Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes dramatic shifts in a person’s mood, energy levels, and behavior. People with the disorder experience profound emotional highs (known as mania or hypomania) and extreme lows (depression).
Here are six things you should know about bipolar disorder:
1. It’s more than just mood swings
The highs and lows of bipolar disorder are very different from ordinary mood swings.
This is not somebody who is temperamental and feels up one moment and down the next. This is a disorder where the mood changes are more extreme and long-lasting; they can last for days or weeks — and they cause functional impairment.
During periods of mania, people with bipolar disorder often behave impulsively, make reckless decisions and take unusual risks. They may talk faster than normal, seem to need little or no sleep, and feel elated, irritable, or “wired.”
During depressive episodes, they experience deep sadness and lethargy. They may be unable to do simple things and have trouble concentrating and making simple decisions.
2. It can be difficult to diagnose
Studies indicate that as many as 70 percent of bipolar patients initially receive an incorrect diagnosis, and it takes most patients 5 to 10 years to be diagnosed. The most common misdiagnosis is depression.
That’s because bipolar patients usually seek out help when they’re depressed.
It’s important to get the right diagnosis because research shows that antidepressants can trigger mania or rapid cycling between moods in bipolar patients.
3. It can affect people of all ages, including older adults
Studies show that about 10 percent of new cases of the bipolar disorder occur after age 50. Many who are first diagnosed late in life have had undiagnosed bipolar disorder for decades, and their symptoms become more pronounced with age.
4. Symptoms in older adults may be less typical
In older patients with bipolar disorder, mania is often expressed as irritability or agitation rather than the typical euphoria or “up” feeling described by younger patients.
It’s also common for older adults to experience “mixed episodes”; meaning they exhibit both manic and depressive symptoms at the same time.
5. Treatment for bipolar disorder is often effective
Mood-stabilizing medications have been around for decades, and they are extremely effective as a first-line treatment for bipolar disorder. Many patients benefit from taking other drugs as well, such as antipsychotics or anti-anxiety medications.
6. Continuing treatment is important
In the past, some experts believed that bipolar disorder symptoms “burned out” as people aged, but the latest research shows that’s not the case.
Even if symptoms seem to subside, it’s important for patients to continue taking their medication, no matter their age, to minimize dangerous ups and downs.
Takeaway
If you or someone you love have bipolar disorder, or you’re noticing symptoms, consider getting professional help immediately.
Find a counselor or psychologist that offers the best bipolar disorder treatment Kolkata based. Google “best doctors for bipolar disorder near me“, look at different names, do some research, and choose an expert who has extensive experience and a proven track record.
