Understanding Bipolar Disorder Symptoms
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness affecting how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It is characterized by extreme mood swings ranging from periods of deep depression to episodes of intense elation or euphoria. In order to diagnose bipolar disorder, medical practitioners must identify at least three symptoms associated with the disorder. This blog post will discuss the most common symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Common Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Mood Swings
The most obvious symptom of bipolar disorder is extreme mood swings. These mood swings can occur suddenly and without warning and can last for days or weeks. During manic episodes, sufferers may feel unusually energetic, and talkative, and have an inflated sense of their own importance. They may also engage in risky behavior such as spending sprees or substance abuse. During depressive episodes, sufferers may feel hopelessness, worthlessness, sadness, fatigue, and loss of interest in activities that they once enjoyed.
What Causes Mood Swings?
Mood swings can be caused by a variety of things. Stressful or traumatic events, such as the death of a loved one or job loss, can trigger mood swings. Hormonal changes due to puberty, menstruation, menopause, or pregnancy may also cause them. People who have mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder often experience dramatic shifts in their emotions as well. Certain medications and even certain foods can also contribute to mood swings.
How to Manage Mood Swings
When it comes to managing your mood swings, there are several steps that you can take. First and foremost, it’s important to recognize when you are feeling a shift in your emotions and try to identify what might have triggered it. This may require some self-reflection and journaling about your feelings and experiences in order to gain some clarity on why the swing occurred. Once you have identified the source of your emotions, it is important to devise a plan for managing them effectively.
This could include taking breaks throughout the day for meditation or mindfulness exercises, engaging in physical activity such as running or yoga, talking with friends or family members about how you feel, or even seeking professional help from a therapist or counselor if needed.
Sleep Disturbances
Bipolar disorder can also cause sleep disturbances such as insomnia or oversleeping. People may experience difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep during manic episodes and may sleep excessively during depressive episodes. Additionally, bipolar disorder sufferers often experience decreased concentration due to difficulty focusing on tasks for extended periods of time.
Changes in Energy Levels
Another common symptom of bipolar disorder is changes in energy levels. During manic episodes, a person may experience increased energy levels along with feelings of restlessness and agitation while during depressive episodes they may feel fatigued and lack the motivation to do everyday tasks such as showering or eating regular meals. It’s important to note that these changes in energy levels should not be confused with normal fluctuations in mood; rather they are extreme shifts that are felt over long periods of time lasting days or weeks at a time.
Bipolar disorder is an incredibly complex mental illness that affects millions around the world each year. It’s characterized by extreme mood swings ranging from deep depression to intensely elevated states known as mania which can last for days or weeks at a time with no warning signs or triggers present beforehand.
Other common symptoms include sleep disturbances caused by difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep during manic episodes and excessive sleeping during depressive ones as well as changes in energy levels which range from feelings of excessive restlessness during manic states to total exhaustion during depressive ones. If you think you might be experiencing any of these symptoms it’s important to consult your doctor as soon as possible so you can receive the help you need!
