The Truth About Bipolar Disorder
74
Bipolar I Disorder
Bipolar disorder is the extreme fluctuation of your mood from depression to mania. It is very serious and should not be left untreated.
Bipolar disorder was once known as manic depression. Manic means that the person is very hyper, talkative, and or reckless for some time. Depression means feeling weak, loss, and or sad. The two are complete opposites and are noticeable. The time limit for each varies from days, weeks, and even months. This disorder is not all that easy to diagnose.
Manic Symptoms:
- Flying suddenly from one idea to the next
- Rapid, "pressured," and loud speech
- Increased energy, with hyperactivity and a decreased need for sleep
- Inflated self-image
- Excessive spending
- Hypersexuality
- Substance abuse
People in this stage tend do many things that they would never normally do. This could go from spending hundreds of dollars at the mall to cheating on your husband. If it is sever enough, they could have delusions and loose site of who they are. It's possible for people to experience long periods without symptoms in between episodes.
Depression Symptoms:
- depressed mood
- loss of pleasure
- low energy and activity
- feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- thoughts of suicide or death
People are often misdiagnosed because bipolar depression have similar symptoms to clinical depression.
Treatment differs from person to person. Most people either get medication, go to a therapist, or both. Some people don't do either and face terrible consequences
Bipolar II Disorder
Like bipolar I, bipolar II also has weird mood springs that shoot from high to low. This isn't as intense. The "up" moods are called hypomania. The "down" episodes are called manic depression. Anyone can have bipolar II but symptoms start, or at least become noticeable, in the late teens and early 20's. People with an immediate family member have a greater chance of having it.
Hypomanic Symptoms:
- Not being able to focus on one idea for long
- Rapid, "pressured," and loud speech
- Increased energy, with hyperactivity and a decreased need for sleep
People having this episode may seem like great be to be around but hypomanic episodes can lead to unhealthy behavior. As well as bipolar disorder I, these episodes have no exact time limit. Without treatments these episodes can last from days to years. Treatments include:
- Mood stabilizers
- Antidepressants
- Tranquilizers
- Antipsychotics
It's possible to prevent episodes but not the whole disorder completely.
Mixed Bipolar
A person with mixed bipolar disorder go through mania and depression all at once or in rapid sequence. It is often called mixed mania. This disorder is often treated with medication but this is harder to control then the other two disorders.
8% to 20% of people with bipolar disorder commit suicide...
Cyclothymia
Cyclothymia is a milder version of bipolar disorder. The episodes are shorter and range from mild depression to hypomania. Not many people are diagnosed with it though that is most likely because people probably would not realize they have a disorder. Cyclothymia is often not treated. The few that do seek treatment is often because the depressed episodes are more frequent than the hypomania ones.
Learn more about bipolar disorders
- Types of Bipolar Disorder: 1, 2, Mixed, Cyclothymic, and More
A look at the different types of bipolar disorder, including bipolar I, bipolar II, cyclothymic disorder, mixed bipolar, and rapid cycling.
Help control your episodes
 | Amazon Price: $12.25 List Price: $21.95 |
![The Bipolar Workbook: Tools for Controlling Your Mood Swings [BIPOLAR WORKBK]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Gg5KnJbAL._SL75_.jpg) | Amazon Price: $18.42 |
![The Bipolar Workbook: Tools for Controlling Your Mood Swings [Paperback]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51kdpl-xrSL._SL75_.jpg) | Amazon Price: $48.68 |
CommentsLoading...
I totally understand where you are coming from because I have been there. Some days I refuse to get out of my bed but then I realize that i have responsibilities and that forces me to keep going. My doctors believe I might be bipolar but want to be sure before they change my medications. (I am currently on antidepressants and anti anxiety pills.) Being on medication isn't as bad as it sounds. People claim that the pills are addicting and you have to be on them for the rest of your life. This is not true. You just have to find the pills that work the best for you and once that happens you will feel a hell of a lot better. Therapy is a good start but sometimes that is not enough. You should definitely talk to your doctor about getting you on some pills so you can start feeling better. I hope this was able to help you and please consider the pills. They really can help you feel better.
Thursday night I had the worse panic attack I have ever had in my life, I was able to claim down at therapy which got me through the night but yesterday the anxiety got so bad to where I got panic attacks and I called every psychiatrist within a 45 mile radius to see me ASAP. My regular doctor was only able to give me xanax to hold me over. Until I get fully evaluated. I want to get on medicine to make me better but I want to forgive myself for what I did to my husband and I think the guilt is killing more and more. I know, I am lucky since he forgave me but I love him and I am so sorry for him but it is really killing me. I hope these feelings go away. My therapist said she also can’t help me fully until I am medicated. So, I go to the therapist Monday morning then the psychiatrist Monday afternoon my husband is willing to go to the therapist not the psychiatrist. I am just so scared
Is it normal that I keep racking my brain on everything I have ever done and thinking why the hell would I do that? Which makes my attacks worse? I think it is part of one of my rants when I am having an episode. I remember having one when I was in high school but I don’t remember how I over came it and why I am so weak now. I am really thankful for you. My husband was been wonderful but he doesn’t understand mental health issues.
Well everything will be okay. You are trying to get better and you clearly have a husband that loves you. The fact that you feel guilty shows that you really do regret what you did. If he was able to forgive you one day you will be able to forgive yourself. I hope the therapist will be able to help you and your husband probably feels that the psychiatrist should be handled on your own. You will be able to get through it one day at a time. I wish you all the luck in the world.
Yes it is normal to have raising thoughts. When you have these episodes you need to try your best to keep yourself calm. Find something that relaxes you and take deep breaths. Don't dwell on the past because nothing you do now can change the fact that it happened.
Thank you. I really mean it. I am so scared
good 2 read
Awesome hub! I love to see more and more education being put out about bipolar disorder. I grew up watching my brother suffer from this completely misunderstood disorder to watching my oldest son suffer from it. During all my research, I have found that diet, exercise and high quality supplements can really make a difference in lessening the symptoms and how often the mood swings come and in some people, make almost all the symptoms "disappear" because they are completely maintained this way. I have also written a hub about it at my hubsite: Janeknowsbest. I appreciate your hub alot and it sounds like you have done alot of research yourself to be able to explain it this well. :)
amber112483 15 months ago
I was diagnosed with Bi polar II disorder nine years ago and was medicated but being in high school no one wants to be the crazy girl on medicine. I thought I could handle it myself. I thought I was doing an okay job, I thought the feeling of worthlessness was normal and sleeping around to feel wanted was normal. I met my husband a little over three years ago and he made my life worth living. In the beginning of our relationship we got pregnant and we were unable to keep the baby I wanted too but with the dropping heart rate and being young on top of it, it just wasn’t the right decision for us. I was sad and would get a little uneasy at times but would just put it on the back burner. Slower after that that we got engaged and married 8 months later, I had a second thoughts about the marriage because we had lost something but I knew I loved him and those feelings would pass. Our first year of marriage went well we had our ups and downs but were doing okay. Slowly after that I got weight loss surgery because I had gained 80 pounds within a year which cause me to be unhappy. Let’s skip a little further for year now my husband and I have been doing our separate things and I just thought he hated me and were going through a funk I would tell him that I would feel like roommates and thought he hated me and would try to reassure me that he loved me and I was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen but I think I was far too gone into depression I would tell him I can’t understand why I am not happy I have things people would die for. I mean I am 27 have a husband who loves me, we own a home and have to great pets and I felt trapped and unhappy and I told him I needed help he said that it’s a funk and we would pass it. I found myself going out all the time and finding attention elsewhere to make myself wanted and worth something. I ended up cheating on him here and there. Which I know is not right and I have never cheated on anyone in my life and can’t understand why it would happen when I am married. I was trying to feel wanted but in reality it made me feel even more worthless. I ended up telling my husband about two – three weeks ago because I got to the point where I couldn’t breathe and live with the guilt and I have never kept anything from him needless to say he was beyond upset and I know cheating is NOT okay. But, I got in these moods where I just hated myself and it kept happening because I was already worthless. I am currently now going to therapy my therapist thinks I am for Bi Polar II and wants me to get re-evaluated so I can become medicated. My husband loves me and wants to stay together and he forgives me but I am at the point where I have not forgave myself so everything I have done before we were married or even when we were (like details) keep coming out which I know I should stop but I don’t know what to do. I am at the point where I am dying inside. I am trying to forget everything right now because he wants to move forward and get better so we can move on. I am trying but I am hurting (which I should be because I did this). We have a Therapy appointment tomorrow which he is going to and I have psychiatrist appointment tomorrow which he is not going to I want him to but he is not ready. I am really dying inside to the point I don’t want to leave my bed, I don’t want to go to work and when my husband goes to work I am scared he will leave and never come home. I wish I knew more about this disorder before I thought I could handle it myself because I hit rock bottom and almost lost everything. I just can’t bear what I did. I just want to get better because the feeling I am feeling inside is horrible. I just don’t know what to do. Right now, I think I am on the right track but I don’t know anymore. It is really hard and my husband doesn’t understand my emotional episodes because he doesn’t understand the disorder. I hope I will be okay i am so scared