What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar Disorder is mental health illness where a person experiences fluctuating mood swings. These mood swings include: depression, hypomania, and/or manic episodes.
What are common depression symptoms:
- Low motivation
- Feelings of helplessness/hopelessness
- Isolative/withdrawn from others
- Eating and sleep patterns can fluctuate
- Challenges with concentration
- Irritability and/or anger easily
- Suicidal thoughts and/or self-harming behaviors (cutting being one of the most common forms of self-harm).
Depressive episodes can range from a few todays to months on end. If you are experiencing suicidal or aggressive thoughts towards others and need support go to your local emergency room or nearest mental health walk-in clinic for support.
What are common hypomania symptoms?
- Euphoria (on top of the world)
- Racing thoughts
- Pressured speech
- Irritability and/or agitation
- Inflated self-esteem/confidence
- Increase in goal-directed behaviors
- Decrease in sleep or need for sleep
- Restlessness
- Impulsive decision making
- Increase in high-risk behavior (unprotected sex and large/numerous credit card purchases are examples)
- Poor judgment
- Increase in goal-directed behavior(s)
- Suicidal thoughts
Hypomania is a level below a manic episode; however, hypomania can still significantly impact a person’s life negatively.
What are common manic symptoms?
- Inflated sense of self
- Euphoria
- Grandiosity
- Increase in energy
- Pressured speech
- Racing thoughts
- Limited sleep or no sleep
- Pressured speech
- Impulsive Decisions
- Poor Judgment
- Increase in goal directed behavior(s)
- Suicidal thoughts
What are the different types of bipolar diagnoses?
Bipolar I Disorder is classified by both a depressive episode and a manic episode. At times when a person experiences a bipolar manic episode they may need to be hospitalized to ensure their safety. A manic episode is typically differentiated from hypomania by the length of the symptoms presentation and/or if the person has a psychotic break during the increased mood.
Bipolar II Disorder is categorized by hypomania and depressive mood episodes. A person with Bipolar II Disorder symptoms does not meet the length of mania symptoms and thus experiences hypomania. Mood swings between hypomania and depression occur during Bipolar II Disorder.
As always, a person’s mood can be influenced by substance or alcohol use and abuse or other medical conditions.
A thorough assessment is needed to diagnosis a bipolar disorder. These should be carried out by a therapist or clinician with training and expertise in this area of mental health. We encourage readers to research therapists or clinicians near them to locate and vet providers before beginning.
At Revitalize Mental Health PLLC our local therapists specialize in working with bipolar disorders. Submit a form or call us to set up a 20-minute phone consultation to ensure we are the right fit for your needs. If you would like additional information on bipolar disorder, Anna Khandrueva’s blog has additional reading content around bipolar disorders and treatment.
