Bipolar is an organic illness, of mood dysregulation and neuro-chemical. It can also be genetic but this is not a given.
Bipolar Disorder is a complex condition characterized by distinct periods of abnormally elevated, expansive, or irritable moods, often alternating with depressive moods. Contrary to popular belief, there is more than one type of bipolar disorder. How these mood episodes present determines which type of bipolar disorder a person will be diagnosed with. A lot of medical and drug aspects need to be eliminated in order to diagnosis bi-polar, which can take several months.
People with bipolar disorder experience mood episodes that may include manic, hypomanic, and depressive periods. How these episodes present determines which type of bipolar disorder a person has. Bipolar I and 2 are the most common types. Bipolar I is characterized by manic episodes, and bipolar II is characterized by hypomanic and depressive episodes. Cyclothymic disorder is another type marked by alternating hypomanic and depressive symptoms.
No matter the type, the condition is often misdiagnosed for other conditions, including ADHD, borderline personality disorder (BPD), or depression. Treatments for bipolar disorder usually involve medications, therapy, and lifestyle modifications, but your doctor will make recommendations specific to the type you have.
What Exactly Are Mood Episodes?
People with bipolar disorder may experience periods of unusually intense emotion, changes in energy and activity levels, and uncharacteristic behaviours. These distinct periods are called mood episodes. During a mood episode, a person might feel extremely energetic or very depressed.
There are three main mood episodes that characterize bipolar disorders:
- Manic: During a manic episode, you may feel extremely energized and happy, or sometimes even unusually angry or irritable. You feel like you have extra energy to burn. This period generally needs to last at least one week to be diagnosed.
- Hypomanic: Less severe manic episodes are called hypomania. Hypomanic episodes only need to be present for four days for the diagnosis to be made.
- Depressive: A major depressive episode is a period of at least two weeks during which you experience five or more depressive symptoms nearly every day and they impact your functioning.
