A bipolar disorder is a very common condition that affects more than three million people every year. When a person has been affected by this disorder, they will experience drastic mood swings that extend from depressive lows to intense highs. Both of these phases can last for weeks or months at a time, making it difficult to socialize or engage in a wide range of standard activities. Although an exact cause of this disorder is not known by scientists, there are a variety of risk factors that can heighten the chance of a person developing the disorder. While there is no treatment that will cure this condition, there are an array of treatments that will help to reduce the symptoms a person experiences, which should help them to lead a relatively normal life. Along with the dramatic shifts in mood, a bipolar disorder will adversely affect a person's energy as well as their ability to think clearly. The following details the many different types of a bipolar disorder as well as some of the most frequently asked questions along with the answers that should provide some insight into this common disorder.
Common Types of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar I Disorder:
This is among the most common types of bipolar disorder and is commonly referred to as a manic-depressive disorder. A person who is diagnosed with this type of bipolar disorder will have had to experience one or more manic episodes in their lives, which is signified by an unusually elevated mood as well as a high amount of energy that doesn't seem to dissipate until the episode is over. Along with this high energy and elevated mood, the individual will usually display odd behavior that will disrupt their life. The majority of individuals with a bipolar I disorder will also experience bouts of depression at different intervals as their manic episodes.
Between these episodes, the individual in question will typically be able to lead a normal life that seems no different than the life of someone without this disorder. There are a range of abnormal behaviors that a person can display when going through a manic episode, including excessive amounts of spending, increased energy that leads to a reduction in how much sleep the individual requires, substance abuse, and hypersexuality. If the manic episode is severe enough, the person affected by this disorder could begin to lose sight of reality, which can lead to even more strange behaviors.
Bipolar II Disorder:
This type of bipolar disorder is very similar to a bipolar I disorder given the fact that the individual who is affected by this disorder will experience moods that cycle between high and low at different periods of time. The primary difference between a bipolar I and bipolar II disorder is that the latter never leads to the individual going through a manic episode. The elevated moods will be less intense than their bipolar I counterparts and are typically referred to as hypomanic episodes.
A person who is afflicted with this disorder will also experience episodes of depression more frequently than those with a bipolar I disorder. A hypomanic episode isn't as easy to identify as a manic episode, as the individual can appear to be pleasant and energetic with an overall positive mood. Although these episodes might not seem to be as harmful as the manic ones, this disorder can cause behavior that's unhealthy and erratic, as there's a small chance that the episode can progress into a full-blown manic one. As for the depression associated with this condition, these episodes cause the individual to have a depressed mood, have low amounts of energy, and possibly have thoughts of suicide.
Rapid-Cycling:
As is clear by the name, rapid-cycling refers to a form of bipolar disorder that causes the individual affected by it to experience frequent episodes of this disorder, typically around four or more every year, which can make it difficult to lead a normal life. It's important to understand that this type of bipolar disorder can occur in anyone who is suffering from a bipolar I or bipolar II disorder and can take place at anytime in the course of the disorder.
Rapid-cycling isn't usually permanent but can be more frequent depending on the type of treatment that the individual receives. The better the treatment, the less these rapid-cycling episodes will occur. It is estimated that around 10-25 percent of people who are affected by a bipolar disorder will experience rapid-cycling at least once in their lives. The individuals who are more likely to experience rapid-cycling include women and anyone who is affected by a bipolar II disorder. The age at which people generally develop a bipolar disorder is in their teens or 20's and almost always under the age of 50. The rapid-cycling type can occur at any time after a person has developed this condition.
Cyclothymic Disorder:
This is the mildest type of bipolar disorder that a person can be affected by, as the mood changes are punctuated by very short periods of either hypomania or depression, both of which will be mild when the individual is experiencing them. The symptoms a person experiences with a cyclothymic disorder are typically milder versions of the ones that occur with bipolar I and bipolar II disorders. This type of disorder affects anywhere from 0.5-1 percent of people in the U.S. and will typically begin either when the person is an adolescent or a young adult.
When one of these mood swings occur and either hypomania or depression begins, the symptoms should last anywhere from a few days to several weeks, while the more severe forms of a bipolar disorder can affect an individual for months before changing to a different mood. People who suffer from this condition usually go on to live normal lives with successful jobs and other pursuits, but there are times when the depression can ruin some close relationships. Since this type of disorder is so mild, it usually goes undiagnosed. As is the case with bipolar II disorder, depression episodes occur more frequently.
Mixed Bipolar Disorder:
This form of bipolar disorder is referred to as such due to the fact that a person who is suffering from this condition will typically experience a mixture of both mood extremes at the same time, which means that an individual can go through manic episodes and depressive episodes concurrently. These moods can occur either simultaneously or in rapid succession. The presence of both of these moods at the same time can make this condition difficult to cope with when not receiving treatment.
Mixed episodes are especially common in people who are affected by a bipolar disorder, as nearly half of these individuals will experience mixed bipolar disorder at one time or another. It's believed that people who develop a bipolar I or bipolar II disorder during their adolescent years have a higher chance of suffering from mixed episodes as well. The symptoms of this type of disorder are the same as the ones present in standard depression or manic episodes with the main difference being that you will experience them simultaneously. One example of this is that a person can feel extremely happy and joyful while at the same time crying without being able to control it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Bipolar Disorder
Q: What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
A: The primary symptoms associated with bipolar disorder include standard mood swings where the individual will feel normal between the manic or depressive episodes. An episode of mania will result in such symptoms as irritability, an increase in energy, euphoria, drug abuse, racing thoughts, and heightened self-confidence. A depressive episode causes symptoms such as feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness, a decrease in energy, loss of appetite, and suicidal thoughts.
Q: What are the available treatments for bipolar disorder?
A: Although bipolar disorders cannot be cured completely, the symptoms can be effectively managed with medications and psychotherapy. The most common medications are ones that help to stabilize the individual's mood. The symptoms are best controlled when the treatment is continuous.
Q: How is this disorder diagnosed?
A: The diagnosis of bipolar disorder occurs entirely because of family history of the disorder and the presence of symptoms. Other illnesses will first be ruled out that could cause similar symptoms before the person is diagnosed with a bipolar disorder.
Q: What are the differences between depression and a bipolar disorder?
A: The main difference between being diagnosed with depression and a bipolar disorder is that depression does not also include the presence of manic episodes with an elevated mood.
Q: Who is at risk of developing bipolar disorder?
A: A bipolar disorder can occur in anyone for practically any reason, as no exact causes are known. The onset of this disorder typically occurs when the individual is in their late teens or early 20's. It's possible that genetics are involved in who is most at risk.
