Bipolar disorder is usuallydiagnosedduring adolescence, but this does not rule out the appearance of some symptoms during childhood or during and after pregnancy in women. Diagnosis relies primarily on signs and symptoms identified by a specialist doctor or mental health professional. In this article, Tatmeen therefore introduces bipolar disorder, its causes, its symptoms, and how it is treated.

What is bipolar disorder, or manic depression?

It is a mental health condition that causes mood fluctuations resulting from episodes of intense emotion. These episodes produce sharp mood changes involving either emotional highs—mania or hypomania—or lows (depression). During emotional highs, the affected person may feel euphoric, unusually active, irritable or quick to anger, and inclined to act without thinking or planning. During lows, symptoms include sadness, hopelessness, loss of interest in activities, crying, avoiding others, and a bleak outlook on life. The person may also go through periods when their mood is normal.

Causes of bipolar disorder, or manic depression

No precise cause of bipolar disorder has been identified, but certain factors may contribute to its development. These include:

  1. Biological factors, such as physical changes in the brain, including changes in its chemical balance.
  2. Genetic factors, such as having a family member with depression or bipolar disorder.
  3. Environmental causes, such as experiencing abuse during childhood or prolonged stress and psychological strain.
  4. Using drugs and alcohol.

How do I know if I have bipolar disorder?

You may recognize it through the symptoms of bipolar disorder, including:

  1. Feeling an enormous amount of energy and a high level of activity that lasts longer than usual.
  2. Racing, overlapping thoughts that drive you to speak extremely quickly about several different topics at once.
  3. Feeling able to perform several tasks at the same time.
  4. Excessive self-confidence and feelings of grandiosity.
  5. Doing dangerous things without thinking, such as spending huge amounts of money.
  6. Feeling sad, empty, and hopeless, leading the patient to cry from time to time.
  7. Difficulty sleeping and othersleep disturbances, which may cause the patient to experience insomnia or sleep for long hours.
  8. Losing pleasure and feeling no happiness when engaging in any activity, whatever it may be.
  9. Difficulty concentrating or thinking.
  10. Frequent forgetfulness.
  11. Eating disturbances, involving either overeating or eating too little, and weight disturbances involving either gain or loss.
  12. Feeling tired and exhausted, resulting in a loss of energy and activity.
  13. Feeling worthless and guilty without a valid reason, which may lead the patient to think about death andsuicide.. 

Treatment of bipolar disorder:

  1. Medication treatment. This may include mood stabilizers, anticonvulsants, and antidepressants. It is important to note that these medications must not be taken withoutconsulting your specialist psychiatrist..
  2. Psychotherapy sessionssuch as cognitive behavioral therapy, which enables the patient to identify negative behaviors and work to replace them. This means helping to identify the causes of bipolar episodes.
  3. Electroconvulsive therapy: This treatment is intended for people experiencing severe depressive periods accompanied by suicidal thoughts or tendencies.
  4. Establishing a routine to regulate the patient's sleep schedule, alongside adopting a healthy diet and exercising.
  5. Family therapy, which focuses on the family and holds that family communication with the patient helps them adhere more effectively to the treatment plan.

Can bipolar disorder be treated without medication?

  1. Try to persuade the patient to receive treatment peacefully, and avoid threatening to take them to the hospital for treatment.
  2. The patient should be supported by avoiding harassment and constant personal criticism.
  3. Do not force the patient to change their behavior, and understand that they do not have full control over it.
  4. Make the necessary effort to show and clarify reality to the patient so that no space is left for the fantasies and doubts affecting them.
  5. Supporting the patient never means accepting their pathological ideas. Instead, critique those ideas in a healthy and appropriate way to help the patient recognize their unhealthy behavior.

The best treatment for bipolar disorder is considered to be a combination of medication and psychotherapy sessions. It is not possible to specify a particular treatment duration, as the patient may receive treatment throughout their life. The success of bipolar disorder treatment depends on the severity of the condition, the patient's adherence to the treatment plan prepared by their doctor, and the amount of support they receive from their environment and the people close to them.