Have you ever come across a real-life situation where someone you know showed sudden, major mood shifts? Probably, you might have landed on this page to find out whether an unpredictable nature/ mood shift is a sign of a serious mental health condition called bipolar disorder. This blog is all about interesting facts about bipolar disorder. Keep reading to understand this disorder. If your acquaintance shows symptoms of bipolar disorder, do encourage them to consult with a licensed, top-rated psychiatrist for adult bipolar disorder treatment in Wales. But first get your basics right.
10 Amazing Facts
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The primary feature of bipolar disorder is extreme,
Bipolar disorder or manic-depressive disorder, is a long-term mental illness that manifests as unusual, extreme mood swings. The person having it shows highs and lows in their behaviour, persisting for a few days or weeks. Generally, the mania and depression episodes occur one after another rapidly, once or multiple times in a week. There is a period of relative stability between the episodes.
However, those who have severe bipolar disorder also experience other symptoms. These include shifts in energy, activity levels, and sleep patterns; changes in cognitive function; and psychotic symptoms like delusions or hallucinations, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
For most adults with bipolar disorder, their normal daily functioning is considerably impacted. They start facing personal and professional issues.
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Bipolar disorder is manageable.
Patients with the onset of bipolar disorder can keep their mood stabilised with medications and personalised psychiatric or psychological care. They won’t be suffering from relapses of manic and depressive episodes.
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Bipolar disorder is not the same as depression.
Bipolar disorder patients show episodes of depression, which does not mean they are depressed. They are just having mood swings from mania (high energy) to depression (low energy).
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Bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed.
On seeing mood shifts, one usually concludes that the culprit is bipolar disorder. But bipolar disorder is usually confused with depression in females and schizophrenia in males. Seeing a mental health expert is crucial to find out what the illness is exactly.
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Bipolar disorder can affect anyone.
The onset of bipolar disorder is usually in late adolescence or early twenties. But children and older adults can also present this disorder with varied physical, emotional, and mental demands.
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Blood tests or scans are not required to diagnose bipolar disorder.
There are even other conditions like ADHD and pregnancy that have mood swings as one of their symptoms. Thus, proper diagnosis is important. An accurate diagnosis of bipolar mood disorder is only possible by seeing a psychiatrist who specialises in mood disorders. A detailed psychiatric evaluation is enough to confirm bipolar disorder.
No imaging tests like X-rays or CT scans reveal information that points to bipolar disorder. The brain scans that could show how the brain changes during manic-depressive episodes are usually done post-diagnosis.
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Bipolar disorder signs are not the same for every sufferer.
Only one type of bipolar disorder is known to many. But there are three types, varying in their presentation. A bipolar 1 patient presents only one manic and one depressive episode, and even psychotic symptoms, which makes the condition serious, requiring immediate psychiatric intervention.
A bipolar 2 patient has only one hypomanic episode and one major depressive episode. The last type of bipolar case is cyclothymia, where the patient presents episodes of hypomania followed by dysthymic, persistent depressive episodes.
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Family history does not guarantee the right diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
Genetic predisposition does contribute to bipolar disorder. But there is no guarantee about this. Not every child of a bipolar disorder patient needs to have the same condition. Researchers have found that environmental factors and stress affect bipolar diagnosis.
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Those who have treatment for bipolar disorder do not inherently harm themselves or others.
Sufferers of bipolar disorder are unpredictable in their behaviours. They may harm themselves or others. But, with the right treatment, they are rarely a threat to themselves or others.
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With continued care and proper treatment, bipolar disorder patients can lead contented lives.
With a combination of mood stabilising/ psychotic medicines, psychotherapy like CBT, and lifestyle modifications including proper workout, sleep, and avoidance of substance abuse, patients with bipolar disorder can manage their symptoms and have fulfilling lives. They won’t be experiencing comorbidities like heart disease.
Get Help Today!
Wales Psychiatry Centre has an experienced team who provides a comprehensive Adult Bipolar Disorder treatment focusing on mood stabilization, symptom management, and enhancement of quality of life via evidence-based therapies and medication. At WLP, we also practice Adult ADHD treatment in Wales, working with individuals through problems such as inattention, impulsivity, and restlessness through an appropriate blend of clinical support, behavioral therapies, and medications where clinically indicated.
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