Bipolar is a type of mental disorder that can affect people of any ages but occurs more commonly in teens and adults. Sometimes, bipolar can be hard to self-diagnose most especially when there are a lot of mental disorders that are somewhat identical to bipolar disorder symptoms. Also, bipolar has different types, making it more difficult for people to realize that what they are experiencing are already the symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar Symptoms - Depressive Episode
One of the classic symptoms of bipolar disorder can be found during the depressive episode. The main characteristic of this type of episode is a decrease in pleasure and interest in the activities of daily living. The mood can be very different from the standard mood and routine of the individual. The person feels like he or she is in a state of depression, which can occur with or without causes at all. Additionally, the mood can be described as somewhat like being in the state of sadness or emptiness. The individual is often mistaken as having big problems that is causing them to act that way. This phase of the bipolar disorder can negatively impact the person's occupational and social functioning. Depending on the severity of the disorder, bipolar symptoms can last for days and may persist for up to a couple of weeks.
The person will most probably lose weight because the appetite is affected. Other common symptoms are extreme fatigue, loss of energy, decrease in gross motor skill agitation, and sleeplessness. The person may also have feelings of worthlessness and guilt, all which can lead to suicidal attempts and death.
Bipolar Symptoms - Mania Phase
The manic phase is the opposite of a depressive state. The symptoms experienced here would be the exact opposite to the ones experienced in the depressive state. The behaviours manifested here can also be due to known or unknown causes just like the depressive episode. It may also last from days to weeks depending on the severity of the disorder.
The Mixed Period
On the other hand, during the mixed period, both the bipolar symptoms of the depressive episode and the manic episode can be manifested at the same time. This could last for one week up to a couple of weeks. The mixed episode can be considered as more dangerous and can cause more social impairment in the daily functioning and work situations since the symptoms present are of both the depressive and manic phases. Additionally, when the symptoms of depressive and manic episodes are occurring all at once, it becomes more difficult to treat the disorder and it is harder to predict the behavior of the person.
Other health conditions and substance abuse are often confused in most cases of bipolar disorders. Due to this fact, most cases of bipolar disorders are diagnosed at later stages when the condition has worsened.
It is necessary to know bipolar disorder symptoms in order to treat the disorder once the symptoms are being identified. This type of a mental disorder can be very dangerous because it can lead to suicide and death. To prevent these from happening, it is advisable to visit a psychiatrist at once.
