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Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition where a person has phases of feeling very ‘up’, high or manic, and phases where they feel very ‘down’, low or depressed. These mood swings are much more extreme than the mood changes that most of us feel from time to time. They last from days to weeks at a time. The person can feel elated or ‘high’ when they are in the manic phase, and in utter despair when the depressive phase kicks in. Occasionally people can also experience mixed state moods, where symptoms of mania and depression are present at the same time. In between phases they may feel OK. Bipolar disorder affects about one in every 100 people and can start when someone is a teenager or young adult. The condition used to be known as manic depression.
What causes bipolar disorder and who can get it?There’s been lots of research into bipolar disorder, and it seems that it’s a result of a problem in the part of the brain that controls our moods. But the problem may be caused or ‘triggered’ by a complex mixture of things. Sometimes people remember the start of their illness having occurred after a stressful life event like a death in the family or divorce. Some experts believe that emotional trauma in childhood such as physical, sexual or emotional abuse can all seriously affect the developing mind. Bipolar disorder may also run in families (it's not unusual for a parent and child to both have bipolar disorder). It is rare to experience the condition before puberty, but it gets more common during teenage years and adult life. Both men and women are affected equally by the condition. What are the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder?
Taking recreational drugs, such as cannabis or speed, can sometimes make you feel very ‘up’ or very ‘down’. But, using recreational drugs is not thought to cause bipolar disorder. However, if someone does have the condition, then taking these types of drugs can make their symptoms worse. How is bipolar disorder normally diagnosed?Diagnosing bipolar disorder can be tricky when a person is young. This is because big mood swings can be part of puberty and adolescence. If a doctor suspects you have a mental health problem they will refer you to a psychiatrist who is qualified to make a diagnosis. They will observe your behaviour, listen to your symptoms and look at your family history. If they feel that you have bipolar disorder they will look at treatment options for you. How is bipolar disorder normally treated?Bipolar disorder can be treated with a combination of therapy and medicines. Therapy can be useful because it can help to spot if anything is ‘triggering’ your phases, or if it started after a particular event. Counselling or psychotherapy can help people understand their emotions and help them to change the way they think and feel. This can help you work through problems or learn how to manage situations that are stressful. Cognitive behaviour therapy can help people overcome difficulties in the same way. In a very practical way you can change the negative thought patterns that are often associated with depression. There are also various medicines available that are used to either treat the ‘up’ or ‘down’ phases. These can help even out the phases so that your symptoms aren’t so severe. The drugs may control the disorder but they are not a cure for it. Treatment therefore shouldn’t just focus on medication, but on the helping the whole person. Medicines called mood stabilisers are used with caution. Some of them may have side-effects that need to be discussed with the treating doctors. It is always important to speak to your doctor or psychiatrist before cutting down or stopping any medication. When to ask for medical helpSometimes a person may be asked to go into hospital if they are having a lot of problems coping in the community and it is mutually agreed to be the best place for them, where doctors can keep an eye on them and they have time out and space to recover. If someone is deemed a danger to themselves or others, either because they’re so ‘up’ that they could harm themselves through doing something dangerous or if they’re so ‘down’ that they’re threatening to kill themselves, they may also be asked to go into hospital. This is known as being ‘sectioned’. What’s going to help?If you have bipolar disorder, talking to other people with the condition can be helpful both for you and your family and friends. Learning to spot the signs when you are about to get ‘high’ or plunge into depression can also be useful so that you can let other people know. Avoiding stressful situations can also help to prevent extreme mood swings from being triggered. Keeping fit, exercising regularly and a healthy diet can also help to keep your mood stable. You can listen to one teenager’s story about coping with bipolar disorder here. Looking forwardThere is no ‘cure’ for bipolar disorder. However, this does not mean that the future is bleak. People can manage for long periods of time, sometimes a lifetime, without having a manic or depressive episode, often with the use of medication, and coping strategies. Receiving treatment for bipolar disorder does not prevent you from leading a full and rewarding life. Over time, you will also be able to identify the start of an ‘up’ or ‘down’ phase, so that you can get treatment quickly when you need it. For more help and informationVisit MDF – The Bipolar Disorder Association. Click here to choose a different journal Last reviewed by the Bipolar Disorder Association and Great Ormond Street Hospital: 24 July 2008 Return to A-Z of mental health homepage > |
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