Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs and lows referred to as mania and depression. When a person falls into a depressive state, they may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. When your mood shifts to mania, you may feel euphoric, full of energy, or unusually irritable. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior, and the ability to think clearly. During a mood swing episode, the symptoms last for most of the day. Episodes may also last for longer periods, such as several days or weeks.

Bipolar and related disorders come in several forms. They often involve episodes of mania or hypomania along with depression. These symptoms can lead to sudden mood and behavior shifts, causing distress and challenges in daily life.

• Bipolar I Disorder. This type involves at least one manic episode, which may occur before or after hypomanic or major depressive episodes. Sometimes, mania can lead to psychosis or a break from reality.
• Bipolar II Disorder. This type includes at least one major depressive episode and one hypomanic episode, without any full manic episodes.
• Cyclothymic Disorder. Individuals experience two years (or one year for children and teens) of multiple periods with hypomanic symptoms and depressive symptoms that are less severe than major depression.
• Other types. These can include bipolar and related disorders caused by substances like drugs or alcohol, or linked to medical conditions such as Cushing’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or stroke.

Bipolar in Children and Adolescents

Bipolar disorder presents differently in children and adolescents. They may have depressive and/or manic episodes, but the patterns can vary from those of adults with bipolar disorder. Moods can rapidly shift during episodes. Some children may have periods without mood symptoms between episodes. The most prominent signs of bipolar disorder in children and teenagers may include severe mood swings that are different from their usual mood swings.

Our team will help your child manage symptoms, learn to identify triggers, and work through feelings associated with the barriers they face having this disorder. Treatments range from medication, therapy, and behavioral modification techniques.

Beating Bipolar Disorder

Living with bipolar disorder can be challenging, but there are ways to help make it easier for yourself or a loved one. Here are some ways:

• Start treatment and remain committed to it; recovery is a gradual process and can be challenging, but it is the most effective way to begin feeling better.
• Attend all your medical and therapy sessions, and discuss different treatment possibilities with your provider.
• Take your prescribed medications consistently.
• Maintain structured daily activities, establish regular eating and sleeping schedules, and prioritize sufficient sleep and physical activity.
• Learn to identify your mood changes and early warning signs, such as sleeping less than usual.
• Reach out for support if you’re finding it hard to follow your treatment plan.
• Remember that progress takes time, so be patient and lean on your support system.
• Stay away from alcohol and drug misuse.

Manic Episode

People having a manic episode may:

• Feel extremely energetic, happy, overly excited, or easily irritated
• Feel restless or overly stimulated
• Need much less sleep than usual
• Experience reduced appetite
• Speak very quickly about many different topics
• Notice their thoughts racing continuously
• Believe they can handle multiple tasks simultaneously
• Engage in risky behaviors with poor judgment, such as overeating, excessive drinking, spending large amounts of money, or engaging in unsafe sex
• Have an inflated sense of self-importance, abilities, or power

Depressive Episode

People having a depressive episode may:

• Feel extremely sad, low, empty, anxious, or without hope
• Experience sluggishness or noticeable restlessness
• Struggle to fall asleep, wake too early, or sleep excessively
• Notice an increase in appetite and gain weight
• Speak slowly, feel at a loss for words, or become forgetful
• Find it hard to focus or make decisions
• Feel incapable of completing even basic tasks
• Lose interest in nearly all activities, have reduced or absent sexual desire, or feel no pleasure

We can help: Bipolar disorder is a lifelong illness, but with ongoing treatment, we can help control symptoms and enable you to live a healthy life. Our team is here to support your journey toward health and balance.