Understanding Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar is a disorder that is most recognizable by its symptoms of manic and depressive episodes and impulsive attitudes. Around 1% of the population globally, 2.8 % within the U.S., are diagnosed with Bipolar and these numbers have gone up in recent years. These episodes of being manic and then being depressed are often cyclical and in the order of manic to depressed and then manic again. Impulsivity is less controllable when in a manic episode because emotional stability and rationale is basically nonexistent and so it is harder to change the mind’s trajectory with an impulse during those episodes. For those who are caregivers or know someone with severe bipolar, it can sometimes be likened to parenting a toddler. One way to help with impulses during mania, is finding a more productive distraction which will take the attention off the impulse or destructive behavior and redirect that energy into something useful. Mania isn’t always a bad thing, it can actually help with productivity when in the right headspace and can prove useful when needing to really focus on tasks.
There are three different versions of bipolar disorder that come with different variations of severity. Bipolar 1 is less severe and normally is characterized as having frequent weekly manic episodes or hypomania. It is normally diagnosable for either gender and is the most common among the three. Bipolar II diagnosed patients can have manic or fits of hypomanic episodes that can last up to two weeks and is more commonly found in women. The last type bipolar is called cyclothymia, which has both manic and depressive episodes that are less severe that bipolar I and II because symptoms can subside for months at a time. Hypomania occurs within the cyclothymia form of bipolar and are normally not as harmful or severe. Some patients have even reported seeing hallucinations during mania. Examples of impulsiveness occurring in a manic episode would include decisions of quitting a job, breaking up with someone with no real reason why, or making a big investment without thinking if it is a smart investment first. During major depressive episodes it can be the complete opposite to the manic episodes. When one is in a depressive episode, intense feelings of worthlessness, loneliness, and lack of appetite or increase of appetite occur and it is difficult to get the person to do anything they otherwise enjoy when they are out of those depressive states. Women diagnosed with the disorder tend to experience milder forms of mania compared to men with the same diagnosis. However, their depressive episodes have proven to be more intense and the cycle of mania to depression cycles faster with 4 episodes of manicism and 1 depressive in a year. Even when in a stable period woman are more prone to relapse into their depressive and manic cycles because of their hormonal shifts during menstruating or pregnancy. Bipolar is so diverse because it looks very different in children compared to adults because children are still developing the skills to handle their episodes. Their manic states can look like them acting silly and hyper, rapidly talking about three or more different things, or exhibiting risky behaviors. Their depressive episodes can look like them getting too little or too much sleep, moping and being sad, or having no energy to do any of their favorite activities. Treatment for bipolar disorder consists of mood stabilizer medications, psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral and psycho education, and interpersonal and social rhythm therapy.
- Written by Kylie Hamacher, Undergraduate Intern
References
Powers, R. L., Russo, M., Mahon, K., Brand, J., Braga, R. J., Malhotra, A. K., & Burdick, K. E. (2013, December). Impulsivity in bipolar disorder: Relationships with neurocognitive dysfunction and substance use history. Bipolar disorders. Retrieved March 27, 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3855192/
Najt, P., Perez, J., Sanches, M., Peluso, M. A. M., Glahn, D., & Soares, J. C. (2006, November 29). Impulsivity and bipolar disorder. European Neuropsychopharmacology. Retrieved March 27, 2022, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0924977X06002021
Holland, K. (2021, November 29). What's bipolar disorder? how do I know if I have it? Healthline. Retrieved March 27, 2022, from https://www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-disorder#symptoms