Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder affects more than 10 million people in India, and it's crucial to address it to provide individuals suffering from it with the correct support system and treatments. Severe mood swings and an inability to complete tasks are common signs of bipolar disorder, which require urgent medical attention. There are many available resources to help you manage symptoms.

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar Disorder is a mental health condition that affects a person’s brain and behaviors. It occurs when various neurotransmitter systems, especially dopamine and serotine, get mixed up. Your mood is affected because of these irregularities. Therefore, individuals suffering from bipolar disorder exhibit extreme and unexpected mood swings like excessive euphoria or extreme sadness. The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown. Still, many studies suggest a mix of genetic factors, environmental influences, and changes in brain structure and chemistry may contribute to its development.

Cadabams, India’s largest and most trusted mental health institution offers a wide range of psychotherapeutic, medical, and psychosocial interventions to treat all types of bipolar disorder. With over 28+ years of experience, our diverse team of psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors offer solution-oriented treatment to ensure that you and your loved one get the help you need and deserve.

Talk to our psychiatrists and psychologists to draw up a treatment plan that works best for you.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder 

The severity of the symptoms depends on the type of bipolar disorder. The most common are major mood swings and sudden shifts in behavior. Others can be changes in energy level, activity participation, and sleep patterns. 

Symptoms of Major Depressive Episodes

A major depressive episode is characterized by symptoms that are severe enough to impair everyday functioning in areas such as work, school, social activities, and relationships. Other major symptoms include:

• Constant depressive feelings such as emptiness, despair, or hopelessness.
• Having little to no interest in any activity and no appropriate diet results in significant weight loss.
• Either sleeping too much or experiencing insomnia, which causes exhaustion or a loss of energy.
• Unable to concentrate or make judgments, which causes you to be restless.
• Frequent suicidal thoughts.

Symptoms of Manic Mood Episodes 

• Intense feelings of euphoria
• Extreme agitation and energy
• Restlessness and getting easily distracted
• Racing thoughts
• Feeling the need to continuously work or stay busy
• Overconfidence and unrealistic expectations about their abilities
• Impulsive and reckless activities

Symptoms of Hypomania

Hypomania is a milder form of mania observed in Bipolar II Disorder. Its symptoms include:

• Easily getting distracted
• Increase in impulsive behaviors
• Behaviour that is focused on attaining goals
• Restlessness and Irritability
• Reduced need for sleep
• Unusual talkativeness and excitability

Other Features of Bipolar Disorder 

Other features, such as anxiety, sadness, or other psychosis, can be signs and symptoms of bipolar I and bipolar II disorders. Sometimes, symptoms may be mixed or happen all at once. Bipolar symptoms may occur during pregnancy, and seasonal changes are also possible.

Causes of Bipolar Disorder 

Though the exact causes of bipolar disorder are not known, certain risk factors could increase the vulnerability of an individual to developing bipolar disorder. 

• Biological Risk Factors - It has been noticed that individuals with bipolar disorder show differences in brain structure. The exact differences and why they cause bipolar disorder have not been found out yet. 
• Psychological Risk Factors - Certain disorders like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have been shown to increase the risk of an individual developing bipolar disorder. 
• Genetic Risk Factors - A person with a family history of bipolar disorder has a greater risk of developing the disorder. Researchers think that there might be a specific gene associated with bipolar disorder, though it has not yet been discovered

Risk Factors of Bipolar 

Some of the factors that may trigger you to develop bipolar disorder are

• If your family member is suffering from bipolar disorder, close exposure to it can cause you to develop one. 
• Experiencing high stress for a long period because of a traumatic event. 
• Drug and alcohol addictions are at greater risk. 

Complications of Bipolar 

The complications of bipolar disorder can vary if left untreated, such as:

• The difficulties relate to the misuse or overuse of drugs and alcohol, which worsen your condition. 
• There are not only constant suicidal thoughts but also many attempts due to severe mood changes. 
• Legal and financial problems are bound to happen if people with bipolar disorder try to take impulsive steps. 
• It ruins your relationship, whether it is among friends, colleagues, family, or a romantic one. 
• A damaged relationship rippled into poor school or work performance.

Types of Bipolar Disorder 

Every bipolar disorder patient demonstrates their symptoms differently. Based on the intensity of symptoms, bipolar disorder can be classified into different types: 

Bipolar I Disorder

If you have experienced at least one maniac episode that lasted for a week, that is the key feature of this bipolar disorder. Episodes can be extreme and dangerous and can happen with or without depression. Sometimes, psychotic symptoms, such as delusions, accompany this disorder. 

Bipolar II Disorder  

The occurrence of at least one depressive episode and one hypomania episode is a feature of bipolar II disorder. Depressive episodes last longer than bipolar I disorder since it is often the dominant mood. It is crucial to understand that people with bipolar II disorder do not have manic episodes.

Cyclothymic Disorder 

The cyclothymic disorder involves frequent unstable mood swings that can change spontaneously over short periods, even within one day. Since it’s less severe than bipolar I and bipolar II disorders, people with cyclothymic disorder experience shorter periods of depressive and manic episodes. Still, it can impact your life just as much. 

Rapid Cycling Bipolar Disorder

This disorder is characterized by experiencing at least four episodes of major depression, mania, and hypomania within only one year. You may feel stable for weeks between episodes. This cycle has no set pattern, which can happen at any time throughout the illness. 

Bipolar with Mixed Features 

Bipolar with mixed features is when you experience mixed episodes of depression and mania or hypomania at the same time or very quickly after each other. For example, you may be doing pleasurable activities but have depressive symptoms. It is often diagnosed with bipolar I or bipolar II disorder with mixed features.

Unspecified Bipolar

This bipolar disorder occurs when your symptoms don't align with any other types of bipolar disorder. When your symptoms are too different or unique, it’s difficult to categorize them into one, but that doesn’t mean you are free from treatment. Your symptoms may be the same, and you still need support. 

Diagnosis Of Bipolar Disorder 

Bipolar disorder symptoms usually start showing by the age of 25 years. However, it is also possible for individuals to show symptoms in adolescence or even childhood. It is important to identify these early-onset symptoms as fast as possible, as the symptoms tend to worsen over time. 

It may be difficult to diagnose bipolar disorder due to the sudden shifts in depressive and manic episodes. To diagnose Bipolar Disorder, the mental health professional will first conduct a full diagnostic test of the symptoms to rule out any other mental health disorders, such as depression. Further, the clinician asks questions about the medical history of the individual and their family, alcohol and substance use habits, and previous occurrences of psychiatric illnesses in the family, if any. This helps to get a full diagnostic picture of the individual’s symptoms and reach a bipolar disorder diagnosis. 

If the professional feels that the person suffers from bipolar disorder, they refer the individual to a psychiatrist who can create an appropriate bipolar disorder treatment plan.

When to See a Doctor for Bipolar Disorder?

Lack of awareness of their unstable mood swings and the harm they're causing are often the causes of not getting proper treatment. If you or your loved one have any symptoms, seek mental health professional help. 

At Cadabams, our experienced team of experts assesses and evaluates the severity of your symptoms and tailors a personalized treatment plan for you.

Treatment for Bipolar Disorder 

Some of the treatment options for bipolar disorder include:

1. Medication:

Bipolar disorder medication needs to be properly regulated due to the continuous changes in moods. Thus, it is important to be in touch with your psychiatrist to find the dosage that works best for your symptoms. In case there are any side effects experienced due to the bipolar disorder medication, consult your psychiatrist immediately to change the dosage or the medication itself. 

Several types of medicines can be used to manage bipolar disorder. These include mood stabilizers, antipsychotic medications, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety medications. 

2. Psychotherapy:

Counseling and are important parts of bipolar disorder treatment alongside medication. Therapy can happen in an individual or group setting. It may also involve family members. Some of the most common therapeutic interventions for bipolar disorder include:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): CBT helps an individual identify unhealthy, negative thought patterns that cause distress. These thoughts are then reframed into more healthy and positive ones. This helps the individual create strategies to manage symptoms and triggers on a long-term basis.
• Family Therapy: Family involvement and support are important parts of recovery. Family therapy educates family members about the condition of their loved ones and how to manage their symptoms while maintaining their emotional well-being. 
• Group Therapy and Support Groups: Group therapy emphasizes the importance of building empathy and learning from others in the therapeutic process. Through group therapy, individuals with bipolar disorder can motivate and support each other through their journeys towards recovery. 

Some other psychotherapeutic interventions include Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, and Occupational Therapy. 

When to Get Emergency Help for Bipolar Disorder?

Due to extreme and unstable mood swings, people with bipolar disorder are more likely to develop suicidal thoughts, posing a safety risk to themselves and potentially others. If you are suffering, seeking emergency help from a mental health professional is crucial. 

Many mental health providers offer excellent holistic services to manage bipolar disorder.  Cadabams Hospitals is one such provider, with experienced professionals to guide you every step of the way on your recovery journey. If you or a loved one is struggling, please reach out to us or any qualified mental health professional for help.