How do you get bipolar and what are the symptoms?

Bipolar disorder causes unpredictable mood swings and the person will flip from black depression to mania, sometimes with no normality in between. Some people suffer one episode of the illness and are then perfectly well for a number of years, but others experience repeated episodes of bipolar disorder symptoms and it severely disrupts their life.

How do you get bipolar disorder and who is most at risk?

Contrary to what some people think, it is not possible to become bipolar just because you are going through a bad time and are feeling a bit down in the dumps as a result. Unlike a temporary state of depression, bipolar disorder is an actual mental health illness, just like schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder, and as such, it requires specialist treatment. Although there is no cure for bipolar disorder, with the right treatment, symptoms of the illness can be kept under control and the person can live a normal life.

How do you get bipolar disorder and what causes it?

Bipolar disorder is thought to be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain and for some people this is a purely random occurrence. However, there is also a genetic component to the disease and bipolar disorder can run in families. If a family member has been diagnosed with bipolar, you have a greater risk of developing the illness. If a parent has bipolar, you are more at risk, and if both parents are bipolar, you are extremely likely to develop the symptoms of bipolar at some point in your life.

Although genetics play a major role in whether you are likely to suffer from bipolar, there are also other factors at play. Research has indicated that exposure to extreme trauma or abuse in early childhood can sometimes lead to the development of bipolar disorder in later life, as well as other serious mental health disorders.

There is also some suggestion that a growing fetus can be adversely affected by its mother’s emotional state and poor nutrition while still in the womb, causing the child to show the symptoms of bipolar at a later date. In some cases, bipolar symptoms can also develop as a result of a physical illness.

Stress is known to be a major factor in the development of bipolar disorder, and if you are predisposed towards the illness because of hereditary factors or a dysfunctional childhood, a bout of severe stress can be enough to trigger an occurrence of the illness.

Why do bipolar people push partners away?

Not all people who are manic-depressives will behave in the exact same way, but there are common patterns to the symptoms of the illness, and withdrawing from friends and family and all social situations is a classic symptom of the depression that marks a depressive phase of bipolar.

Along with manic phases, depressive episodes are one of the features of bipolar disorder, and one of the features of depression is that the sufferer will shun contact with friends and family and close down emotionally, which can make it very difficult for partners to deal with.

There are lots of reasons why bipolar people push partners away. Often it is done out of guilt and as a way of protecting those they love: the depressed person knows they are hurting those around them, so they figure that it will be easier for those they love if they—the bipolar person—is not there. Sadly guilt plays a big part in relationships where one partner is suffering from a depressive illness: even when the person is well, they still feel guilt for the times they caused hurt to their partner, and for the bad times they know could be just around the corner.

Another reason for pushing their partner and family away is because the bipolar person feels that nobody truly understands what they are feeling and the depressed person cannot bear to be around those who they see as being “happy”.

Bipolar is sometimes the result of a dysfunctional and abusive childhood, and in some cases the resultant depression comes from a deep-rooted belief that the person does not deserve to be loved. As a result of this, the person sub-consciously behaves in such a way as to sabotage the relation by shutting down emotionally and withdrawing completely.

How can partners learn to cope with a bipolar person?

Bipolar is a very difficult condition to live. During the manic and depressive phases, the patient is often unaware of how badly they are behaving and it is only when they are back to their normal selves that they are able to appreciate how awful they were, which only serves to further compound the guilt they feel.

However, it is very important to realize that bipolar is an illness and the affected person is not deliberately trying to hurt their partner out of malice. Try and keep the lines of communication open and if the person has not yet accepted that they are ill, do your best to encourage them to see a doctor: once the correct medication has been prescribed, the symptoms of bipolar can usually be controlled very easily.

How to live with someone who is bipolar

In the first instance, knowledge is power and it is essential that you find out as much as possible about the illness. If your loved one is under the care of a mental health professional, it is likely that you will have access to family support facilities, but if the person has yet to seek help for their illness, it will help you to have a full understanding of the symptoms and various treatments available to those suffering from bipolar.

It is important to understand that bipolar is a disease just like any physical illness, and although you might find it hard to understand why your loved one is behaving in such a destructive/hurtful manner, it is not their fault and most definitely not your fault either.

It can be extremely frustrating trying to cope with a bipolar person’s mood swings. The illness affects their whole outlook on life and they will find it hard to deal with everyday problems and tasks. But instead of trying to talk them out of their depression and negative viewpoints, you must accept that you cannot help the way they are thinking—only access to the right treatment and medication will make a difference.

How to live with someone who is bipolar and suicidal

When a person is deeply depressed, it is possible that they could be thinking about trying to kill themselves. Never assume that talk of suicide is an attention seeking and manipulative tactic to ensure the person is the center of attention—it is not. If you suspect your loved one is having suicidal thoughts, seek professional help immediately as it could save their life.

Although the depressive episodes are difficult enough to deal with, the manic episodes are sometimes even worse, especially if the person is delusional and seeing or hearing something that does not exist. During a manic episode, it is important that you monitor your loved one at all times to ensure they do not disappear on some hair-brained scheme and end up in a sticky situation, and if necessary, never hesitate to ask for help if your loved one is acting in such a way as to put themselves or others in danger.

If you are finding it difficult to cope with a loved one who is bipolar, contact your doctor and ask for counseling to help you deal with the person. Many relatives of bipolar patients find that they are continually “looking after” their loved one, which is a huge responsibility. Heaving to deal with bouts of severe depression and manic episodes can take their toll in the long term, but with the right support, you can learn how to cope and hopefully prevent your relationships from breaking down under the strain.

Making a true diagnosis is tricky as many of the symptoms presented are suggestive of bipolar disorder, but are not necessarily conclusive. There is a publication called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-IV) that contains lists of symptoms to aid in the diagnosis of psychiatric disorders. However, manic depression is such a complex illness, ticking boxes on a list of symptoms is never enough and an accurate diagnosis of the illness requires a number of different approaches.

Is there a manic depressive disorder test?

There is no definitive test for the diagnosis of manic depression, but in all cases, a qualified mental health professional will be able to make a diagnosis based on an assessment of the symptoms presented by the patient. Initially, the person will be observed to see what symptoms are presenting, and once a diagnostic schedule has been worked through, the patient will be monitored closely over a set period of time.

In the case of many mental health disorders, there is often an overlap of symptoms between one disorder and another, which can lead to problems making a firm diagnosis. Symptoms such as hallucinations and delusional behavior can be attributed to a wide range of illness, including schizophrenia, so it is vital that any diagnosis is made by taking into account the patient’s full medical history, information from other health professionals and family, plus observations made by the psychiatrist.

How is a diagnosis of manic depression made?

Family history is an important factor in the diagnosis of manic depression. There is very often a genetic link attached to the illness and if other relatives are known to have the condition, the patient is in a higher risk category for developing the condition.

Because bipolar disorder is a combination of depressive and manic episodes, it is important that the patient is monitored over a period of time. The patient will be diagnosed as suffering from an episode of depression if five or more symptoms of depression are present for two or more weeks. These include feelings of worthlessness, sadness, eating and/or sleeping problems, and suicidal thoughts. A manic episode will be diagnosed if symptoms such as euphoria last for a week or longer.

Should family and friends be involved in the diagnosis of manic depression?

Because there is no standard test for the diagnosis of manic depression, it can be extremely helpful for family and friends to provide details of the patient’s normal lifestyle, habits, religious beliefs and cultural differences. Since the symptoms of manic depression can all too easily be attributed to a different illness, it can help to have input from those who know the person well.

Manic depression is a severe mental health disorder. Classed as a mood disorder, manic depression is more correctly referred to as bipolar disorder, but although the name has changed, the symptoms have not. Bipolar is a depressive illness, but unlike regular depression, those suffering from bipolar are subject to severe and highly unpredictable mood swings, ranging from manic highs to crushing depressions.

In between the bipolar episodes, the patient will probably be fine and able to carry on with life as usual, but when a bipolar phase is in full swing, life as we know it becomes an impossible task and unless the patient is undergoing treatment, they are unlikely to be able to work.

Not everyone suffering from manic depression will be affected to the same degree. Some patients are perfectly well for the majority of the time and only begin to show symptoms of the illness when subjected to severe emotional or physical stress. However, others will suffer from the effects of bipolar disorder four or more times per year and will spend much of their existence cycling between manic and depressive phases of the illness, which will inevitably affect their life in a big way.

Is manic depression a disability?

In order to quality for disability allowance in the US, a patient must be able to demonstrate that their condition is severe enough. Their symptoms must be medically documented, fall into both the manic and depressive phases of the illness, and cause the patient sufficient problems that their everyday life is greatly affected.

Unfortunately, such restrictive conditions are only the tip of the iceberg and in reality, any bipolar patient hoping to claim disability benefit from the US Social Security system will have to fulfill a number of strict criteria. In most cases, due to the complexities of the Social Security claims system, anyone suffering with a mental health disorder (including manic depression) is advised to have an advocate assist them with preparation of claims documents. Advocates can include your psychiatrist, mental health therapist, and attorney.

Is manic depression a disability and how is the claim assessed?

In the first instance, the claimant will be assessed to see whether they are currently working, and if they are and are earning more than a certain amount, their claim may be disqualified immediately.

Secondly, their bipolar symptoms must be considered severe enough to significantly impair the individual from being able to work in any type of job, including menial employment.

Thirdly, the claimant must be medically documented as suffering from at least some of the recognized symptoms relating to bipolar disorder, including feelings of worthlessness or guilt, delusions, sleep problems and difficulties concentrating.

Finally, the claimant’s past work history will be examined and if he has managed to find gainful employment previously, the claim will probably be denied.

What is the difference between bipolar disorder and depression?

Around one in every hundred adults will experience some level of manic depression, more commonly known as bipolar, at some point in their lifetime. The condition usually begins to manifest itself during the teens or early twenties and can affect men and women equally. The underlying cause of the disorder is not completely understood, but there is thought to be a strong genetic link as different generations of the same family are often affected by the illness.

Depression can be a serious mental health illness, but being depressed is not enough to warrant a diagnosis of bipolar. Everyone experiences mood swings and periods of depression from time to time. Life is stressful and when things are falling apart around you, it is easy to feel very low and fed up for a few days.

However, bipolar disorder, or manic depression, is very different to a “bad mood” and those suffering from the condition can experience severe mood swings that cycle from deep depression to manic episodes—hence the name “manic depression”—and it is these manic episodes that distinguish bipolar (manic depression) from depression.

Is manic depression the same as bipolar disorder?

The term manic depression is a good description for bipolar disorder. The condition is a mood disorder characterized by extreme episodes of depression and mania. There are different levels of severity of bipolar disorder. Some people have very infrequent episodes and are stable for years, but others suffer from depressive and/or manic episodes four or more times per year.

What is a manic episode in someone with bipolar?

During a manic episode, the patient will be euphoric or “high”. Common symptoms of a manic episode include restlessness, poor judgement, talking extremely fast, moving from one grandiose idea or scheme to another, massive amounts of energy, a lack of judgement and inhibitions, and in general behavior that would be considered very over the top by anyone else.

What is a depressive episode in someone with bipolar?

Episodes of depression in people suffering from bipolar disorder are significantly worse than low periods that the rest of the population suffer from occasionally. Bipolar depressive episodes are characterized by depression so severe it affects everything to the point that the patient cannot function in normal everyday life. Bipolar patients will find it difficult to make decisions, have sleep problems, cry a lot, avoid contact with everyone, and possibly be suicidal.

In severe cases, bipolar can cause psychotic symptoms. During a manic episode, psychotic episodes are characterized by grandiose beliefs that the person has amazing abilities or special powers, and in the depressive phase, the person may suffer from feelings of severe guilt or a sense that they are invisible to the rest of society. Hallucinations are also common during psychotic episodes of bipolar.

The difference between mania and hypomania is that people with mania also have social and relational problems and could even be psychotic. This does not apply on people with hypomania.

The period when someone feels very sad and depressed is called depression. Between these extreme mood changes someone will feel quite normally and will also function quite normally. There are personal differences what weights the most in a manic depressive disorder. Some people will have more cycles of depression than (hypo)mania and other will feel more (hypo)mania than depressed. However, very often there is a recognizable pattern within a person who has bipolar affective disorder.

The mood changes are a huge drawback in functioning of daily life. Also in the period between mania and depression someone feels dis comfortable with his behavior as he is uncertain when the behavior will come back. He could also feel ashamed what he had done in the period of mania.

Does it pass by?
The disorder itself will not go away by itself. However there are medicine which can help you to keep the mood stable and prevent new cycles of depression or mania. Mood stabilizers like lithium are very popular to keep the mood stable. The first onset of manic depressive disorder is between 15 and 25 years old. One episode will endure approximately 3 to 6 months. A period of mania is often shorter than a period of depression. There is a very big difference between persons how they feel. Most of the people with this disorder will feel normal 6 months a year. If someone recovers depends on what he has done in the periods of onset. Often relationships are broken of someone will get unfit to work.

Important life events (negative but also positive) will influence first episodes more than  later episodes. Alcohol abuse and smoking weed and hasjies can strenghten the effect of manic depressive disorder. It also counts on what age is the first onset period. The younger you are, the more unfavorable the prospects are.

Of all the adult grown ups to 65 years old, 1-2% will get a manic depressive disorder and 0.5-1% will get the disorder this year.