What You Need to Know About Bipolar Disorder

By: Camden Baucke MS LLP

As a clinician, I’ve worked with plenty of wonderful people diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

It’s not an easy diagnosis to manage, but it comes loaded with social stigma. People diagnosed with bipolar disorder often worry about loved ones seeing them as “crazy” or “insane“.

No, experiencing bipolar disorder does not make you “crazy“.

With bipolar disorders, and other mental health topics, education is the key to breaking stigma.

I always noticed the more that understood their symptoms, the more understanding they were for themselves.

For this article, I want to educate you on some of the basics of bipolar disorder, so that you might have more understanding for yourself or others who are diagnosed with it.

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Essentially, bipolar disorder is a mood disorder – mood meaning your thinking, energy, and activity.

Bipolar disorder is most commonly known for its shifts in mood, which are called “episodes” – not “swings“.

It’s an important distinction because bipolar disorder is not a personality flaw, immaturity, or irresponsibility.

Mood is something to manage, but it often arrives unannounced – depending on what type of bipolar you are diagnosed with.

Bipolar Type 1 & Type 2

There are two types of bipolar disorder, which I know can be confusing, but I’ll explain it as plainly as possible.

Both include (1) at least two weeks of feeling low & (2) at least one week of feeling energetic.

The two weeks of feeling low is what we call a “depressive episode“.

Both type 1 and type 2 can have depressive episodes, but their experience of energetic episodes are different.

For bipolar disorder type 1, at least a week of energy is what we call a “manic episode“.

For bipolar disorder type 2, at least four days of energy is a “hypomanic episode“.

These episodes might not be obvious, so that’s why it’s important to meet with a mental health professional for diagnostics and treatment.

Manic Episodes (Type 1)

Manic episodes are at least one week of elevated energy levels, physical arousal, and emotional expression.

Realistically, these are weeks where you feel on top of the world, but it also feels overwhelming.

It includes increased physical energy – so restlessness and difficulty sleeping.

It includes increased expression – where your words feel pressured to get out of your mouth – and increased mental energy with racing thoughts and potential room for psychosis and grandiosity (which can be scary).

As a result of all this energy, someone with a manic episode is at higher risk of impulsivity and the 3 S’s:

1. Spending – Dropping large amounts of money that could harm you financially
2. Sexual experiences – Engaging in unsafe sex in unprotected ways or with unsafe people.
3. Substance use – Using substances, like alcohol, to an extreme or using dangerously potent substances like cocaine.

To be clear, this doesn’t mean drinking a beer and engaging in unprotected sex with your partner after splurging at TJ Maxx.

It’s more like using cocaine, spending most of your savings on a car that you drive across the state and engage in sex with a shady stranger (as an example).

Manic episodes are overwhelming and often scary – but they are manageable.

Hypomanic episodes (Type 2)

Hypomanic symptoms are similar, but are less extreme which makes them harder to spot.

It involves enhanced creativity, productivity, and makes you much more talkative.

While that doesn’t sound bad at first, it does come with the unwanted side effects of irritability and fixation.

It’s still a form of mania, so while you might not feel grandiose, it could be a harmful elevation in energy.

Again, because they’re less noticeable, individuals are often diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) instead.

Depressive Episodes (Type 1 & Type 2)

There’s major depression and then there’s bipolar depression.

Bipolar depression is often what happens between manic or hypomanic episodes.

It’s possible for type 1, but it’s more important when diagnosing type 2.

It involves some of these symptoms in at least a two week period:

1. Low mood – feeling more than sad.
2. Fatigue – most small chores can feel like momentous tasks.
3. Hopelessness – feeling like nothing will get better and nothing can change.
4. Difficulty concentrating – struggling to stay on task

It can be an emotional whiplash to go between ecstatic energy and depression.

What to Do With the Warning Signs

There’s a few early symptoms you can be on the lookout for and they’re going to be slight changes in pattern.

You might experience subtle pattern changes in your:

1. Sleep schedule – week long periods of oversleeping to periods of less sleep
2. Spending – periods when you impulsively spend depending on how you feel
3. Creative Eureka moments – when you notice a sudden increase in productivity with no noticeable explanation.

People who experience these early signs usually only realize it after it happens. Even when they do, they might discount how obstructive these early signs were.

If you notice potential early signs, it’s important to continue to observe rather than sound the bipolar alarm.

Because bipolar disorder is often a course of feeling up and down, it’s important to keep a record of that rhythm.

Don’t self-diagnose – track your moods each day, your sleep patterns, and ask others who know you best.

Because they usually happen in two week periods, journaling one month of mood and energy could help.

Most importantly, feel free to speak with a mental health professional. They can assist with diagnosis, early detection, and immediate support.

There’s no shame in being proactive about your wellbeing.

What if Someone I Know Might Have Bipolar Disorder?

If you see these symptoms in someone you love, it’s important to bring it up with care.

It’s crucial that they know they could have bipolar disorder, but it’s also important to let them know you don’t judge them for it.

As a therapist, I often use a respectful manner of asking questions to encourage self-exploration.

You can do the same, allowing your loved one to come to their own conclusion with curious statements like

“I noticed you’ve been feeling much more energetic recently” and go from there.

Your loved ones can benefit from your observation, not criticism.

Also, you can always encourage professional support, but make sure not to force it.

Available Treatments

Because bipolar disorder is a well-established condition, there are a variety of available treatment options.

1. Therapy – psychotherapy has shown to be effective in reducing symptoms of bipolar disorder.
2. Medication – Therapy, in tandem with medication, has shown to have positive effects.
3. Lifestyle Structuring – While your life doesn’t have to revolve around bipolar disorder, it’s healthy to structure life around what your needs. This includes stress management, creating a healthy home environment, and establishing a steady sleep routine.

I want to emphasize that yes, bipolar can be scary, but individualized treatment can help lead to recovery and stability.

Bipolar disorder can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be your entire story.

Final Thoughts

Don’t let the stigma of bipolar disorder keep you from being curious about your health.

If you’re concerned – that’s okay, feel free to be curious and cautious.

You might be worried you have bipolar disorder – or that a loved one might have it.

If you, or others, have bipolar disorder – you are not alone, and you are worthy of love of respect.

In the modern age, it’s not a curse or ill-omen to be diagnosed – it’s for the purpose of treatment and feeling better soon.

Thank You For Reading

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