Mania – Disablities & Mental Health Issues

Everyone has changes in their mood, but with bipolar disorder these changes can be extreme, overwhelming and have a big impact on your life.

What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?

If you have bipolar disorder, you’re likely to have episodes of depression (feeling very low) and mania (feeling very high). You may feel well between these episodes.

Bipolar symptoms can make daily life hard and affect your relationships and work.

During a depressive episode, you may:

feel sad, hopeless or irritable
lack energy and appetite
lose interest in everyday activities
have difficulty concentrating or remembering things
feel empty, worthless, guilty or despairing
have difficulty sleeping.

During a manic episode, you may:

feel full of energy
feel self-important or have lots of ideas and plans
be easily distracted, irritated or agitated
have no desire to sleep or eat
make decisions or say things that are out of character, risky or harmful.

Some people experience psychosis during a severe episode of depression or mania. This means you may see or hear things that aren’t there or believe things that aren’t true.

Episodes can last for several weeks or months with periods of less extreme mood in between. Depending on how you experience these moods and how severe they are, your doctor may diagnose you with a particular type of bipolar disorder. Mind has more information on these different types.

What causes bipolar disorder?

The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, but researchers believe a combination of factors make someone more likely to develop it. These include:

genetics – if you’re related to someone with bipolar disorder, you’re more likely to develop it yourself
chemical imbalance in the brain – too much or too little of certain chemicals could make you develop depression or mania
childhood trauma – abuse, neglect or bereavement in childhood can cause you to develop bipolar disorder. This could be because of the impact on your ability to regulate your emotions
stressful life events – a relationship breakdown or financial difficulties can be the trigger for bipolar symptoms.

You usually develop bipolar disorder before you’re 20. It’s rare to develop it after the age of 40.

Getting support

Treatment for bipolar disorder aims to reduce the severity and number of episodes of depression or mania you experience. The right treatment for you will depend on your type of bipolar, current symptoms, and your preferences and circumstances.

If you think you have bipolar disorder, start by speaking to your GP. It can help to keep a record of your moods to help you both understand your mood swings. You can download a mood scale and mood diary from the Bipolar UK website. Your GP may then refer you to a psychiatrist, who can give you a diagnosis.

There are different types of help you can get with bipolar disorder.

Talking therapy

There are different talking therapies that have been shown to work well for people with bipolar disorder.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help you recognise how your feelings, thoughts, and behaviour influence each other and build strategies to change these patterns.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) focuses on your relationships with others and how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviour are affected by your relationships and vice versa.

What you’re offered may depend on what’s available in your area and what you and your GP feel would be best for you.

Medication

There are different medications available to treat bipolar disorder. It’s likely your GP or psychiatrist offer you one of more of the following:

medication to prevent episodes of depression and mania. These are known as mood stabilisers
medication to treat the symptoms of depression and mania as they happen.

The NHS website has more information about medication for bipolar disorder.

Longer term plans

You may work with healthcare professionals to learn to monitor your mood and recognise what triggers your depression and mania. They may help you to develop a crisis or risk management plan so you know how to manage any early warning signs. This may involve friends and family, so they know how to recognise any early signs of distress and support you.

You can also help yourself by taking care of your physical health as well as your mental health and making sure that you get regular exercise, good quality sleep, and eat a healthy diet.

Caring for someone with bipolar disorder can be very hard, whether you’re a partner, parent, child, or friend of someone who has this condition. It’s stressful for everyone it touches.

It’s tough to strike a balance. You want to be supportive and empathetic, because you know the person with bipolar disorder isn’t to blame for their illness. But their behavior may affect you, and you have to take care of yourself and your needs, not just theirs.

Although there’s no easy solution, these tips may help.

Learn. Read information from reputable web sites, books, and articles that explain the condition. The more you know, the better.

Listen. Pay attention to what your loved one has to say. Don’t assume that you know what he or she is going through. Don’t dismiss all of their emotions and feelings as signs of their illness. Someone with bipolar disorder may still have valid points.

Encourage them to stick with treatment. Your love one needs to take their bipolar medication and get regular checkups or counseling.

Notice their symptoms. They may not be able to see it as clearly as you do when their bipolar symptoms are active. Or they may deny it. When you see the warning signs of mania or depression, you can try to make sure they get help ASAP.

Do things together. People who are depressed often pull away from others. So encourage your friend or loved one to get out and do things he or she enjoys. Ask him to join you for a walk or a dinner out. If he says no, let it go. Ask again a few days later.

Make a plan. Because bipolar disorder can often be an unpredictable illness, you should plan for bad times. Be clear. Agree with your loved one about what to do if their symptoms get worse. Have a plan for emergencies. If you both know what to do and what to expect of each other, you’ll feel more confident about the future.

Stick to a schedule. If you live with someone who has bipolar disorder, encourage them to stick to a schedule for sleep and other daily activities. Some research shows that it’s helpful to have a regular routine. The person will still need medicine and counseling, but look for everyday things, like exercise and a healthy diet, that supports their overall health.

Express your own concerns. Since your loved one’s behavior can have a huge effect on you, it’s OK to discuss. Don’t blame the other person or list all of his mistakes. Instead, focus on how his actions make you feel and how they affect you. Since this can be really hard to do, you might find it easiest to talk about it together with a therapist.

Take care of yourself. As intense as your loved one’s needs may be, you count, too. It’s important for you to stay healthy emotionally and physically.

Do things that you enjoy. Stay involved with other people you’re close to — social support and those relationships mean a lot. Think about seeing a therapist on your own or joining a support group for other people who are close to someone who has bipolar disorder.