What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is defined by extreme mood fluctuations that range from mania to sadness. It can be described as a psychiatric illness characterized by mood swings. Previously, it was known as manic depression.

Bipolar Disorder Symptoms

The symptoms of bipolar disorder vary depending on whatever mood you are in. The majority of people experience bipolar disorder in two stages. The symptoms vary depending on which stage of the condition the person is in. It is critical to understand the two distinct phases and the symptoms that accompany them.

1). Manic Phase

During the manic phase of bipolar disorder, a range of symptoms appear. This phase usually causes the person to be exceedingly excited, extremely active, and occasionally imaginative.  Also, extreme exhilaration or agitation is a very common bipolar illness symptom. Another symptom to watch for is racing thoughts and constant chatter and chatting.

During this stage, people typically require less sleep, have limitless energy, and have high self-esteem. Another bipolar illness characteristic at this stage may be recklessness and impulsiveness, which can lead to promiscuity, excessive spending, and very fast driving. Hallucinations may also be a sign of this stage.

2). Depressive Phase

Many symptoms experienced during the depression phase are nearly opposite those seen during the manic phase, which is one reason why many people are unaware that they have bipolar illness. 

The most common bipolar disorder symptoms at this stage are depression and low self-esteem. Depression can sometimes get so severe that a person becomes suicidal, which is quite dangerous. During this stage, the person typically has low energy levels and feels weary and sleepy all of the time. 

Sleeplessness may be encountered, and their speech may be slow and slurred, as well as their coordination. Throughout this stage, most people lose interest in typical tasks and find it difficult to concentrate.

Factors that contribute to bipolar disorder

The causes of bipolar disorder are not fully known yet. Genetics, neurochemicals, and environmental factors likely interact at different levels to play a role in the development of this disorder. It is currently held that this disorder is predominantly biological and occurs in a specific part of our brain due to a malfunction of neurotransmitters. As a biological disorder, it can remain latent and can be precipitated by different stressors of daily life.

1. Genetic factors of bipolar disorder

• Bipolar disorder tends to run in families. About half of people with bipolar disorder have a family member with a mood disorder, such as depression.
• A person who has a parent with bipolar disorder has a 15 to 25% chance of developing this condition.
• A person who has a non-identical twin with this disorder has an about 25% chance of developing it as well. And the same risk if you have two parents with the same condition.
• The subject who has an identical twin, with bipolar disorder, has a great risk of developing the disease, about 8% higher risk than a non-identical twin.

2. Neurodevelopment

The environmental stressors that can trigger bipolar disorder start before you are born. The uterus and therefore also the fetus, are exposed to the mother’s hormonal levels, the medications used, the consumption of alcohol or cigarettes, diseases and several other elements.

Two important factors have stood out at this point when looking for correlation with future development of bipolar disorder:

1. Influenza: If a mother catches a cold during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester, this increases the chances that her child will develop bipolar disorder.
2. Premature baby (<32 weeks): in these cases there is a risk seven times greater than if the baby was not premature.

3. Neurochemical factors of bipolar disorder

As I said at the beginning, bipolar disorder is primarily biological and occurs in a specific area of ​​the brain, due to a dysfunction of certain neurotransmitters. Some of the neurotransmitters involved in these disorders are norepinephrine, serotonin, and probably many others. Like many biological disorders, it can lie dormant for many years and then be triggered by external factors, such as stress and social circumstances.

4. Environmental factors in bipolar disorder

• A life event can trigger a mood episode in a person with a genetic disposition for bipolar disorder.
• Even without predisposing genetic factors, altered health habits, alcohol, drug abuse, or hormonal problems can trigger an episode.
• Bipolar disorder can appear at an early age, in those with predisposition. Researchers believe this may be due to different social and environmental factors, but they are not yet clear.
• Although substance abuse is not considered a cause of bipolar disorder, it can make the disorder worse by interfering with recovery. Using alcohol or tranquilizers can induce more severe phases of depression.

5. Substance abuse

Drug or alcohol use is risky for anyone diagnosed with bipolar disorder. But in addition, it seems to be a trigger for the development of the disorder. Marijuana, opioids, cocaine, amphetamines, and sedatives all carry the risk of facilitating a first episode in a person predisposed to bipolar disorder.

What are the Available Treatment Options?

With so many treatment strategies for Bipolar Disorder available today, choosing the optimal mix of drugs can be a time-consuming trial and error process.

Bipolar Disorder is treated with a combination of medication, psychological therapy, and, in some cases, nutrition. As with many other disorders or illnesses, a team approach is usually the most beneficial. What works for one patient may not work for another because everyone reacts differently to drugs. 

Most doctors will experiment with different bipolar drug combinations to see what works best for the patient. While there is no cure for Bipolar Disorder, drugs can help with long-term symptom relief; nonetheless, it is critical that any bipolar medications prescribed are used as advised.

Here are available treatments for bipolar disorder

1. Natural Specifics

The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish canvases have been demonstrated to alleviate the symptoms of bipolar disorder, and can in some cases even completely eliminate milder cases of bipolar.

According to new studies, fish oil extract omega-3 may help in bipolar treatment. The study added that 300 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids in your diet appears to help with mood control. 

2. Remedy

Everyone has felt like punching another person, maybe on a diurnal base, but we also learn to control our baser impulses. However, society would collapse in short order, If everyone did whatever they felt like. Behavioral remedy can educate those with bipolar complaints to control their impulses.

Your croaker might offer  one among  several talking curatives to help you manage bipolar complaints in the longer term. These could include

Cognitive behavioural remedy( CBT): Looks at how your passions, studies and geste influence  one another  and how you can change these patterns.

 Interpersonal remedy: Focus on your connections with  people . Look at how your connections affect your studies, passions and geste –  and the way  they affect your connections.

Behavioural couples remedy:  Focuses on recognising and trying to resolve emotional problems between mates.

 Individual psychoeducation:  Involves  a quick  intervention helping you to identify triggers, spot warning signs and develop managing strategies.

 Group psychoeducation: Involves working  with a  group of people with participated gests . points  to form  knowledge about bipolar complaint and tone- operation. It’s led by a trained therapist.

 Family- concentrated remedy: Involves working as a family  to see  at behavioural traits, identify pitfalls and make communication and problem- working chops. 

3. Vitamins

Several people believe that vitamins, particularly vitamin C and folic acid, can aid.

Although there is evidence that folic acid benefits cognitive function, it is unclear whether this or other vitamins can aid with bipolar disorder.

However, study shows insufficient data to justify the use of folic acid particularly for bipolar illness. 

Overall, it is unclear whether nutritional supplements can aid those suffering from bipolar disorder. More research is required to validate the benefits of any substance.

4. Pharmaceutical Medicines

Psychiatrists love to write conventions for capsules, and for good reason, as numerous times these medicines work. These are commonly called mood stabilisers and include:

a). Lithium 

b). Anticonvulsant medicines

c). Antipsychotic medicines

There are well over fifty possible meds for bipolar affective complaint. In some case, a combination of medicines will be used in order to control the side goods of a primary drug.

An untreated manic period can be fatal for people with bipolar. A manic episode can cause psychosis, delusions, substance misuse, and highly erratic behaviour, which can sometimes lead to dangerous or illegal actions. Anti-psychotics such as Lithium and mood stabilisers slow the brain down to help keep a manic phase under control.

Medications such as Lexapro and Celexa help the brain retrain serotonin, a hormone important for elevating your mood, during depressed episodes.

5. Nutrition

Most people have food disinclinations, and they do not indeed know it. These disinclinations can come especially acute in those with bipolar complaints. Did you know that the glutamate, also called BHT, in taco seasoning packages can make someone manic? 

A person with bipolar complaint should watch what they eat, precisely cutting particulars out of their diet and noting their effect on moods.

Nutrition is sometimes overlooked as a therapeutic component. Certain foods and nutrients are natural stimulants (caffeine, B vitamins), whereas others are depressants (tryptophan, which is often found in dairy products). 

Eating balanced meals can help create balanced moods and, in some situations, lower medication prescriptions. Eliminating sugar, caffeine, and reusing meals can do wonders for anyone’s attitude. It also goes without saying that heavy drugs and alcohol are not permitted.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

1). What are the kinds of bipolar disorder and depression?

The various kinds of bipolar disorder and depression are

(i) Postnatal depression is a severe form of depression that some women may experience following childbirth.

(ii) Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is caused by a lack of sunlight exposure during the winter months.

(iii) Chronic/clinical depression is a long-term depression induced by chemical imbalances in the brain and traumatic childhood events.

(iv) Reactive: This is caused by a specific stressful event; common causes include death, divorce, significant sickness, and so on. 

Bipolar disorder causes dramatic and intense mood swings, with individuals feeling extremely pleased one moment and completely despondent the next.

2) What are the primary distinctions between bipolar disorder and depression?

Bipolar disorder is characterised by extreme highs and lows in mood.

Depression is the absence of the tremendous highs experienced by bipolar patients

 3) What are the available assistance for Bipolar individuals?

If you believe you may be suffering from bipolar disorder or depression, the first step is to seek professional assistance.

Depression is relatively simple to diagnose, but bipolar disorder is frequently misdiagnosed and goes undiagnosed. Keeping a mood journal is an excellent approach to assist a doctor or psychiatrist with their diagnosis or treatment plan. 

A notebook will also help you figure out a pattern to how you feel, discover triggers, and gain a better understanding of your illness. 

3) What alternatives do you have?

Both bipolar disorder and depression require treatment. This does not always necessitate the use of antidepressant medications; in fact, some of the best results are typically obtained by utilising talking therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and counseling.

Depressives who use these treatments frequently remark that talking to someone about their concerns feels like a weight has been lifted, improving their outlook and mood. Establishing a support system of family and friends is an excellent method to manage bipolar disorder and depression.

You must be truthful about your circumstances and notify friends  and family that you will require their assistance to get through challenging times. 

 Knowing that people are looking out for you will make it easier to deal with your circumstances.

4) Can some medications trigger a manic episode?

Some medications such as antidepressants can trigger a manic episode in people who are susceptible to developing bipolar disorder. Therefore, it is important that the depressive episode is carefully treated in people who have had a manic episode, when the antidepressant is taken, the depressive episode can transform into a manic episode and it is important that the subject also takes an anti-mania drug in order to do so, prevent manic episode.

This anti-maniac creates a roof that partially protects from antidepressant-induced mania. Other medicines can affect the mood, causing an episode similar to the manic episode, for example: some appetite suppressants can cause an increase in energy, decrease the need for sleep and increase the talkativeness, but after stopping the medication, the person can return to his normal state of mind. Some of the substances that can cause an episode similar to a manic episode are:

• Illicit drugs such as cocaine, ecstasy, and amphetamines.
• Excessive doses of certain over-the-counter medications such as appetite suppressants and cold medications.
• Medications for thyroid problems and corticosteroids such as prednisone .
• Excessive caffeine consumption.

This is where psycho education plays a very important role, since if we explain and ensure that the patient and their families understand the possible causes and triggers, we can prevent new episodes of mood alteration from occurring.