disorder can regain functioning in all areas of their life.
Some symptoms may include:
A manic episode (bipolar I disorder) is characterized by extreme happiness, extreme irritability, hyperactivity, little need for sleep and/or racing thoughts, which may lead to rapid speech. People in a manic episode feel like they can do anything, make plans to try and do all those things, and believe that nothing can stop them. For bipolar I to be diagnosed, this episode must have last at least a week and represents a noticeable change from a person’s usual behavior.
A hypomanic episode (bipolar II disorder) is characterized by the same symptoms as a manic episode, except the symptoms need to only have been present for at least four (4) days.
A depressive episode is characterized by extreme sadness, a lack of energy or interest in things, an inability to enjoy normally pleasurable activities and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. On average, someone with this condition may have up to three years of normal mood between episodes of mania or depression.
When left untreated, the severity of episodes can vary. People with this condition can often predict when a new cycle is starting, as the severity of their symptoms increase.
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