Bipolar Disorder (cont.)
What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings—from overly "high"
and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of
normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with
these changes in mood. The periods of highs and lows are called episodes of
mania and depression.
Signs and symptoms of mania (or a manic episode) include:
- Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
- Excessively "high," overly good, euphoric mood
- Extreme irritability
- Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from
one idea to another
- Distractibility, can't concentrate well
- Little sleep needed
- Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers
- Poor judgment
- Spending sprees
- A lasting period of behavior that is different from
usual
- Increased sexual drive
- Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and
sleeping medications
- Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
- Denial that anything is wrong
A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of
the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If
the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.
Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive episode) include:
- Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood
- Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once
enjoyed, including sex
- Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being
"slowed down"
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making
decisions
- Restlessness or irritability
- Sleeping too much, or can't sleep
- Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or
gain
- Chronic pain or
other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or
injury
- Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
A depressive episode is diagnosed if five or more of these symptoms last most
of the day, nearly every day, for a period of 2 weeks or longer.
A mild to moderate level of mania is called hypomania. Hypomania may
feel good to the person who experiences it and may even be associated with good
functioning and enhanced productivity. Thus even when family and friends learn
to recognize the mood swings as possible bipolar disorder, the person may deny
that anything is wrong. Without proper treatment, however, hypomania can become
severe mania in some people or can switch into depression.
Sometimes, severe episodes of mania or depression include symptoms of psychosis
(or psychotic symptoms). Common psychotic symptoms are hallucinations (hearing,
seeing, or otherwise sensing the presence of things not actually there) and
delusions (false, strongly held beliefs not influenced by logical reasoning or
explained by a person's usual cultural concepts). Psychotic symptoms in bipolar
disorder tend to reflect the extreme mood state at the time. For example,
delusions of grandiosity, such as believing one is the President or has special
powers or wealth, may occur during mania; delusions of guilt or worthlessness,
such as believing that one is ruined and penniless or has committed some
terrible crime, may appear during depression. People with bipolar disorder who
have these symptoms are sometimes incorrectly diagnosed as having schizophrenia,
another severe mental illness.
It may be helpful to think of the various mood states in bipolar disorder as
a spectrum or continuous range. At one end is severe depression, above which is
moderate depression and then mild low mood, which many people call "the
blues" when it is short-lived but is termed "dysthymia" when it
is chronic. Then there is normal or balanced mood, above which comes hypomania
(mild to moderate mania), and then severe mania.
In some people, however, symptoms of mania and depression may occur together
in what is called a mixed bipolar state. Symptoms of a mixed state often
include agitation, trouble sleeping, significant change in appetite, psychosis,
and suicidal thinking. A person may have a very sad, hopeless mood while at the
same time feeling extremely energized.
Bipolar disorder may appear to be a problem other than mental illness—for
instance, alcohol or drug abuse, poor school or work performance, or strained
interpersonal relationships. Such problems in fact may be signs of an underlying
mood disorder.
Suicide
Some people with bipolar disorder
become suicidal. Anyone who is thinking
about committing suicide needs immediate attention, preferably from a mental
health professional or a physician. Anyone who talks about suicide should
be taken seriously. Risk for suicide appears to be higher earlier in the
course of the illness. Therefore, recognizing bipolar disorder early and
learning how best to manage it may decrease the risk of death by suicide.
Signs and symptoms that may accompany suicidal feelings include:
- talking about feeling suicidal or wanting to die
- feeling hopeless, that nothing will ever change or
get better
- feeling helpless, that nothing one does makes any
difference
- feeling like a burden to family and friends
- abusing alcohol or drugs
- putting affairs in order (e.g., organizing finances
or giving away possessions to prepare for one's death)
- writing a suicide note
- putting oneself in harm's way, or in situations where there is a danger of
being killed
If you are feeling suicidal or know someone who is:
- call a doctor, emergency room, or 911 right away to
get immediate help
- make sure you, or the suicidal person, are not left
alone
- make sure that access is prevented to large amounts of medication,
weapons, or other items that could be used for self-harm
While some suicide attempts are carefully planned over time, others are
impulsive acts that have not been well thought out; thus, the final point above
may be a valuable long-term strategy for people with bipolar disorder. Either
way, it is important to understand that suicidal feelings and actions are
symptoms of an illness that can be treated. With proper treatment, suicidal
feelings can be overcome.
Next: What is the course of bipolar disorder? »
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From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com  |
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- Depression - Read about depression causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and types, including manic depression (bipolar disorder), postpartum depression and clinical depression. Source:MedicineNet
- Panic Attacks - Read about panic attack (panic disorder) symptoms, causes (stress, anxiety, fear) and treatment (medication, psychotherapy). Learn how to prevent panic attacks. Source:MedicineNet
- Suicide - Recognize the warning signs and symptoms of suicidal behavior (writing a suicide note), and get the facts on suicide prevention, causes, treatment, assessment, risk factors and support. Source:MedicineNet
- Read 100 more Bipolar Disorder related articles ...
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