What is bipolar disorder?
In people with bipolar disorder alternate two extreme moods each other:
- There are times when people with bipolar disorder thought to the whole world. They are very excited and overactive. This is called mania. During mania, people tirelessly and they see no dangers or problems. They lose sight of the reality and to do crazy things, like spending a lot of money or engage in business adventures. Mania takes a few days to a few weeks. After the mania is often a quiet time, the mood is normal.
- This is followed by a depression, people feel worthless, exhausted and want no contact. Such a depressive episode can last a few months.
The disease often begins when a person is between 15 and 25 years. Sometimes it's so bad with someone recording is needed in a mental health institution.
Bipolar disorder is treated with medication. The drugs provide less peaks and valleys in a person's mood. It is also important to learn to cope with the illness and learn to recognize early signs of depression and mania. Psychoeducation and psychotherapy help.
About two in every 100 people has bipolar disorder. Often, they also suffer from a social phobia or panic disorder.
What are the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder?
Possible symptoms in mania are:
- extremely elated mood
- are overly cheery
- quickly be angry
- feeling excited
- argue a lot
- less need for sleep, night awake are
- much talk, call or e-mail
- thoughts either way shoot
- shuffle
- do much, can not stop
- feel to everything
- more sense to have sex, to be sexually unrestrained
- impulsive things without taking into account adverse effects, such as speeding or overspending
- a sad or irritable mood
- listless are nowhere defined in
- less interest in work or hobbies
- are tired or exhausted
- feel no emotions
- no contact with others like
- little or no self-esteem
- nothing to say
- think of death, suicidal thoughts
- poor sleep or much sleep, waking up early
- less or eat more
- less need for sex
- cancel appointments
What causes bipolar disorder?
Heredity plays an important role in the development of bipolar disorder. Certain genes ensure that a person is more likely to develop a bipolar disorder. They make anybody if it were susceptible.
This sensitivity may be affected in various ways: for example, by a shocking event, to live independently, the death of someone or stress at work. For other people, such an event would affect the mood temporarily. But someone with that special sensitivity may bipolar disorder get through. The balance between neurotransmitters is then disturbed. Neurotransmitters are substances which messages from one nerve to the other to transfer.
How to treat bipolar disorder?
Medications are in bipolar disorder is very important. They reduce the peaks and troughs in the mood. Unfortunately, they do not cure the disease. Lithium is preferred. Other medications for a more stable mood divalproex, antipsychotics and antidepressants.
People with severe sleep problems sometimes take several weeks a sedative.
It is tempting to stop taking medications as mania or depression is over. But do not! The drugs remain very important: they prevent the symptoms from returning. Always consult with your doctor what is best.
In addition to take medication, it is important to know exactly what a bipolar disorder. This is called psychoeducation. You learn for example that to recognize signs of depression and mania. Therefore psycho-education for family and friends is also very useful.
It is not easy to learn to live with this disease. There are several therapies that help:
- Psychotherapy. Through conversations with a therapist teaches you coping with your illness.
- Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy. You discuss everyday problems, teaches peace and structures to get into your day and night and to recognize early signs of depression and mania.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy. You'll learn to deal with the thoughts that you have at the beginning of a depression or mania.
Advice for people with bipolar disorder
Living with bipolar disorder is not easy. Here are some suggestions:
- Make sure you know much about bipolar disorder. Even for people who are important to you information about the disease is very important.
- Try to find a balance between what it represents your doctor about treatment options and you want to make yourself. Discuss this with your practitioner.
- You must do it yourself, but do not do it alone. Try friends, family and caregivers to consider as allies. You can contact other people with bipolar disorder. Because they have the same experiences, they often support, recognition and give advice.
- Discuss with your therapist and people around you with whom you can turn to for help, including evenings and weekends.
- Find together with the therapist, family and friends from what happens before a manic or depressive episode. Write the potential to draw on. And regularly check whether you are affected.
- Make an emergency plan with your therapist and family / friends. How are you during a stable period? What changes when you become manic or depressed? And what should happen when you are likely to be depressed or manic and your situation can no longer properly assess? These kinds of things are in such a contingency plan.
- Try to find out what work is feasible, paid or voluntary work. Do not take too much on your fork.
- Many people shy away from mental problems, even if you are applying for instance. Decide for yourself what you can and can therefore not tell about your illness, and to whom. For example, tell a limited version of casual acquaintances and book the complete story for people who are important to you.