- \n
- What is bipolar disorder<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How widespread is it?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What causes it and who can develop it?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Symptoms: how can I tell if I might have bipolar disorder?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Treatment: how is bipolar disorder treated<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What should I do if I have symptoms?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Life with a diagnosis and self-help<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Guide for loved ones: what should I do if someone I love has bipolar disorder?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
\n\nWhat is bipolar disorder?<\/h2>\n\n
The term ‘bipolar’ is often misused to describe a person whose mood and\/or emotions can change rapidly within a few moments. This phenomenon is actually called emotional instability, and it is not a mental health disorder, but rather a symptom found in various conditions. <\/p>\n\n
Bipolar disorder, on the other hand, is a mental health condition manifested by episodes<\/strong> of extreme mood<\/strong>, which can be positive (hyperactivity, euphoria<\/strong>), negative (sadness<\/strong>, lethargy<\/strong>) or a combination of both, and is usually accompanied by major changes<\/strong> in energy levels, activity and concentration<\/strong>. These episodes don’t last minutes or hours, but weeks<\/strong> or even months<\/strong>, and can seriously affect<\/strong> a person’s life, in some cases even being fatal<\/strong>. It is important to understand these distinctions so as not to stigmatise<\/strong> those who suffer from this condition, and to detect the signs<\/strong> of a possible mood disorder as quickly as possible. <\/p>\n\n
How widespread is it?<\/h2>\n\n
In Romania, a 2009 study (The Romanian Mental Health Survey [1]) showed that the prevalence of bipolar disorder in the general population (the percentage of people suffering from this condition) was 1.4%<\/strong>, a value close to those reported in the UK (2%<\/strong> [2]) or globally (1%<\/strong> [3]). This percentage is equivalent to a population of approximately 280,000 Romanians<\/strong> (at present). <\/p>\n\n
In reality, however, many of those who suffer from bipolar disorder do not receive this diagnosis and are never treated. The same study shows that only 32.5% (nearly a third)<\/strong> of patients receive a diagnosis and start treatment within the first year of the onset of symptoms, and only 63.8%<\/strong> (nearly two-thirds)<\/strong> go through this initial process by the age of 50 [1]. This means that approximately one-third of Romanians with bipolar disorder are never treated. <\/p>\n\n
What causes it and who can develop it?<\/h2>\n\n
![\"Two-part](\"https:\/\/mentalhealthforromania.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/image-asset-4.jpeg\" "\\"image-asset")
\n\nhttps:\/\/minddoc.de\/magazin\/bipolare-stoerung-manische-depression\/<\/p>\n\n
Like any complex psychiatric condition, bipolar disorder is caused by a combination of genetic<\/strong> and environmental factors<\/strong> that are not fully understood. Environmental factors include psychological and social factors<\/strong>, such as childhood trauma<\/strong> (abuse, neglect or the loss of a loved one), which is why post-traumatic stress disorder<\/strong> is often encountered concurrently. Both the genetic and environmental components explain the fact that bipolar disorder runs in families<\/strong> (you have an increased risk if someone in your family suffers from this condition), but it can in principle affect anyone<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n
Bipolar disorder usually appears in adolescence<\/strong> or in early adulthood, and can occur in very rare cases in children as well. Women and men are equally predisposed. Certain triggers<\/strong> are associated with the onset of symptoms, as well as with the onset of extreme episodes: <\/p>\n\n
- \n
- stress<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- financial problems, at work or in personal life<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- stressful events<\/strong>, such as the death of a loved one, physical, sexual or emotional abuse or the end of a relationship<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- certain physical illnesses<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- lack of sleep<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- pregnancy<\/strong> and hormonal changes<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- the changing of the seasons<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
Similar symptoms can also be triggered by alcohol, drugs and<\/strong> certain medications<\/strong>, but in these situations it is most likely not bipolar disorder.<\/p>\n\n
The biological mechanism of this condition is not known, but it is believed to involve a disruption<\/strong> in the levels of certain chemical compounds that help the brain function. The theory comes from the fact that the medications used to treat this condition alter the levels of these compounds, and it is considered that they return them to a normal state. <\/p>\n\n
Bipolar disorder is a chronic condition that usually lasts a lifetime<\/strong>, requiring continuous treatment. It is important to point out that bipolar disorder is one of the most serious mental health problems in terms of mortality, as it increases the risk of suicide<\/strong> by 15-20 times<\/strong> compared to the general population [4]. This makes the need for early detection and treatment particularly important! <\/p>\n\n
Symptoms: how can I tell if I might have bipolar disorder?<\/h2>\n\n
If you frequently have extreme moods, it is very possible that you suffer from a mood disorder. If these states are always negative (a state of particularly low mood, sadness and lethargy<\/strong>), it is probably depression<\/strong> (also called unipolar<\/strong> depression). On the other hand, if at least part of the extreme states are in the other, positive direction (particularly good mood, hyperactivity and euphoria<\/strong>), it is possible that you suffer from a disorder on the bipolar spectrum<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n
Bipolar spectrum disorders are of several types:<\/p>\n\n
- \n
- bipolar I disorder<\/strong> (formerly called “manic-depressive” or “bipolar depression”): this is the classic type, with episodes of mania<\/strong> that alternate (in most patients, but not all) with usually severe episodes of depression<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- bipolar II disorder<\/strong>: the positive episodes or states are less extreme and are called hypomania<\/strong>, while the episodes of depression<\/strong> can be just as severe<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- subthreshold bipolar disorder<\/strong>: when the patient presents symptoms of bipolar disorder, but these are not sufficient to define a manic\/hypomanic episode<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- cyclothymia<\/strong>: a less severe variant of bipolar II disorder, in which states of hypomania alternate with less severe depressive states, usually in an oscillatory way<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
![\"Mood](\"https:\/\/mentalhealthforromania.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/3-1.jpg\" "\\"3")
\n\nOsmosis<\/p>\n\n
Episodes in which the mood is extremely low are depressive<\/strong> episodes, while those in which the mood is good are divided into very extreme episodes (of mania<\/strong>) or more moderate ones (of hypomania<\/strong>). Depressive and (hypo)manic episodes manifest through the following symptoms (most of which are in contrast): <\/p>\n\n
The depressive<\/strong> episode<\/p>\n\n
- \n
- you feel sad, emotionally empty, pessimistic or hopeless most of the time<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- you have no energy, you feel slowed down or, on the contrary, you feel agitated<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- you speak more slowly<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- you have lost interest in daily activities, things that you used to enjoy no longer give you pleasure; you no longer have a libido<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- you have problems with concentration and memory<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- you have problems with sleep: either you cannot sleep (insomnia), or you sleep too much<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- you have no appetite and lose weight, or you have an increased appetite and gain weight<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- it’s hard for you to make decisions<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- you have feelings of guilt and despair, you feel useless, worthless and you doubt yourself<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- you have suicidal thoughts<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n
![\"Different](\"https:\/\/mentalhealthforromania.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/poza11.jpg\" "\\"picture+11\\"")
\n\nWhat are the Different Types of Bipolar?<\/a><\/blockquote>
- bipolar II disorder<\/strong>: the positive episodes or states are less extreme and are called hypomania<\/strong>, while the episodes of depression<\/strong> can be just as severe<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- financial problems, at work or in personal life<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How widespread is it?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n