Bipolar Disorder (cont.)
What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
People with bipolar disorder experience unusually intense emotional states
that occur in distinct periods called "mood episodes." An overly joyful or
overexcited state is called a manic episode, and an extremely sad or hopeless
state is called a depressive episode. Sometimes, a mood episode includes
symptoms of both mania and depression. This is called a mixed state. People with
bipolar disorder also may be explosive and irritable during a mood episode.
Extreme changes in energy, activity, sleep, and behavior go along with these
changes in mood. It is possible for someone with bipolar disorder to experience
a long-lasting period of unstable moods rather than discrete episodes of
depression or mania.
A person may be having an episode of bipolar disorder if he or she has a
number of manic or depressive symptoms for most of the day, nearly every day,
for at least one or two weeks. Sometimes symptoms are so severe that the person
cannot function normally at work, school, or home.
Symptoms of bipolar disorder are described below.
| Symptoms of mania or a manic episode include: |
Symptoms of depression or a depressive episode include: |
Mood Changes
- A long period of feeling "high," or an overly happy or outgoing mood
- Extremely irritable mood, agitation, feeling "jumpy" or "wired."
Behavioral Changes
- Talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another, having racing thoughts
- Being easily distracted
- Increasing goal-directed activities, such as taking on new projects
- Being restless
- Sleeping little
- Having an unrealistic belief in one's abilities
- Behaving impulsively and taking part in a lot of pleasurable, high-risk behaviors, such as spending sprees, impulsive sex, and impulsive business investments.
|
Mood Changes
- A long period of feeling worried or empty
- Loss of interest in activities once
enjoyed, including sex.
Behavioral Changes
- Feeling tired or "slowed down"
- Having problems concentrating, remembering,
and making decisions
- Being restless or irritable
- Changing eating, sleeping, or
other habits
- Thinking of death or suicide, or attempting suicide.
|
In addition to mania and depression, bipolar disorder can cause a range of
moods, as shown on the scale.
One side of the scale includes severe depression, moderate depression, and
mild low mood. Moderate depression may cause less extreme symptoms, and mild low
mood is called dysthymia when it is chronic or long-term. In the middle of the
scale is normal or balanced mood.
At the other end of the scale are hypomania and severe mania. Some people
with bipolar disorder experience hypomania. During hypomanic episodes, a person
may have increased energy and activity levels that are not as severe as typical
mania, or he or she may have episodes that last less than a week and do not
require emergency care. A person having a hypomanic episode may feel very good,
be highly productive, and function well. This person may not feel that anything
is wrong even as family and friends recognize the mood swings as possible
bipolar disorder. Without proper treatment, however, people with hypomania may
develop severe mania or depression.
During a mixed state, symptoms often include agitation, trouble sleeping,
major changes in appetite, and suicidal thinking. People in a mixed state may
feel very sad or hopeless while feeling extremely energized.
Sometimes, a person with severe episodes of mania or depression has psychotic
symptoms too, such as hallucinations or delusions. The psychotic symptoms tend
to reflect the person's extreme mood. For example, psychotic symptoms for a
person having a manic episode may include believing he or she is famous, has a
lot of money, or has special powers. In the same way, a person having a
depressive episode may believe he or she is ruined and penniless, or has
committed a crime. As a result, people with bipolar disorder who have psychotic
symptoms are sometimes wrongly diagnosed as having schizophrenia, another severe
mental illness that is linked with hallucinations and delusions.
People with bipolar disorder may also have behavioral problems. They may
abuse alcohol or substances, have relationship problems, or perform poorly in
school or at work. At first, it's not easy to recognize these problems as signs
of a major mental illness.
Next: How does bipolar disorder affect someone over time? »
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