Is It Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a potentially dangerous condition that affects millions. The hallmark of bipolar disorder is swinging between episodes of extreme moods. These episodes can lead to behavior that can drastically affect a person’s life, even threaten it.

Phases of Bipolar

The main phases of a bipolar episode are the manic and the depressive. There are a number of symptoms that could be present with each phase. The number and scale of bipolar symptoms can vary from person to person. Sometimes a person can show signs of both phases, which is called a mixed state.

People in the grips of a manic phase can be overly optimistic and have an overbuilt sense of self-esteem. Their mood can be extremely upbeat and happy (euphoria), very jumpy and agitated, or irritable with the potential to swiftly grow angry. They may make impulsive decisions in their personal and professional lives without worrying about the potential consequences for themselves or their loved ones. This can include risky sexual or financial behavior, quitting jobs, and even committing crimes. Other symptoms of a manic phase include little or no need for sleep, lack of focus, racing thoughts, fast speech, and increased sex drive.

The depressive phase is characterized by symptoms such as an overwhelming sense of sadness, hopelessness, anxiety, and guilt. These feelings can be extreme enough to bring on suicidal thoughts–thoughts that are sometimes acted upon. Other symptoms of the depressive phase include changes in appetite and eating habits, fatigue, and loss of interest in sex and other activities.

The phases of bipolar disorder happen in cycles. If a person has four or more of these cycles in a year, it is known as rapid cycling. In some cases, cycling can happen in a matter of hours.

Steps to Diagnosis

If you suspect that you or someone you care about is bipolar, it is important to get help as soon as possible. First, seek a diagnosis. This will involve a comprehensive evaluation that could include your doctor or a mental health professional, like a psychiatrist. This will not only determine whether or not bipolar disorder is an issue, but if other disorders or conditions are present. The evaluation will likely include a physical, an interview, a check of your family medical history, and medical tests. While there is no concrete test like a brain scan that will verify the presence of bipolar disorder, medical tests can help rule out or identify other problems that may be causing symptoms similar to bipolar.

If the diagnosis is bipolar disorder, there are several different types that you could have. There are two primary types: bipolar I and bipolar II. Both conditions include mood swings, but in bipolar II, the manic phases are less pronounced than they are in bipolar I. The milder manic phases are called hypomania.

Some of the other possible diagnoses in this spectrum of disorders are cyclothymia and bipolar disorder-NOS (Not Otherwise Specified). Cyclothymia includes both manic and depressive phases, but they are less severe. Bipolar disorder-NOS is a diagnosis used for conditions that have bipolar symptoms but do not completely fit one of the other categories. Regardless of the type of bipolar disorder that you have, the cause of these disorders is unknown, and there is no cure.

Treatment

Fortunately, bipolar disorder can be treated–usually with a combination of medication and psychotherapy that can help a bipolar person keep his or her symptoms in check. Medication mainly takes the form of a family of drugs called mood stabilizers. Lithium is the oldest of these medications and is still used in many patients. Lamotrigine (Lamictal) and valproic acid (Depakote) are two other examples of drugs used to treat bipolar disorder, though there are also several other options. Your doctor will identify an appropriate treatment for you based on factors like your symptoms, willingness to take medications, and possible side effects.

Psychotherapy is often a component of comprehensive care for a person with bipolar disease. The therapy takes a variety of forms but all of it aims at helping a bipolar person and his or her loved ones learn techniques to better cope with the disorder.