Bipolar Disorder Symptoms & Treatment
The Nystrom & Associates provider consulted for this article is Dr. Karin Ryan, PsyD, LP, Clinic Director, Outpatient Therapist.
Bipolar disorder is a mental health diagnosis that is often misunderstood. While media portrayals of the disorder seem to be getting better over the years, there is still more work to be done to spread accurate information on bipolar disorder symptoms and treatment.
The National Institute of Mental Health states that bipolar disorder impacts 2.8% of the U.S. population each year or 4.4% of Americans in their lifetime. Watch Dr. Karin Ryan as she discusses bipolar disorder on Twin Cities Live.
Related: How Do You Know if You Have Panic Disorder?
Nystrom & Associates on Twin Cities Live
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Contrary to popular belief, bipolar disorder is not being moody. Those moods typically last a few hours. Likewise, it is not just being overly emotional. So what is bipolar disorder? Bipolar disorder symptoms include distinct episodes of depression and mania. Bipolar is when an individual experiences both an episode or episodes of depression (the downs) and an episode or episodes of mania or hypomania (the highs). It used to be referred to as manic depressive. Dr. Karin Ryan outlines the symptoms of each of these distinct episodes below. Related: 3 Emotional regulation Mindsets to Adopt in 2022Depressive Episode Symptoms
A depressive episode is a period (at least two weeks) in which the person has a depressed mood most of the day, for almost every day. It includes symptoms such as:- A decreased interest in activities
- Sleeping too much or not being able to sleep despite feeling tired
- Feeling tired or fatigued nearly every day
- Feeling worthless
- Decreased concentration and motivation and thoughts of death
Manic Episode Symptoms
A manic episode is a distinct period (at least one week) in which the person has an abnormally elevated mood or energy. It includes symptoms such as:- Increased goal-directed activity (starting projects, having extreme ideas, or making substantial changes)
- Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity (believing they can do huge projects, that others need to listen to them, that they should take things over at work)
- Decreased need for sleep (staying up all night, feeling rested after 3 hours)
- Being more talkative or talking faster; and often their thoughts are racing, jumping from one thing to the next
- Distractibility
- An elevated risk or impulsive behavior (buying 10 purses, buying a new car, starting business investments, hypersexuality, etc.)
