Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a grave, multifarious illness causing intense mood alterations ranging from feeling depressed to mania which in many situations could lead to perilous behavioural patterns, even the contemplation of suicide.
Affecting both sexes, it is usually seen in older aged teens, young adults, with even 6 year old children being affected. The Bipolar disorder is categorised into various kinds with every one of the types displaying occurrence of depressive tendencies and mania to a certain extent.
In Bipolar I type, there is at least one occurrence of agitated episode of incoherent mood elevations in conjunction with atypical behaviour during the individual’s lifetime that causes major mayhem in their life.
In Bipolar II type, quite alike bipolar I there are mood alterations, with the highs not escalating to full-fledged mania.
In Rapid cycling type, the affected 10-20% bipolar disorder individuals undergo at least four manic or depression episodes annually.
In Mixed Bipolar type, there are swift mood alterations of manic and depressive types equally.
In Cyclothymia type, there is comparatively milder form of mood disarray with less intense symptoms in comparison with full fledged bipolar disorder.
Bipolar Disorder Causes:
The accurate cause of bipolar disorder is still fuzzy, yet researchers imply that numerous factors stated below could interact leading to its onset.
- Genetic predisposition, high-stress lifestyle, environmental factors, sleep deprivation or overconsumption of alcohol or drug could hamper its treatment.
- Imbalance of the brain chemical, serotonin.
- Hypothyroidism.
- Women being more affected with the inception of puberty or the monthly periods cycle.
- Anti-depressant medicines consumed as the sole medicine could also elicit a change to the manic form.
- Traumatic or stress filled events in life.
Bipolar Disorder Symptoms:
The bipolar disorder symptoms range between two widely varying mood forms like bipolar depression and bipolar mania.
Symptoms of bipolar depression include:
- Depressive moods and lowered self-worth.
- Unwarranted bouts of crying.
- Ebbed energy levels and an uninterested outlook about life.
- Feeling sad, lonely, helpless, and guilty.
- Sluggish speech, tiredness and decreased dexterity and attentiveness.
- Wakefulness or sleeping overtime.
- Suicidal thoughts or wanting to end one’s life.
- Fluctuation in dietary intake in excess or decreased appetite.
- Self-administering of illegal drugs.
- Unexplained aches or pains.
- Diminished interest in routine chores.
Bipolar mania symptoms include:
- Feeling euphoric or tetchy.
- Racy speaking or thought process.
- Bloated self-worth.
- Abnormal energy levels with lowered want of sleep.
- Consuming alcohol and illegal administration of drugs like cocaine, methamphetamines.
- Impetuous tendencies to seek pleasure like going overboard on shopping, incessant travelling, greater sexual promiscuousness, indulging in risky business ventures, speedy driving.
- Becoming delirious or weird imagination.
Exams & Tests:
The analysis of bipolar disorder is undertaken by the psychiatrist or bipolar expert by delving into the individual’s and the family’s medical past of any mental ailment as genetic predisposition is an important contributor to the disease.
A detailed inquiry about the symptoms followed by questioning to understand the individual’s analytical ability, memory, capacity to endure relations, being able to express oneself.
Many times, grave ailments like HIV, syphilis, lupus display similar symptoms to bipolar disorder that needs to be delved into in detail. Taking steroid medicines for rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, allergy, eczema, psoriasis and ulcerative colitis could cause mood variations, depressive and maniac behaviours that are many times misjudged for mood alterations of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar Disorder Treatment:
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong mental debility that has high tendency to recur with one needing to take lifetime medication for it. The below stated treatment greatly aid in normalising lives that comprise of:
- Mood-alleviating medicines like lithium, Lamictal, Saphris.
- For Bipolar Mania, the preliminary line of treatment involves administration of anti-psychotic medicine, benzodiazepine with lithium being optional to help swiftly curb agitated behaviour, insomnia, antagonism and petulance.
- Medicines like lithium, anti-convulsion, anti-psychotic medicines or a combo of them.
- Psychotherapy sessions.
- Talk therapy involving solitary, alongside kin or group sittings.
Possible complication:
Recurrent self-infliction with injury in a vain attempt to dealing with uncontrollable depressing emotions like rage, angst and disappointment. Suicide is a looming threat with nearly 10-15% individuals with bipolar disorder ending their lives, though treatment significantly lowers the chances.
Prevention:
One needs to religiously take the advised medicines and follow up visits to the doctor to help manage bipolar symptoms and prevent escalations in matters. One needs to discuss with kin and close friends about the plan of action in vulnerable situations that would include calling the doctor, a suicide helpline number, asking assistance from close ones, staying safe and sane till help can be availed, always keeping in mind that moodiness is a temporary phase and will improve with time.
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