Bipolar Disorder

It is important to be familiar with the symptoms of the two poles, so here is a list of the signs of bipolar highs and lows:

Bipolar Manic and Hypomanic Symptoms:

• Decreased need for sleep
• Elevated mood and euphoria 
• Grandiosity (having an inflated sense of self importance and confidence)
• Racing thoughts (difficulty focusing on or expressing a thought)
• Flight of ideas (rapidly bouncing from one topic to another) 
• Increased talkativeness (talking loudly and/or quickly) 
• Easily distractible
• Increased energy 
• Increased risk taking behaviors (ex: spending money, gambling, sexual encounters, misusing alcohol or other substances, reckless driving) 
• Increased desire for sex
• Irritability 
• Delusions and hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that other people do not see or hear)

Let's talk for a minute about the difference between a manic episode and a hypomanic episode. 

An individual can experience any of the symptoms listed above in either episode, but a manic episode is considered more severe because an individual is extremely euphoric or irritable, clearly has more energy than normal, and experiences three or more of the manic/hypomanic symptoms for at least a week.

In a hypomanic episode, an individual experiences any of the same symptoms for a minimum of four days, but at a less severe level as their ability to function in their normal activities is not hindered as is common in a manic episode (1).

Bipolar Depressive Symptoms 

• Down and depressed mood (ex: feeling hopeless, tearful, irritable, empty, or sad)
• Loss of interest or pleasure, including in doing things you normally like to do
• Appetite changes
• Weight changes
• Sleep changes (either too much or too little sleep)
• Loss of energy or increased fatigue
• Feeling worthless or guilt 
• Trouble focusing and concentrating
• Feeling restless
• Slowed behavior
• Suicidal thoughts and actions 

Treating Bipolar Disorder in all its forms is multifaceted. In other words, there are many ways to go about it. There are medication options, professional support measures, and lifestyle modification solutions. Oftentimes a combination of all three is required for optimal living. With so many options and so much information, it is enough to give anyone a headache and feel paralyzed with uncertainty. 

Psycophi is dedicated to simplifying your complex and rather daunting mental health journey into bitesize steps that are scientifically proven to improve your mental and physical health. 

Lifestyle Changes:

While bipolar episodes might have started for reasons beyond your control, there are many controllable lifestyle techniques that can weaken the hold bipolar disorder has on your life. Once mastered, intentional living can help you feel like you’ve regained control and can live the life you really want. Head over to the Psycophi Respond section to learn more about small steps you can make in your life to make a big difference in combating your depression.

Some of these steps include changing the way you eat, sleep, move, and breathe. There’s also a link here to a chart you can download to help you daily track your mood, medications taken, and which days you attend therapy. Gathering information about yourself can open your eyes to things you hadn’t known, better informing the actions you take moving forward. We are strong believers in Small Steps to Big Results.

Therapy:

Psychotherapy is a broad term for talk therapy. There are a variety of psychotherapies that can be effective for bipolar disorder, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, supportive therapy, or interpersonal therapy. Psychotherapy can help individuals adjust in a healthier way to crisis or other difficulties, explore relationships and experiences, and learn how to cope and solve problems in a more effective manner.

You can set up these sessions with a therapist at the frequency you need and prefer, and they can last short term or long term. Talking to someone about what you are experiencing can empower you and help you feel heard, seen, and known. These trained professionals know what they are doing. Over 3000 scientific studies and 300 summaries of studies report that psychotherapy has made consistent, positive changes that improves the mental health of patients (3).

Medications:

Every patient’s experience in a manic/hypomanic and depressive episode is unique, so their medicinal treatment is equally unique. Depending on which bipolar symptoms you experience, a psychiatrist may prescribe you a type of medication known as a “mood stabilizer” and/or an antidepressant. It is always important to follow the instructions given to you by your provider about how to wean on and off a medication.