Information about bipolar, including its symptoms, potential treatments, useful tips you can try now and into the future, and how to seek professional help.
Conditions
Let’s talk about bipolar
Overview
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition causing extremes in mood—emotional ‘highs’ known as mania or hypomania, and lows, called depression. These mood swings may affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behaviour, and a person’s thinking ability. Diagnosis and management of bipolar disorder are imperative if one desires to live an even and full life.
Symptoms
Signs to watch
The symptoms of bipolar disorder can vary from person to person and are all geared toward two broad categories: manic/hypomanic and depressive episodes.
Manic/Hypomanic Symptoms
High energy, euphoria, sleeplessness, racing thoughts, feelings of grandiosity, impulsive behaviour, and sometimes irritability or agitation.
Depressive Symptoms
Feeling sad or hopeless; loss of interest in activities; sleep disturbances; changes in appetite or weight; worthlessness or guilt feelings; thoughts of death or suicide.
Mixed Episodes
A state in which mania and symptoms of depression occur together. The symptoms include high energy with depressive thoughts.
Treatments
Things that Help: Things that Work WELL
In most cases, the treatment will have to combine medication with therapy and lifestyle changes. Here’s what helps most:
- Psychotherapy: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), interpersonal and social rhythm therapy, and psychoeducation to teach patients to recognise mood swings and develop ways of coping.
- Lifestyle Management: Maintaining a regular time schedule, exercising, and avoiding alcohol and drugs can help in stabilising mood swings.
- Support Systems: Joining support groups or reaching out to family and friends for emotional support.
- Medication: Mood stabilisers, antipsychotics, and antidepressants prescribed by a psychiatrist has shown to help bring the symptoms of bipolar under control.
Tips & Tricks
Try for today
Let’s focus on what you can do right now, manageable and simple strategies that can help you navigate through the day. Here are some suggestions for “Try for today”:
Tips & Tricks
Try for tomorrow
Now, let’s focus on what you can do to grow and get better. Here we share some proactive strategies and resources that can help you not just survive, but thrive, as you journey towards managing bipolar.
Seek Help
When to seek professional help
If you or someone you love has mood swings that are pretty serious and badly affect your daily activities, this is now the time to seek professional advice. Diagnosis, treatment options, and needed continued support in the management of bipolar disorder can only be given by mental health experts. In mind, keep that in seeking help, there is some amount of strength needed, and at the same time, it may turn out very vital in the maintenance of mental health.
Dr Sarah Herniman
Clinical Psychologist
Sarah is an AHPRA-registered Clinical Psychologist, and is dedicated to helping individuals lead fulfilling lives. Learn more about Dr Sarah
