Around 40 million people worldwide experience bipolar disorder, a condition that typically presents symptoms between ages 15 and 35 and whose exact cause remains unknown, explains Dr. Lorena Reyes Santos, a psychiatry specialist at ABC Medical Center.
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition in which people experience extreme shifts in mood and daily functioning. It can present in two different ways: manic episodes and depressive episodes.
An episode refers to a defined, sustained period during which a person’s mood is abnormal.
“It can affect both men and women, and it’s estimated that between 0.2% and 1.6% of the population worldwide experiences it. Although the exact causes aren’t fully understood, contributing factors may include genetics or abnormalities in brain function.”
What Does a Manic Episode Look Like?For an episode to be considered manic, it must last at least one week. To identify one, it’s important to understand how the person normally behaves beforehand, including their typical temperament and general mood.
Someone experiencing a manic episode will feel abnormally happy and full of energy, wanting to take on many activities without noticing any physical fatigue.
They may also feel extreme irritability, even small things can make them very angry, and in severe cases, they may respond aggressively.
Sleep is also affected during a manic episode, in what’s known as a decreased need for sleep. During this time, the person will sleep very little or not at all, yet will still feel full of energy the next day. This can lead to racing thoughts and talking much more than usual.
Socially, they may seek out and interact with people they don’t know.
Another characteristic of a manic episode is an increase in goal-directed activity, meaning the person suddenly starts taking on many activities that weren’t part of their plans before the episode began.
During this time, it’s common for risky behaviors to emerge, ranging from excessive spending or unplanned trips to engaging in activities they wouldn’t normally consider risky, such as riding a motorcycle or skydiving.
What Does a Depressive Episode Look Like?In contrast to a manic episode, a depressive episode must last at least two weeks, during which the person experiences an abnormal sense of sadness or a loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy, such as eating, going out, or seeing friends.
In terms of energy, they may feel unusually fatigued, have trouble concentrating, and tire very easily.
Sleep is also significantly affected. They may feel extremely sleepy throughout the day, or, on the other end of the spectrum, may not be able to sleep at all, but unlike in a manic episode, the following day they’ll feel very tired rather than energized.
Appetite can also swing to either extreme, the person may suddenly feel very hungry and eat at all hours, or have no appetite at all and go days without eating.
People in a depressive episode may feel intense guilt, have feelings of worthlessness, or, in extreme cases, begin having thoughts of death.
What’s the Difference Between Bipolar Disorder and Depressive Disorder?Dr. Reyes explains that although depressive disorder can resemble a depressive episode, someone with depressive disorder will only experience the negative emotional symptoms, such as guilt, sadness, feelings of worthlessness, or thoughts of death.
But someone with bipolar affective disorder shifts back and forth between states, manic and depressive. They may experience several manic episodes followed by a depressive one or alternate between the two; each patient experiences both types of episodes in their own unique way.
See a SpecialistOnce it’s been identified that someone is going through different episodes, it’s very important to see a specialist. Bipolar disorder is treatable, and a specialist can determine the right treatment to help the patient achieve an excellent quality of life.
When living with bipolar disorder, it’s important to keep certain things in mind to help prevent relapses, including:
- Getting to know the symptoms well enough to identify them early on and allow the specialist to make any necessary medication adjustments.
- Having a trusted person who can help watch for changes in mood and behavior, this can help catch episodes the patient might not notice on their own.
- Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including getting enough sleep and avoiding alcohol and other harmful substances.
- Trying to identify any specific triggers that might lead to one of these episodes.
At ABC Medical Center’s Neurology Center, we can provide you with specialized care. Contact us!
