What is Bipolar Disorder?

A serious mental illness caused by an imbalance in the communication between brain cells is called bipolar disorder. You don’t spend the whole day in the same mood. From time to time, your mood changes for various reasons. But someone with this condition of bipolar disorder experiences extremes of normal mood swings.

Sometimes they experience very low moods (such as major depression) and sometimes very high moods (such as mania or psychosis). They can also go into a ‘mixed state’ of both. That is, a condition that manifests both depression and mania together. You now have a rough idea of how confusing and dangerous a condition bipolar disorder is.

This disorder started to be called by this name only after 1980. This was previously known as manic depression. In 1980, the American Psychiatric Association renamed manic depression as bipolar disorder. There is a reason for this name. We mentioned earlier that this disorder takes on contradictory characteristics. That is, this disorder shows dual nature. Hence this is called ‘bi-polar’.

Deference Between Bipolar I, II & III?

Considering the differences in bipolar, there are three types; bipolar I, II & III. If there has been one full manic episode with depression, it is called bipolar I. This is the most common. Bipolar II is when mood swings between depressive states and hypomanic states or less manic episodes.

Cyclothymia disorder is a recurrent mood swing between depressed and hypomanic that lasts for more than two years. But this is characterized as a mild form of bipolar as it has not reached the level of bipolar.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

Symptoms of Depression

• A depressed mood for most of the day.
• Sleep disturbance.
• A loss of interest or pleasure in almost all activities.
• Changes in weight and appetite.
• Poor concentration levels.
• Feelings of worthlessness.
• Fatigue and loss of energy.
• A decrease in physical activity.
• Excessive feelings of guilt.
• Suicidal thoughts.

We have already written an articles about ‘Depression‘, you can read that article for further understanding.

Symptoms of Mania

• An unnaturally high, euphoric mood.
• Excessive anger.
• Incoherent, racing thoughts.
• Inflated sense of self-importance.
• Loud, rapid speech.
• Decreased need for sleep.
• Easily distracted, unable to concentrate well
• Excessive risk-taking, such as excessive spending, irresponsible sexual behavior, or excessive use of addictive substances.
• Alcohol or street drugs.
• Lack of inhibition.

Other Symptoms

• Anxiety
• Low self-esteem
• Libido problems
• Self harm

Causes of Bipolar Disorder

People often ask whether mental illness is caused by genes (‘nature’) or environment (‘nurture’). Many research studies show that bipolar disorder (along with other mental illnesses) runs in families. So does it all depend on one’s genetic ‘blueprint’? No. All human characteristics are a combination of genes and experiences. Let’s find some environmental factors.

• Traumatic childhood.
• Stress.
• Drug abuse.
• Lack of sleep.
• Hormonal changes.