What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is characterised by extreme shifts in mood from episodes of mania, or an extremely elevated mood, to episodes of depression, or an extremely low mood. These changes in mood can last a week or more and affect your thoughts and behaviour.
Symptoms vary depending on the type of bipolar you are suffering but the common symptoms include unpredictable changes in mood and behaviour, mania or hypomania and major depressive episode, anxious distress, melancholy, and psychosis.
Manic symptoms can include increased energy, excitement, impulsive and risk-taking behaviour, being full of new and exciting ideas, moving quickly from one idea to another, hearing voices other people can’t hear, and agitation. Most of the time, people in manic states are unaware of the negative consequences of their actions.
Depressive symptoms are often so debilitating that you may be unable to get out of bed. You’ll often have difficulty falling and staying asleep or sleeping far more than usual. Minor decisions such as what to eat or what to wear can feel overwhelming and you may become obsessed with feelings of loss, personal failure, guilt or helplessness; and this negative thinking can lead to thoughts of suicide.
Sometimes you can have psychotic symptoms during severe episodes of mania or depression such as hallucinations and delusions.
You are at a higher risk of developing bipolar disorder if you have a family history of bipolar, experienced a traumatic event, or misused drugs or alcohol.
1 in 50 Australian adults experience bipolar disorder.
Types of bipolar disorder
Bipolar I disorder is characterised by experiencing one or more episodes of mania and will often have episodes of both mania and depression. Your manic episode must last at least one week, or be so severe that you require hospitalisation, to be diagnosed with bipolar I.
Bipolar II disorder is characterised by experiencing depressive episodes as well as mania and shifting back and forward between the two but never experiencing a “full” manic episode.
Cyclothymic disorder or cyclothymia is chronically unstable mood states in which you experience hypomania and mild depression for at least two years. You may have brief periods of normal moods, but these will last less than eight weeks.
Bipolar disorder, “other specified” and “unspecified” means that you don’t meet the above criteria but still experience periods of clinically significant abnormal mood elevation.
How does bipolar disorder impact life?
Since bipolar disorder affects your energy levels, thinking, behaviour, and sleep, your ability to carry out day-to-day tasks, work, go to school and even maintain relationships is impacted.
When you have a manic episode, you may feel overly excited, productive, and even invincible. These drastic behaviour changes usually cause concern among friends and family.
On the other hand, when you have a depressive episode, you feel extremely sad, hopeless, and tired. You may also avoid friends, family, and participating in their usual activities.
What treatments are available?
Bipolar disorder is treated and managed with psychotherapy, medications, self-management strategies, and exercise.
Bipolar disorder requires lifelong treatment with medications, even during periods when you feel better. Day treatment programs can help by providing support and counselling while you’re still getting your symptoms under control.
Our support team can help you in your everyday life to experience a greater quality of life by ensuring you’re eating healthy, nutritious meals, attending appointments, keeping yourself and home clean and hygienic, as well as accessing the community and rebuilding interpersonal skills.
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