According to some studies, one in fifty people may suffer from a form of bipolar disorder. In many cases of bipolar disorder, there is a family history of the disease.
Mania is one pole of bipolar disorder - an extremely elevated or depressed mood, sometimes accompanied by psychosis. You may have racing thoughts or speak so quickly it is difficult for others to understand. You may also have trouble getting to sleep at night or suffer from insomnia. There is a danger of reckless behaviour such as overspending, unsafe sexual activity or aggression.
You may feel a sense of grandiosity, making unrealistic plans. Despite mania feeling great at the time, the consequences of mania can be destructive.
Some of the signs of depression include a lowered mood, self-esteem or interest in enjoyable activities, pessimism, reduced energy and changes in appetite. Suicidal thoughts are also possible and must be monitored closely.
As bipolar disorder is a recurrent illness and there isn't any known cure, you may need to take medications to maintain your mood at a normal level.
Hypomania is the halmark of bipolar II where the patient might feel euphoria or agitation. Hypomanic episodes are similiar to manic episodes except they are less severe and sometimes pleasureable to you. There is never psychosis in a hypomanic episode.
Despite hypomania increasing productivity, or making you feel increased self-esteem, the consequences can be major, especially as your mood goes down to depression.
A mixed state is a combination of manic and depressed symptoms. In a mixed state you may feel very sad or hopeless while feeling extremely energised. These can be dangeraous, because of the suicide risk from being depressed as well as impulsive. If you feel you are heading into a mixed state, you should contact your psychiatrist as soon as possible.
Bipolar disorder type I is characterised by at least one episode of full-blown mania as well as depressive episodes. There is also a chance of psychotic feature accompanying a manic episode.
Bipolar type II features only hypomania and never mania or psychosis. While these manias are less destructive, the depression tends to be worse, and there is often a high suicide risk.
Cyclothymia is a bipolar spectrum disorder where you may have long periods of minor depression lasting at least two years alternating with hypomania. These depressive periods tend to be irritable and agitated rather than melancholic and lacking in energy.
Bipolar NOS (not otherwise specified) simply refers to bipolar disorders that do not strictly meet the criteria of any of the previously mentioned types of bipolar disorder.
The treatment of bipolar disorder involves medications such as lamotrigine, sodium valproate, and quetiapine, as well as psychotheraphy to help overcome negative thoughts that exacerbate depression. There is more comprehensive information on medications later on in the book.
As bipolar disorder is a recurrent illness and there isn't any known cure, you may need to take medications for life to maintain your mood at a normal level. Despite this, many patients continue to do well as long as they stay compliant with treatment and keep aware of their changing mood states.
