Understanding Bipolar: Coping with Different Types

Bipolar disorder is a mental health conditions that affect a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function in daily life. They are characterised by periods of intense and heightened mood, and emotional shifts and are accompanied by feelings of sadness. The periods in bipolar disorder can last from days to weeks and are called mood episodes. People with bipolar disorder can face fluctuations in their mood, ranging from highs to lows within days or even weeks. People usually experience manic, hypomanic and depressive mood episodes.

Bipolar disorder is said to run in families. Genetics are considered to be an important factor in the diagnosis. Environmental factors are also considered contributors like stress, alcohol et cetera which can trigger a manic episode. Episodes of bipolar disorder may onset around the age of 20.

Types of mood episodes 

• Mania usually includes elevated and expansive mood, heightened energy, increase in the level of activity, anger and irritation. The person may face a decreased amount of sleep, and feelings of grandiosity, and in some cases, they might engage in impulsive and dangerous acts that may harm them or others. The speech rate of the person might also increase, along with racing thoughts.
• Hypomania is less severe than mania, hence the word hypo. In this, the symptoms are not that severe and do not hamper the daily functioning of the person. There are low to minimal chances of the person engaging in any dangerous activity or doing anything impulsive in hypomania
• The depressive mood is characterised by feelings of sadness, worthlessness, low mood, decrease in the level of energy, and loss of interest in activities the person used to enjoy before. The individual can also experience fatigue, changes in appetite, and sex drive, and can face suicidal thoughts.

Read More: Passive Suicidal Ideation

Types of Bipolar Disorder 

Bipolar I

The main feature of bipolar one is mania. The presence of at least one maniac episode lasting up to 1 week, is necessary to diagnose Bipolar I. Mania is characterised by an exaggerated and expanded mood along with uncomfortable irritation. The person may or may not face a depressive episode, but the presence of a manic episode is necessary. Major symptoms of this disorder are distractibility, impulsivity, feelings of grandiosity, flight of ideas or racing thoughts, a sudden increase in the activity and/or Psychomotor agitation reduced amount of sleep, and talking or speaking more than usual. Bipolar I causes significant impairment in an individual’s life, which can even lead to hospitalisation to prevent harm or danger.

Bipolar II

Bipolar II is characterised by one major depressive episode lasting for two weeks and one hypomanic episode lasting for four days. Hypomania is less severe than mania, and to be diagnosed with Bipolar II, one must never have a full-blown manic episode. The individual may have alternating episodes of depression and hypomania. As it is less severe, the individual rarely gets hospitalised, unlike in bipolar I. There are no psychotic features as well. The symptoms are manageable with correct treatment and medication, and in most cases do not cause any significant impairment in the individual’s life.

Cyclothymic Disorder 

Cyclothymic disorder is characterised by mood fluctuations and disturbances, consisting of symptoms of hypomania And symptoms of depressive disorder. It can be understood as the “milder” or “baby” version of bipolar disorder. Symptoms generally last up to 2 years, Prevalent for most of the time and the individual is not without symptoms for more than two months. The individual goes through many ups and downs sometimes alternating with a normal mood. In this, the individual has a high risk of developing bipolar I  and bipolar II, if proper interventions are not taken. 

Other specified bipolar and related disorders

This is a category of disorders in which an individual has bipolar and related symptoms, but those symptoms do not fit into the criteria of bipolar I, bipolar II and cyclothymic disorder. The symptoms could be presented as less severe, which may not last throughout the duration, mentioned for the criteria for other bipolar disorders and/or the individual may face a plethora of symptoms that cause disturbance and impairment. Sometimes the symptoms may be confusing and may lead to misdiagnosing of the disorder.

Substance/medication-induced Bipolar, and related disorders

Substance-induced bipolar disorder is characterised by manic, hypomanic, and depressive symptoms which are caused by substance/medication taken by an individual. The individual faces manic/hypomanic episodes alternating with depressive episodes caused by to consumption or withdrawal of any foreign substance like alcohol, Marijuana, Sedatives and/or any other prescribed or non-prescribed medication etc. Intoxication or withdrawal due to substance is found to be the source of manic or depressive episodes. This category of disorder can cause complications in the individual life and of people around him as The individual may engage in dangerous or harmful acts during a manic episode.

Conclusion 

Bipolar and related disorders are some of the most misdiagnosed disorders as the symptoms overlap with other disorders like Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, borderline personality disorder, clinical depression, et cetera. Sometimes it is also very difficult to understand the symptoms and how they align with the particular category. It is necessary to seek proper treatment and intervention to improve functioning in daily life and work better in a societal setting.