Bipolar Disorder – Signs and Symptoms
A mood condition known as Bipolar Disorder (formerly known as manic depression, shortened from bipolar affective disorder) is characterized by episodes of high and low mood swings.
With bipolar disorder, mood swings can last for days or even weeks at a time and can be extremely high or low. It affects one in hundred persons and typically starts later in adolescence, with symptoms tending to appear in young people between the ages of 15 and 19.
Everybody’s mood fluctuates from time to time, but bipolar disorder has the potential to drastically alter a person’s mood and have an impact on every aspect of their life. The affected person will experience extreme highs and lows, sometimes lasting for months at a time.
According to some research, a person may have bipolar disorder symptoms if there is an imbalance in the levels of one or more neurotransmitters and is widely believed that the disorder is caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. Neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline, are the substances in charge of regulating how the brain works.
Symptoms of bipolar disorder include:
• Sleep issues, such as not needing much sleep or having trouble falling asleep
• Chatting excessively, being overconfident, and becoming more active
• Self-harming ideas in psychosis – thinking they have extraordinary talents or powers, if manic
• Abrupt mood changes
• Diminished appetite
• Trouble concentrating
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown. According to research, a number of factors work together to increase the risk of developing it. This includes:
• Genetics: The disorder is believed to have a genetic component because it appears to occur in families. A person with bipolar disorder has a higher risk of passing it on to their family members, but it cannot be attributed to a single gene. Rather, it is believed that a number of genetic and environmental factors act as a trigger.
• Environmental Factors: Traumatic or stressful experiences, such as child abuse, might increase the risk of developing depressive episodes and bring on bipolar disorder symptoms.
In order to enable as normal a life as possible, bipolar disorder treatment needs to lessen the severity and frequency of periods of mania and depression. Mania episodes associated with the disorder can continue anywhere from three to six months if a person is not treated.
The first step in treatment is to learn how to manage your mood swings. You might be given an antipsychotic medication or a mood stabilizer during manic episodes. Following that, you can be given the option of receiving solo, family or group psychological therapy, which can help with your symptoms and lower your chance of becoming ill again.
Once your mood swings are under control, taking therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), may also be beneficial. CBT can help you better understand your thoughts and behavior and encourage you to adopt new ways of thinking.
Chetna Foundation helps people in gaining insights into one’s routines, moods, becoming aware of when a person exhibits symptoms of bipolar disorder and is experiencing an intense episode of mania or depression, receives reasonably quick care.
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