What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition, formerly known as manic depression, associated with extreme mood swings of depression paired with emotional highs (mania). During periods of depression, you might feel hopeless, sad, or lose interest in favorite people or activities. When your mood shifts, you feel euphoric, happy, and energized.
What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
The symptoms you experience with bipolar disorder depend on whether you’re in the depressed or manic phase:
Symptoms fluctuate regularly with bipolar disorder, which often stems from genetic factors. Your risk of bipolar disorder increases if you have a parent or sibling with the disorder, a history of alcohol or drug abuse, or a high-stress living situation.
What is the treatment for bipolar disorder?
Medications - Taking certain medications, such as mood stabilizers, can reduce symptoms associated with bipolar disorder.
Psychotherapy - Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, teaches you behavioral change strategies that help you cope with or overcome bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition, formerly known as manic depression, associated with extreme mood swings of depression paired with emotional highs (mania). During periods of depression, you might feel hopeless, sad, or lose interest in favorite people or activities. When your mood shifts, you feel euphoric, happy, and energized.
What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
The symptoms you experience with bipolar disorder depend on whether you’re in the depressed or manic phase:
- Mania
- Being distracted
- Abnormally upbeat
- Increases in energy and activity
- An exaggerated sense of self-confidence
- Unusual talkativeness
- Decreases in sleep
- Racing thoughts
- Making poor, spur-of-the-moment decisions
- Depressive episodes
- Feeling sad, empty, or hopeless
- Fatigue
- Loss of energy
- Excessive sleep
- Feeling worthless
- Difficulty concentrating
- Thinking about or planning suicide
- Loss of interest in favorite activities
- Unplanned weight loss or weight gain
Symptoms fluctuate regularly with bipolar disorder, which often stems from genetic factors. Your risk of bipolar disorder increases if you have a parent or sibling with the disorder, a history of alcohol or drug abuse, or a high-stress living situation.
What is the treatment for bipolar disorder?
Medications - Taking certain medications, such as mood stabilizers, can reduce symptoms associated with bipolar disorder.
Psychotherapy - Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, teaches you behavioral change strategies that help you cope with or overcome bipolar disorder.