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Bipolar Disorder Explained

Updated: Jun 18, 2021


The National Institute of Mental Health ( NIMH) estimated that there were 4.5 % of adults in the U.S. itself who had Bipolar disorder in which nearly 83% of them had “severe” cases of Bipolar disorder. That is approximately 13 million people who had this disorder. This disease is threatening to one’s life since there is no cure for it. It can be just treated by mental health professionals(psychological counseling) and medications.




What is Bipolar disorder?


It is a disorder that affects our mental health in which an individual has extreme mood swings. Extreme mood swings such as being overly excited for a particular amount of time and then depressed. These are also called mood swings which happens very usually in individuals who have Bipolar disorder. This disorder is also called manic depression when the individual’s disorder has a severe response. When the mood switches to a mania mood, the individual may feel elated happiness or euphoria. A notch down, there is the hypomania, a less severe case of mania or manic depression.



Symptoms

As referred by the Mayo Clinic, mania and hypomania episodes include three or more of these symptoms:-

  • Abnormally upbeat, jumpy, or wired

  • Increased activity, energy, or agitation

  • An exaggerated sense of well-being and self-confidence (euphoria)

  • Decreased need for sleep

  • Unusual talkativeness

  • Racing thoughts

  • Distractibility

  • Poor decision-making — for example, going on buying sprees, taking sexual risks, or making foolish investments

There are factors which could induce the probability of someone getting diagnosed with this disorder are:-

  • Experiencing the intervals of high stress

  • Alcohol and drug substance abuse

Causes

There are still many scientists, psychologists, and researchers who are strenuously working to find its cause. But there are several kinds of research that concluded that it is passed on through genetics. Most commonly, it is passed through a first-degree relative, a person's parent, full sibling, or child.

Individuals who are diagnosed with Bipolar disorder are likely to be affected by thyroid disease, migraine headaches, heart diseases, and diabetes.

The Age of Getting Bipolar

The typical age of getting diagnosed with Bipolar is in the teenage years or early 20’s stated by a study of the Mayo Clinic. NIHM estimated that there were approximately 2.9% of adolescents had Bipolar disorder. Ages 17-18 had the most bipolar disorder cases. And the prevalence of bipolar disorder among adolescents was higher for females (3.3%) than for males (2.6%) stated by the research of NIHM.

Disorders common with Bipolar disorder

There are many other disorders that come with Bipolar disorders and are the most common. Disorders like Anxiety disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder(ADHD), eating disorders(binge eating or bulimia).

Medications

In the part of medications, there are mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and antipsychotics used. But Lithium is said to be the most effective in treatment for acute manic episodes. Please consult your mental health care professional for a prescription to order these medications.


Helpful Therapy to Treat Bipolar Disorder

Since this disorder has no cure, it could only be treated. There might be someone in your family who might have this disorder. You may advise them to consult their health care professionals or psychological counseling. But most mental health professionals use the “talk therapy” method. The purpose of talk therapy is to help people identify issues that cause emotional distress. There are manic or hypomanic episodes that might come in the future but just remember to communicate with your mental health professional and if it is extremely urgent, then call the toll-free National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), since you are most vulnerable to suicide, drug overdose, and accidents.

Remember: Some people around you might have this disorder, don’t avoid them or act with them differently since they might be facing the worst time of their lives at that point and you may not realize it. Have a conversation with them, which might just make them feel better, or call your emergency phone number if they are facing difficulties or major mental health symptoms.

Fact: The U.S. approximately spent $202.1 billion in 2015.


Article written by:-

Name: Chirag Agarwal

Date: 11/28/2020



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