Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by significant mood swings, ranging from mania to depression. While bipolar disorder can be difficult to live with, there are numerous effective treatments and strategies available.

Bipolar Disorder Defined

Bipolar disorder is a common condition. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 2.8% of U.S. adults (or, about 5 million people) have a bipolar diagnosis.

The condition is marked by significant mood swings from mania (elevated mood) to depression (low mood). ¹ These episodes can last a few days to several weeks, depending on the individual.

Bipolar disorder used to be known as “manic depression” and “bipolar disease.”

If you have bipolar disorder, there are treatment options available that can help you manage mood shifts and improve your quality of life.

Signs and Symptoms of Bipolar

Bipolar disorder is characterized by manic and depressive episodes. To be diagnosed, you must have experienced at least one episode of mania or hypomania. ² Without this opposing mood, your condition is simply a major depressive disorder.

Symptoms of both episodes are as follows:

Mania and Hypomania

Episodes of mania provide you with an emotional high that makes you feel: ³

• Euphoric
• Excited
• Full of energy
• Impulsive
• Irritability

You may notice your thoughts race and your body behavior becomes jumpy. In extreme cases, you may experience hallucinations or similar psychosis symptoms. ⁴

Manic episodes may make you feel invincible or untouchable. As such, you’re more likely to involve yourself with riskier behaviors, including: ⁵

• Abruptly quitting your job
• Driving faster than usual
• Drug and alcohol abuse
• Engaging in extreme sports you wouldn’t normally consider
• Going on a vacation or road trip without telling anyone
• Making big investments
• Spending sprees
• Unsafe sex

While there are many reasons someone might engage in these behaviors, the hallmark of mania is that these activities are not ones you would choose if your mood were stable.

Hypomania, associated with bipolar II (see below), incorporates the same symptoms as mania but is less intense. Therefore, hypomanic episodes don’t normally inhibit your daily responsibilities, including work, school, and relationships. Furthermore, hypomania won’t lead to psychosis. ⁶

Major Depressive Episodes

Your mood can suddenly shift to low feelings, such as lethargy, lack of motivation, and sadness. To be diagnosed with bipolar, you must experience at least five of the following depressive symptoms: ⁷

• Deep sadness, hopelessness, or feelings of emptiness
• Difficulty concentrating, focusing, and making decisions
• Feeling slow (or restless)
• Lack of interest in activities you previously enjoyed
• Loss of energy
• Sense of guilt or worthlessness
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Suicidal ideation
• Weight or appetite changes

Some people with bipolar disorder don’t experience depressive episodes. ⁸ However, many do. Depending on your circumstances, you may experience some symptoms of depression, but not the full five needed for a diagnosis.

Still, sometimes bipolar disorder is mistakenly diagnosed as a major depressive disorder. ⁹ What separates bipolar from depression are the “up” and “down” mood states. In depression, your mood will remain down without any moments of energy or euphoria. ¹⁰

Bipolar Symptoms in Children and Teenagers

It’s difficult to diagnose bipolar disorder in children because they don’t display the same symptoms as adults. ¹¹ Furthermore, symptoms sometimes overlap with other common mental health conditions in children, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ¹²

Similar to adults, children with bipolar disorder will experience intense mood shifts. They may show signs of mania through happiness and excitable behavior. ¹³ Vice versa, they may show signs of depression through tearfulness, low energy, and irritability.

Naturally, all children will experience mood changes. What separates bipolar disorder from normal childhood mood shifts are distinct and noticeable symptoms.

Manic symptoms in children include:

• Difficulty concentrating and focusing
• Engaging in harmful behaviors
• Feeling overly happy (acting very silly)
• Rapidly talking and changing subjects
• Short temper (quick to angry outbursts)
• Trouble sleeping (not feeling tired)

Depressive symptoms in children include:

• Appetite changes (eating too much or too little)
• Acting very sad, crying frequently, and moping around
• Complaining about not feeling well (i.e. headaches, stomachaches)
• Feeling worthless or guilty
• Lack of energy for activities they once enjoyed
• Over- or under-sleeping
• Suicidal thoughts

Types of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is classified into three main types:

Bipolar I

Bipolar I occurs when you experience at least one manic episode. Before or after this episode, you may also experience a period of depression. Not to mention, you may go through long stretches where your mood is stable before experiencing another episode of mania and depression. ¹⁴

Bipolar II

To be diagnosed with bipolar II, you must experience:

• A major depressive episode that lasts at least two weeks
• A hypomanic episode that lasts about four days.

Bipolar II tends to be more prevalent in women than men. With that, women are also more likely to be misdiagnosed. ¹⁵

Cyclothymic Disorder

Cyclothymia is marked by some symptoms of mania and depression that aren’t as severe as those seen in bipolar I and II. As such, symptoms last for a shorter period and you may experience no mood symptoms for one to two months. ¹⁶

Cyclothymic disorder is sometimes referred to as:

• Other specified bipolar and related disorders
• Unspecified bipolar and related disorders

What Causes Bipolar Disorder?

While bipolar disorder is a common mental health condition, experts still don’t know why some people develop it. They’ve determined bipolar disorder may be caused by the following:

Genetics

If a close family member (i.e. parent or sibling) has bipolar disorder, you’re more vulnerable to the condition. In fact, if one of your parents has the condition, your chances of developing bipolar increase from 10% to 25%. ¹⁷

Still, not everyone who has a family history of bipolar disorder will get the condition.

Environmental Factors

Some outside factors that can play a role in the development of bipolar disorder include: ¹⁸

• Physical health condition
• Severe stress
• Traumatic experience

It’s been observed that people who’ve gone through sexual and physical abuse or emotional mistreatment are most at risk for developing bipolar disorder.

Brain Differences

Some people’s brains are simply more at risk of bipolar disorder than others. These include those with irregular brain chemistry or structure/function differences. ¹⁹

Can You Prevent Bipolar Disorder?

Extreme mood shifts cannot be entirely avoided from developing in the first place. ²⁰ This is largely because they’re unpredictable. Furthermore, since researchers don’t know what causes bipolar disorder, it’s impossible to prevent it.

However, you can take steps towards reducing the severity of episodes once you’re diagnosed. The best way to go about this is through medical treatment.

Bipolar Disorder Treatment

There are a few techniques for stabilizing moods in bipolar disorder. These include:

Medications

Medication can help to ease bipolar symptoms, allowing you to better manage daily responsibilities. The most common medications for bipolar disorder include: ²¹

• Mood stabilizers (i.e. lithium)
• Antipsychotics (i.e. olanzapine)
• Antidepressant-antipsychotics (i.e. fluoxetine-olanzapine)
• Anti-anxieties (i.e. benzodiazepines)

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapies work well in conjunction with medication. They allow you to get to the core of your bipolar disorder and therefore, work towards finding healthier coping strategies. The most common therapies include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – A type of talk therapy that allows you to identify unhealthy thinking patterns and develop techniques to minimize them. ²²

• Psychoeducation – A therapy that focuses on learning about bipolar disorder and its treatment options. This can be helpful to those supporting you through treatment. ²³

• Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy – Helps you to refocus daily habits, such as exercising, sleeping, and eating. By balancing these habits, you may struggle with fewer mood episodes. ²⁴

Natural Remedies

If you struggle with a mild case of bipolar disorder, you may benefit from all-natural alternatives. Those that are most effective for mood stabilization include:

• Omega-3 – A 2016 study found that omega-3 supplements effectively reduced symptoms of bipolar disorder. ²⁵

• Rhodiola Rosea – A 2013 review discovered Rhodiola may help treat depression symptoms. However, this research specifically looked at major depressive disorders rather than bipolar. ²⁶

• S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) – As an amino acid supplement, SAMe may reduce symptoms of major depression and other mood disorders. However, other research has found it may induce mania. ²⁷

Always consult your doctor before using natural remedies for bipolar disorder. In some cases, these alternatives can negatively interact with your bipolar medication.

Lifestyle Changes

Several lifestyle changes can help reduce the severity of bipolar symptoms, including: ²⁸

• Continuing with weekly counseling or therapy
• Eating a balanced and nutritious diet
• Garnering at least 150 minutes of exercise weekly
• Managing your weight

Keep in mind that lifestyle intervention alone will likely not diminish bipolar symptoms. These changes are best when paired with clinical treatment. ²⁹

References

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