A chronic mental health or mood disorder that leads to alternating depressive moods and episodes of emotional highs. During emotional lows, a person undergoes a lack of energy, extreme sadness, extreme hopelessness, social withdrawal, forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, changes in appetite, etc.
With episodes or emotional highs, the same person (having bipolar disorder) experiences extreme excitement, impulsiveness, inflated self-esteem, racing thoughts, excessive energy, increased agitation, hypomania, etc. For optimal medical care, you might consult the leading psychiatrist at the best Siliguri mental hospital.
Symptoms and signs of bipolar disorder
People with mania and hypomania undergo symptoms such as:
- Abnormally overexcited
- Excessive energy
- Involving in risky behaviors
- Increased agitation
- Very jumpy and wired
- Too much talkativeness
- Euphoria
- Overdoing for self-care and wellbeing
- Decreased need for sleep
- Poor decision-making ability
- Racing thoughts
By definition, hypomania and mania are episodes of over-active or excessive high-energy activities or behavior that affect quality of life. Mania is a more severe form of hypomania.
People with depressive episodes undergo symptoms such as:
- Feelings of emptiness, hopelessness
- Sadness, worried, anxious
- Social withdrawal
- Losing interest in activities
- Changes in appetite, eating too much or too less
- Sleep changes (either sleeping too little or too much)
- Weight gain or weight loss
- Slowed behaviour
- Slowed movement
- Loss of energy, fatigued
- Restlessness
- Indecisiveness
- Forgetfulness
- Reduced ability to concentrate
- Suicidal thoughts
Types of Bipolar disorder – Manic depression
The types of bipolar disorder are given below:
Bipolar I Disorder: People with bipolar I disorder have undergone at least one or more episodes of mania. However, many times, in bipolar I disorder, episodes of depression are seen but not necessary for bipolar I disorder diagnosis.
Bipolar II Disorder: People with bipolar II disorder at least have one major depressive cycle and at least one cycle of hypomania with no manic episodes.
Cyclothymic Disorder: People with cyclothymic disorder have chronic mood instability with at least more than one year of less severe depression and hypomania.
If you experience such symptoms in your near or loved one, see a specialist. For first aid, you might consult a reputed GP/general physician near you or directly contact a psychiatrist. You might reach out to the top Siliguri mental hospital for bipolar disorder diagnosis and treatment.
Causes and medical care options for bipolar disorder
While the definitive cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, factors like a family history of bipolar disorder in a first-degree relative, physical changes in the brain, recreational drug abuse, exposure to stressful life events, and alcohol abuse can put one at risk of bipolar disorder. See a psychiatrist at the best mental hospital in Siliguri.
A psychiatric assessment, physical exam, review of medical/personal history, blood tests, DSM-5 criteria test, etc. help diagnose bipolar disorder. In order to heal bipolar disorder, psychiatrists may order or prescribe medications, psychotherapy/talk therapy, lifestyle improvements like exercise, meditation, yoga, diet changes, electroconvulsive therapy, etc. Long-standing medical care is effective at managing this mood disorder.
