• Hey there, welcome to Talk Mental Health – a cozy corner where we're all about mental health, wellness, and just being real. This is your spot to connect with a community that gets it, where we're all on this journey together. Whether you're navigating tough times or lending a listening ear, we've got your back. No judgment, just genuine support. Step in, take a deep breath, and let's make this a space where we lift each other up. Glad you're here!
  • While Talk Mental Health offers a platform for peer support and shared experiences, it is not a substitute for professional mental health assistance. If you find yourself in genuine danger or experiencing a mental health crisis, please reach out to qualified professionals. In the UK, you can contact emergency services by dialing 999. For non-emergency support, consider reaching out to organizations like Samaritans at 116 123. In the USA, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). For support in Australia, contact Lifeline at 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue at 1300 22 4636. Your well-being is our priority, and seeking professional help is a crucial step towards your mental health journey.

Understanding Bipolar Disorder: What It Is And How to Deal With It

Bipolar disorder is one of the most misunderstood mental health conditions. This condition affects around 5.7 million adult Americans, and yet almost all of us have some misconceptions about the disorder.

It's time to sort out what bipolar disorder is and what it is not. By understanding bipolar disorder, we can better understand ourselves or our loved ones with this condition.

What It Is (And What It Is Not)

Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depression, is a brain disorder associated with unusual shifts in energy, activity levels, mood, and the capacity to perform day-to-day tasks.

The causes of the disorder are unclear, but it is more common among people with a first-degree relative with the disorder. Traumatic events can also trigger the condition.

Contrary to the popular belief, the moods experienced by a bipolar person is drastically different, and more severe, than the mood shifts of someone without the disorder.

There are also four basic types of the disorder, each one having its own range and level of mania and depression. Manic episodes are those characterized by extremely elated and energized behavior while depressive episodes are those characterized by, well, depression and hopelessness.

Manic and Depressive Episodes

Detecting this disorder lies in knowing the symptoms for manic and depressive episodes.

Manic episodes have the following symptoms:

  • Becoming more active than usual
  • Unusually agitated or irritable
  • Thinking they can do many fantastic things at once
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Feeling very "high"
  • Engaging in out-of-character risky behaviors like spending a lot of money or having reckless sex

Depressive episodes are characterized by the following signs:

  • Very little energy
  • Sudden feelings of hopelessness and emptiness
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Sudden decrease in energy and activity levels
  • Feelings of tiredness and lethargy
  • Thoughts about death and suicide

Bipolar disorder is a swing between manic and depressive episodes, and sometimes an episode with mixed manifestations of both episodes. If you begin to notice these things in yourself or in a loved one, you should consider a psychological evaluation.

How to Deal with a Bipolar Disorder

People with bipolar disorders are not dangerous, and this is something that should be handled with compassion instead of fear. Dealing with extreme moods is not easy for anyone.

The first thing a patient needs to do is to undergo a comprehensive psychological evaluation to get a proper diagnosis. Once diagnosed, the patient should consider the various treatments that will be suggested by the mental health professional.

The quickest way to help patients manage their moods is taking medications. Often, these maintenance medications have to be taken over a continued period to avoid relapse. Also, studies have found that participating in patient-to-patient support group improved compliance to treatments by almost 86%, thus reducing in-patient hospitalization.

When the patient is showing dangerous behaviors, feeling suicidal, or becoming detached from reality (psychotic), the doctor may recommend hospitalization.

Act Fast

Mental health is as important as physical health in living a balanced life. If you are noticing symptoms of bipolar disorder in yourself or someone you know, don't ignore it. Often, prompt response avoids tragic consequences of the condition.

Observe the symptoms, talk to the person, and get professional help. Bipolar disorder is a difficult condition to handle, and patients need all the support and understanding to get through it.

Article Source: https://EzineArticles.com/expert/April_Jane_Lakilak/2471679


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9809133
 
When people have depression, they have low energy, however, when someone is suffering from manic depression, they have a high level of energy. People suffering from bipolar depression can also become violent and cause physical harm to other people.
 
Lots of health challenges with different effects. Bipolar disorders is one of them, which affects the thinking of such individual affected. When one is being affected by the illness, medical attention should matter to him/her mostly in order to correct the deficiency.
 
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