Bipolar disorder: All you need to know
Mental illness is common among all the different demographic groups, but the conditions are not the same in all the groups. And one such form of illness is bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric disorder that results in extreme mood changes in a person. Individuals with bipolar disorder experience severe depressive episodes. The feeling may fluctuate from periods of intense euphoria to those of hopelessness. It’s commonly known as manic depression. Although the condition occurs alike in both men and women, the difference lies in the condition in which it is experienced among both the sexes.
For instance, women experience increased symptoms of depression as compared to mania. The development and severity of the bipolar disorder in women is affected by hormones. The symptoms of bipolar disorder are somewhat confusing, which results in unnecessary suffering. Hence, it’s important to learn its symptoms as the condition may worsen without treatment.
What are the symptoms of Bipolar disorder?
It’s crucial to gain an insight into the symptoms of bipolar disorder to understand how it impacts women. The symptoms may vary in their frequency and pattern. The common symptoms of bipolar disorder include:
- Reduced sleep
- High mood
- Depression
- Racing thoughts
- Enhanced self-esteem
- Increased energy
- Severe mania
- Hypomania
Different types of bipolar disorder
There are three categories of bipolar disorder. These are explained below:
Bipolar I
This type of disorder is defined by the appearance of a single manic episode. It equally affects both men and women. You may also experience depressive episodes in this condition.
Bipolar II
This type of disorder is characterized by a major depressive episode that lasts for a period of 2-3 weeks. The individuals also experience a hypomanic episode. It is more common in women.
Cyclothymia
People with this type of disorder experience both hypomania and depression. These symptoms are less severe as compared to bipolar I & Bipolar II.
Self-care to deal with bipolar disorder
It’s not easy to deal with bipolar disorder. You’ll have to make yourself familiar with the various strategies to deal with it all by yourself. Your lifestyle choices may positively impact your mood and also reduce the need for medical treatment. Here are a few self-help tips to combat bipolar disorder.
- Educate yourself: Try to gain in-depth knowledge about bipolar disorder. The more knowledge you have about it, the better it will be to find ways to get out of it.
- Physical activity: Doing physical activity reduces the frequency of bipolar episodes. It may provide a lot of advantages to your brain and nervous system.
- Avoid stress: Keep yourself away from high-stress situations and maintain a balance between your work life and personal life. You can also try different relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, etc. to relieve yourself from stress.
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle: Healthy lifestyle helps in stabilizing your mood. Hence, it’s important to make healthy choices and maintain a proper schedule.
- Stay in touch with your friends and family: Stay connected with your friends and family as it may greatly calm your nervous system. Talk to them about what you’re feeling. It will provide you immense relief.
It cannot be denied that self-care is crucial for managing bipolar disorder. Hence, if you’re dealing with bipolar disorder, you must try to maintain a healthy lifestyle and improve the quality of your life to manage the disorder in a better way.