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| Polarized Flower by Ali Nicole |
Bipolar Disorder. Too often it is used as a term associated with suggesting someone is crazy ("she's so bipolar") rather than to describe the actual mental illness. So what is a bipolar disorder and what does it look like?
Disclaimer: This post—like all my content—is NOT intended for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment. It is for informational purposes only. The only place you can truly receive diagnosis and treatment is with a YOUR professional, qualified treatment provider following the proper assessment(s). Proceed with caution and use this post and all posts for information purposes ONLY.
If we break down the word "bipolar" we get "bi" meaning two, and "polar" suggesting polarization or opposite. This gives us a little clue as to the nature of the disorder. It is characterized by changes in mood and presentation which are in stark contrast to one another.
However, it's not quite that simple. At the core, bipolar disorders are depressive disorders. Depression symptoms are the major basis of the diagnosis. It just doesn't end at depression and, instead, has another side. The polarized side is mania or hypomania. This would be the extreme "up" in contrast to the extreme "down."
So what do these two sides look like? For the purposes of this article, I'm going to focus on Bipolar I Disorder. I'll add in some points about other bipolar disorders for clarity as we go along.
The Depression:
I won't go too far into depression as you can read more about depressive disorders in my post on what depression looks like. What's important to know is that since bipolar disorders are depressive disorders, you must meet criteria for a major depressive episode in the same way one would meet the diagnosis for major depressive disorder.
If you've taken a look at my post on depression, you already know how disruptive this can be to daily life. Motivation can drop, interest reduces for so many enjoyable activities, and sleep can be disturbed. Of course, there is the dangerous side to depression as well with the possibility of suicidal ideation and thoughts of death (help and support available by calling emergency services, calling a hotline such as National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 which is the USA number, or reaching out to local crisis resources are just some of the options. Help is out there.).
The Mania:
If depression is miserable and potentially dangerous, mania is euphoric and...potentially dangerous. A full manic episode is what decides if a person has Bipolar I disorder, happening at least once in the course of the illness not due to substances or other health problems. This may seem like a mood swing to outsiders but it's so much more persistent and serious than that.
Mood Change
Mania comes with an elevated mood which may lead to being overly optimistic or driven. It's also possible to be highly irritable. It may seem like a person's energy is a boiling pot with a lid shaking on top and at anytime it will bubble over.
Increased Energy
During this time energy increases exponentially. This means that you are going, going, going, making it more possible to follow the drive of the elevated mood. Projects get started and stopped, productivity feels like its at an all-time high (you may be doing a lot but not actually advancing), and sleep takes a nose-dive. With all the excess energy, you don't feel the loss of sleep but your body still will which is one part of the dangers of this side of bipolar disorder. We need sleep and not getting it makes our bodies do strange things such as see or hear things that aren't there.
Over-confidence and Risk Taking
With mania, confidence is often increased. This may lead to some more daring choices without negative impact such as wearing flashy clothes or taking more chances with creative endeavors. It can also lead to behaviors with extremely negative or dangerous consequences. Some examples might be overspending to the point of not being able to afford bills, risky sexual encounters, escalating disagreements/fighting, and substance use.
Though Flow Disruption
It makes sense if energy and drive are ramped up, so, too, are thoughts. Thought can be racing and ideas may change rapidly. What the outside world will hear could be anything from lack of focus and quick topic changes to disjointed speech, where the words can't add up to a cohesive thought. When dealing with this as the person dealing with mania, it can be frustrating that others can't keep up or understand what you're trying to say.
Unfortunately, because behavior during mania can become so disruptive and out of character, it has the potential to disrupt employment, cause run-ins with the law, lead to loss of financial security, and harm relationships. This is not so for all people living with this disorder. What needs to be understood is that his is not a morality or resilience issues, this is an issue with the brain functioning being changed. It can feel like you're not in control of yourself, and in a lot of ways people dealing with the symptoms of mania or depression aren't fully in control as they would be if these weren't present.
Other Bipolar Disorders
There are, like I mentioned, other bipolar disorders. They stick to a similar outline; depression and mania symptoms at different times are present. Let's take a look at two of them: Bipolar II Disorder and Cyclothymic Disorder.
Bipolar II Disorder
Bipolar II Disorder is, again, characterized by having a major depressive episode. The difference in the manic symptoms which never reach criteria for mania. Instead, the symptoms lead to hypomania. Hypomania causes less impairment in function overall when compared to mania. It doesn't lead to a need for hospitalization but it is nonetheless challenging and can still lead to behaviors than have poor consequences.
Cyclothymic Disorder
Another disorder notably related to bipolar disorders is cyclothymic disorder. For people with this disorder no full manic or depressive episodes are present. Symptoms may be less or just more rapidly cycling. There's no freedom from symptoms for more than two months so you're living in either the highs or the lows more times than not.
Overall, bipolar disorders have a tough set of symptoms and presentations. These disorders are also largely treatable. It may be trial and error, like many mental illnesses, to get the right dose and type(s) of therapy and/or medication.
I, not being a doctor, don't take part in the medication side of treatment. I know that it can be a major part of treatment for many people. On the therapy side, the focus tends to be on awareness to help prepare for and manage symptom changes, as well as behavioral changes to reduce triggers for symptoms. Knowing the warning signs for mania and depression and coming up with a plan to address both can be paramount.
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