Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is an affective mood disorder that causes extreme shifts in mood, energy and functioning.

Bipolar disorder like depression and dysthmia involves feelings of sadness and depression. The bipolar disorder patient experiences sleep deprivation.

Maintaining normal sleep cycles is one of the main difficulties a bipolar patient faces. Inadequate periods of deep sleep leads to an erosion of the ability to maintain sustained attention and concentration.

Sleep problems can result in brain haziness and leads to job mistakes. Due to the continued sleep disturbances, matters become worse leading to exhaustion and collapse, and repeated work absents.

Bipolar disorder is a chronic condition with repeated episodes of mania and depression that can last from days to months.

Symptoms of bipolar disorder:

Mania symptoms:

• Severe changes in the mood unusually happy or silly, angry, irritable or aggressive
• Decreased need for sleep
• Difficulty concentrating
• Increased talking, more rapid speech than normal
• Reckless behavior
• Racing thoughts
• Poor judgment
• Repeated high risk taking behavior
• Abusive of drugs.

Depression symptoms:

• Sleeping too much or inability to sleep
• Loss of enjoyment in favorite activities
• Frequent complaints of physical illnesses such as headaches
• Appetite loss or overeating
• Low energy level, poor concentration and fatigue
• Depressed mood, irritability, sadness and frequent crying
• Thoughts of death or suicide attempts.

Causes of bipolar disorder:

Most experts believe that bipolar disorder is caused by multiple factors that interact with each other to produce a chemical imbalance affecting certain parts of the brain.

Some studies suggest that genetic component is the factor involving bipolar disorder. If the family member or close relative has this disorder, then the risk of developing this disorder is higher.

The condition is caused by imbalances in certain brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. Due to the neurotransmitter imbalance, brain’s mood regulating system will not work as the way it should.

Environmental factors can also cause bipolar disorder. Stressful life or negative life events trigger bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder treatment:

Even with severe forms of illness, bipolar disorder can be treated by stabilizing mood swings and related symptoms of the disorder. As it is a recurrent illness, long term preventive treatment is required. Medications and psychosocial treatment should be combined for managing the disorder over time.

Psychosocial therapies include interpersonal therapy, cognitive behavior therapy and family therapy and these therapies help people understand the illness and to cope with the stresses that can trigger the episodes. Changes in doses and change in treatment is necessary during different stages of illness.

Maintain a diary to write your mood symptoms, treatments, sleep patterns and life events that help people with bipolar disorder and their families to better understand the condition. The dairy can help the doctor track and treat the illness effectively.

Lifestyle to prevent bipolar disorder:

Your lifestyle choice should include exercise, diet, and sleep. Avoid stress and tension. Choose a healthy diet and avoid high fat, high sugar, high carbohydrate diet, high junk food, caffeine and alcohol. Exercise works effectively as antidepressants. When you are depressed, five minute exercise can help. Exercise restores your regular sleep.

Too little or too mush sleep affects with mood disorder. If you miss a night’s sleep, it can lead to manic episode. Establish good sleep hygiene by going to sleep at the same time and getting up in the morning at same time.