Posted on May 14, Behind every bipolar diagnosis is an individual striving to achieve a state of well-being, just like everyone else. Individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder most commonly swing between two extreme emotional states: manic episodes and depressive episodes. Manic episodes are characterized by feelings of euphoria, high energy, talkativeness, and poor decision-making abilities.
Depressive episodes, on the other hand, are defined by feelings of sadness or hopelessness, disinterest in life activities, a lack of energy, and the inability to concentrate. For people living with someone diagnosed as bipolar, it can be impossible to predict their mood patterns and know where they stand with the individual. From friendships to romantic relationships, individuals with bipolar can struggle to form and sustain long-term relationships as their moods fluctuate.
When living with bipolar disorder, individuals often find themselves either extremely productive and focused at work or largely disinterested. This tendency can make it challenging to maintain a full-time job or focus on a career path where one must always be at their best. Similar to work, individuals with bipolar disorder may take up a sudden interest in particular hobbies or activities during a manic episode and then just as quickly lose all interest with the onset of a depressive episode.
Hobbies can provide a healthy outlet for someone to channel their manic energy. A person with bipolar disorder will exhibit various symptoms, such as manic and depressive episodes. These episodes can affect their sleep and emotions, which can create problems in their relationships.
During severe manic episodes, individuals may experience hallucinations or illogical thinking. Without proper treatment, individuals with bipolar disorder may be unable to carry out everyday tasks by themselves. They may have trouble finding a job, concentrating in school, or become a danger to themselves or others. Luckily, there are treatments available for individuals struggling with bipolar disorder.
Many facilities use a combination of various methods to manage symptoms, such as therapy, medication management, life skills education, step support, and more. I was diagnosed with bipolar in my late teens, in my first year at university. The diagnosis and not — I hasten to add — the symptoms have shaped my adult identity and experiences.
This week I have been collecting answers to four simple questions from a range of people who have bipolar, to demonstrate the range of experiences out there, and some of the things that help. For me this is important because my experience is very unusual.
I took antidepressants in my last year of school which, when I arrived at University and took the control of living away from home, helped to induce hypomania. I was already aware of my mood swings, and studying biomedical sciences. I went to the doctor and said I thought I had bipolar, and he agreed. I had met a superb psychiatrist via student health.
Because in my extended Irish family there were a few people who were unusual, and at least two with probable bipolar a working diagnosis was quick. My school and university experiences were coloured by mood swings. I cycled rapidly between deep depression and hypomania. I ate too much and drank too much, in part because of the medication and in part because of anxiety, and became very obese. I had some embarrassing moments of drunkenness, self-harm, obnoxiousness and accruing of debt.
I had my life. I avoided hospital, thanks to my psychiatrist, brilliant GP, online peer support and carefully nurtured insight. And because I found a sense of purpose through volunteering. My parents were unquestioningly supportive, financially, emotionally and practically.
They resolved to push me through my degree at whatever cost. I am lucky they were able to. I got involved in the student union movement and student mental health campaigning, which led me to my career. Bipolar shaped me. But never broke me. Nowadays all I have left is a ghost of an identity formed in a diagnosis. Sometimes my self-stigma or real stigma inhibits my career. Sometimes casual disclosure leads to awkwardness.
I am recovered. I am so aware of how a-typically bipolar I am and how lucky that makes me. Every time my heart swells with empathy for a fellow traveller in trouble, or dead to young, I thank my stars. And commit to continuing the work I do. Manic episodes will generally last months if left untreated.
Depressive episodes will generally last months without treatment. A diagnosis of bipolar II disorder means it is common to have symptoms of depression. You will have had at least 1 period of major depression. And at least 1 period of hypomania instead of mania.
You will experience symptoms of mania or hypomania and depression at the same time. You may feel very sad and hopeless at the same time as feeling restlessness and being overactive. Rapid cycling means you have had 4 or more depressive, manic or hypomanic episodes in a month period. Seasonal pattern means that either your depression, mania or hypomania is regularly affected in the same way by the seasons.
There can be some similarities between bipolar I or II with seasonal pattern and another conditional called seasonal affective disorder. A diagnosis of cyclothymic disorder means you will have experienced regular episodes of hypomania and depression for at least 2 years. But they can last longer. Cyclothymia can develop into bipolar disorder.
Research suggests that a combination of different things can make it more likely that you will develop bipolar disorder. This risk is higher if both of your parents have the condition or if your twin has the condition. But different genes have been linked to the development of bipolar disorder. Different chemicals in your brain affect your mood and behaviour.
Too much or too little of these chemicals could lead to you developing mania or depression. Stressful life events can trigger symptoms of bipolar disorder. Such as childhood abuse or the loss of a loved one. They can increase your chances of developing depressive episodes. It can help to keep a record of your moods. This can help you and your GP to understand your mood swings.
Bipolar UK have a mood diary and a mood scale on their website. You can find their details in the Useful contacts section at the bottom of this page. Only a psychiatrist can make a formal diagnosis.
Your GP may arrange an appointment with a psychiatrist if you have:. Or there is a chance that you are a danger to yourself or someone else. Bipolar disorder can be difficult to diagnose because it affects everyone differently.
Also, the symptoms of bipolar disorder can be experienced by people who have other mental illness diagnoses. It can take a long time to get a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. NICE produce guidelines for how health professionals should treat certain conditions.
You can download these from their website at: www. But they should have a good reason for not following them. Mania and hypomania You should be offered a mood stabiliser to help manage your mania or hypomania.
You will usually be offered an antipsychotic first. The common antipsychotics used for the treatment of bipolar disorder are:.
Sodium valproate is an anticonvulsive medication. Your doctor will suggest different dosages and combinations to you depending on what works best for you. Your personal preferences should be listened to. Depression Your doctor should offer you medication to treat depressive symptoms. You may be offered the following medication:.
If you would like to take medication, doctors will use different dosages and combinations depending on what works best for you. If you have an episode of depression you should be offered medication and a high intensity talking therapy, such as:. What is cognitive behavioural therapy CBT? CBT is a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave.
What is interpersonal therapy? Interpersonal therapy is a talking therapy that focuses on you and your relationships with other people. Bipolar disorder is a life-long and often recurring illness. You may need long term support to help manage your condition. Your doctor will look at what medication worked for you during episodes of mania or depression. They should ask you whether you want to continue this treatment or if you want to change to lithium.
Lithium usually works better than other types of medication for long-term treatment. Your doctor should give you information about how to take lithium safely. If lithium doesn't work well enough or causes you problems, you may be offered:. Your doctor should monitor your health. Physical health checks should be done at least once a year. These checks will include:. You should be offered a psychological therapy that is specially designed for bipolar disorder.
You could have individual or group therapy. The aim of your therapy is to stop you from becoming unwell again. Family intervention is where you and your family work with mental health professionals to help to manage relationships. This should be offered to people who you live with or who you are in close contact with.
The support that you and your family are given will depend on what problems there are and what preferences you all have. This could be group family sessions or individual sessions. Your family should get support for 3 months to 1 year and should have at least 10 planned sessions.
If you want to return to work, you should be offered support with that including training. You should get this support if your care is managed by your GP or by your community mental health team. You might not be able to work or to find any. Your healthcare professionals should think about other activities that could help you back to employment in the future.
Your healthcare team should help you to make a recovery plan. The plan should help you to identify early warning signs and triggers that may make you unwell again and ways of coping. Your plan should also have people to call if you become very distressed. CPA is a package of care that is used by secondary mental health services.
You will have a care plan and someone to coordinate your care. All care plans should include a crisis plan. CPA should be available if you have a wide range of needs from different services or you are thought to be a high risk. Both you and your GP should be given a copy of your care plan.
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