Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental condition that causes intense shifts in mood, energy levels, and behavior. These shifts can last for hours, days, weeks, or months and can interrupt a person’s ability to carry out day-to-day tasks.
Many people with bipolar disorder experience both manic/hypomanic and depressive episodes. These changing mood states don’t always follow a set pattern, and depression doesn’t always follow manic phases. A person may also experience the same mood state several times, with periods of a state of mental tranquility and stability that’s free of mood disturbances, called euthymia, in between, before experiencing the opposite mood.
Mood changes in bipolar disorder can happen over weeks, months, and sometimes years. An important aspect of mood changes is that they are a departure from a person’s regular self and that the mood change is sustained for a long time. It can be several days or weeks in the case of mania and several weeks or months in the case of depression.
The severity of the depression and manic phases can differ from person to person and in the same person at different times. Some people with bipolar disorder will have episodes of mania or hypomania many times throughout their lives, while others may rarely experience them. Signs and symptoms of a manic episode include:
- Excessive happiness, hopefulness, and excitement
- Sudden and severe changes in mood, such as going from joyful to angry and hostile
- Restlessness
- Rapid speech and racing thoughts
- Increased energy and less need for sleep
- Increased impulsivity and poor judgment
- Making grand and unattainable plans
- Reckless and risk-taking behavior, such as drug and alcohol misuse
- Psychosis, such as experiencing hallucinations and delusions (in the most severe manic episodes)
Most of the time, people experiencing a manic episode are unaware of the negative consequences of their actions. If a person is having an intense manic episode, especially if they’re experiencing hallucinations and delusions, they may need to be hospitalized to protect themselves and others from harm. With bipolar disorder, suicide is an ever-present dancer, with some people becoming suicidal in manic episodes, not just in depressive ones.
Some people with bipolar disorder can have milder manic-like symptoms called hypomania. When experiencing hypomania, they may feel great and feel like they can get a lot done. They may feel like nothing is wrong during an episode; however, family and friends may notice their mood swings and activity level changes and think they’re unusual for them.
After a hypomanic episode, a person might experience severe depression. The symptoms of depressive episodes in bipolar disorder are the same as those of major depression, including:
- Overwhelming sadness
- Low energy and fatigue
- Lack of motivation
- Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
- Loss of enjoyment of things that were once pleasurable for you
- Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
- Uncontrollable crying
- Irritability
- Increased need for sleep
- Insomnia or hypersomnia
- A change in appetite that causes weight loss or gain
- Thoughts of death or suicide
When caring for a loved one with bipolar disorder, it is important to be patient and understanding, and offer them stability, consistency, and practical help through mood shifts.
There are several ways you can help a loved one through a manic episode. They include:
- Creating a calm environment
- Spending quality time together
- Having honest conversations
- Preparing easy-to-eat meals
- Encouraging them to rest
- Setting limits on their risky behavior
- Involving a mental health professional if necessary
- Encouraging medication adherence
There are several ways you can help a loved one through a depressive episode. They include:
- Listening to and communicating with them
- Encouraging small steps in self-care
- Reducing external stressors
- Suggesting low-energy activities for them to participate in
- Monitoring them for any signs of crisis
- Encouraging them to seek professional care
Caring for a loved one with bipolar disorder can be stressful and challenging. However, it is important that before you take care of anyone else, you should take care of yourself. You can do this by setting boundaries, not taking things personally, finding support for yourself, such as through friends, family, mental health professionals, or a support group, seeking family therapy, and practicing self-care.
Call, text, or chat 988 to speak to a trained crisis counselor offering support 24/7/365. And to learn more about our outpatient mental health services at Flushing Hospital Medical Center or to schedule a virtual appointment, please call (718) 670-5316 to speak with our intake coordinator or (718) 670-5562 to reach the clinic.
All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.