Many types of mental health and mental disorders are there. One such disorder is known as bipolar disorder, and you may have heard about it without knowing what it exactly is. About 2.8% of adults in the United States suffer from this mental health disorder, according to the NCS-R (National Comorbidity Survey Replication).

• Bipolar disorder often coexists with other mental health conditions like anxiety disorders or ADHD.
• Creative individuals and artists are statistically more likely to have bipolar disorder.
• Episodes of mania can sometimes be triggered by lack of sleep or jet lag.
• Some people with bipolar disorder may experience seasonal mood changes tied to sunlight exposure.
• Early onset of bipolar disorder can occur in children, though it is often misdiagnosed.
• Lithium, one of the oldest mood stabilizers, remains highly effective for bipolar disorder treatment.

Continue reading to learn about this disease, its treatment, signs, and symptoms.

Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes mood swings regularly. Some days, the moods are high, known as hypomania or mania, whereas there are days of low moods, known as depression. 

The issue arises when both spirits get mixed up, and a person may feel depressed and happy at the same time.

Now, it’s tricky to diagnose bipolar disorder, but if you know the symptoms and signs that come along with this illness, then it won’t be difficult for you. 

There are different bipolar disorder, and each has its characteristics and symptoms, so continue reading and learning all about them.

When classifying bipolar disorder, this mental illness has many branches of diseases connected to it, such as hypomania, depression, and mania. However, it has three main types, which include bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymic disorder.

This is when you have had at least one manic mood swing, followed by a hypomanic or depressive episode with shifts in your behavior or mood. Also, for your condition to be bipolar I, your episode must at least last a week or get so intense that you need to go to the hospital.

This is when you have had one depressive mood swing followed by a hypomanic episode but haven’t had a manic episode yet. With bipolar II, depressive symptoms dominate, whereas manic symptoms are adequate but not very strong.

Cyclothymic disorder is another type of bipolar disorder and is related to changes in your mood. However, unlike bipolar I and II, the cyclothymic disorder is less dramatic, and its symptoms can last for around a year in teens and over two years in adults.

These include disorders related to bipolar but induced by other factors such as alcohol, drugs, or even specific medical conditions. Other diseases also refer to symptoms of bipolar disorder that a person may undergo that don’t match any of the categories mentioned earlier.

When it comes to bipolar disorder symptoms and signs, it can be divided into two categories: signs of depression and mania. Since bipolar disorder comprises these two extreme moods, focusing on the signs separately helps you identify the disorder early on. 

So read on below and learn all about the signs of bipolar illness.

If someone goes through a mixed episode of this disorder, they may feel both mania and depression simultaneously. Some common signs of this issue include depression along with agitation, racing thoughts, easy irritability, insomnia, anxiety, and easy distractibility. 

The mixture of high and low energy increases the chances of suicide and can be dangerous if not treated on time.

Yes, bipolar disorder is treatable, but it requires ongoing care since it is a long-term condition. However, bipolar disorder can be challenging to treat if you have over four mood swings per year and any other form of illness. 

But its difficulty in treating does not make it impossible; with reasonable care, therapy, medication, changes in your lifestyle, and a robust support system, you can deal with this disorder quickly.

Many people who have bipolar disorder become suicidal over time, and this can be very dangerous for them and heartbreaking for the surrounding people. For this reason, be aware of the signs of bipolar disorder so that you can help the struggling person. 

This also allows you to provide them with the right help and treatment early on so that they can redeem themselves.