Do you sometimes have trouble keeping your mind in one place? One day you feel incredibly happy and excited, but the next day you feel like you're going crazy for no reason? It's normal to have these feelings. But if these mood swings go beyond normal and start to affect your daily life, relationships, and work, we need to be a little concerned. Because it could be a symptom of a mental health condition called bipolar disorder .
What exactly is Bipolar Disorder?
Simply put, Bipolar Disorder is a condition in which a person's mood, energy level, and activity levels fluctuate abnormally. Think of your mind as a roller coaster. At one point, it goes very high, which we call a mania or hypomania phase. During this time, you feel extremely happy, energetic, and full of ideas. Then, this roller coaster suddenly comes crashing down. This is called a depression phase. During this time, you feel extremely sad, frustrated, and lacking energy.
But the biggest challenge with this is that not everyone's symptoms come in this clear up-and-down pattern. Sometimes the illness can be very subtle. For example, some people have a less severe mania. It's called hypomania. During this time, they feel very productive, very energetic. So they don't think of it as an illness. But the symptoms of depression are the most visible.
Did you know that one in five people who tell a doctor they have depression actually have bipolar disorder? And half of people with bipolar disorder see only three professionals before they receive a proper diagnosis .
Due to this complexity, there are cases where proper treatment is not sought until about 10 years after symptoms appear.
Why can depression and bipolar disorder be confused?
This is a problem that most people face. Even doctors can sometimes misdiagnose someone with Bipolar Disorder as just having depression.
The main reason for this is a type of bipolar II disorder . In this type of disorder, the mania comes in a very mild form (hypomania). During this time, you feel very active, full of ideas, sleep less, but you seem to be doing a lot of work. So you may think, "This is my best time." But you spend most of your time in a depressed state. Research shows that a person with bipolar II can be depressed for about 35 days, while hypomania lasts for as little as one day.
In Bipolar I Disorder , the episodes of mania are more pronounced and severe, but they also spend more time in a state of depression.
Therefore, if you suspect you have depression, it is very important to ask your doctor, " Have you ever had a time when you felt extremely happy, energetic, and able to do a lot of work even with little sleep? " This will help your doctor determine whether you have unipolar depression or bipolar disorder.
How drug and alcohol use further complicates the situation
Drug and alcohol use is a major factor that complicates the diagnosis and treatment of bipolar disorder. Research shows that about 60% of people with bipolar disorder are addicted to drugs or alcohol.
Think about it this way. When someone is in a state of mania, their emotions are so intense that they turn to alcohol or drugs. Others use alcohol to cope with their depression. Either way, it only makes things worse.
- Difficulty in diagnosing: Imagine someone is using a drug like cocaine. At that time, their behavior may be very similar to a state of mania. But when the effects of the drug wear off, they have a major mental breakdown, which is like depression. So when someone is using drugs, it is difficult to identify whether these symptoms are due to the illness or the drug.
- Treatment failure: Drug or alcohol use can reduce the effectiveness of medications for bipolar disorder. In addition, mood swings can become more frequent and severe.
Therefore, when treating bipolar disorder, it is very important to also seek treatment for drug or alcohol use.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder in Teens
Bipolar disorder often begins to emerge in young adulthood, between the ages of 15 and 19. During this time, the illness can be very severe, and the risk of suicide is high.
But we all know that adolescence is a time of emotional ups and downs, and of conflict with parents. As a result, it is more likely that a young child's symptoms of Bipolar Disorder will be mistaken for "normal teenage behavior." In addition, these children may also have other conditions, such as ADHD ( attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) and anxiety disorders, which further complicates the diagnosis.
Below are some signs that a young child may have bipolar disorder.
| Symptoms of Mania | Symptoms of depression |
|---|---|
| Being unusually happy or cheerful | Feeling very sad or hopeless |
| Getting angry very easily, becoming agitated | Feeling lonely, socially isolated |
| Talking very fast, racing thoughts | Overeating or anorexia |
| Talking about one's abilities and power in an overestimated way | Feeling of lack of energy in the body |
| Reckless behavior | Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy |
| Very low need for sleep | Oversleeping |
The important thing is that the problem is not that these symptoms appear once in a while. But if these symptoms persist and affect the child's education, friendships, and family life, it is very important to definitely meet with a psychiatrist or psychologist and seek advice .
Take-Home Message
- Bipolar Disorder is not just about mood swings. It is a condition that clearly consists of two phases: mania/hypomania and depression.
- This condition is often mistaken for depression. If you have symptoms of depression, tell your doctor about times when you have felt high spirits and energy.
- Drug and alcohol use complicates both diagnosis and treatment, so it is essential to seek treatment for that as well.
- Although it can be difficult to recognize symptoms in young children, don't hesitate to seek professional help if there are long-term, severe changes in your child's behavior and mood.
- A proper diagnosis is the first and most important step on the journey to recovery, so if you or someone you know is experiencing these symptoms, don't be afraid to seek medical advice.
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