Bipolar Depression
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar is a relatively common disorder affecting about 1 in a 100 people. People with bipolar disorder experience episodes of extreme mood swings, from depression to mania. The mood spectrum looks like this:
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Mania |
Symptoms
Symptoms of mania and hypomania are feelings of elation, high self esteem, lots of energy, rapid speech, racing thoughts, creative ideas and sometimes disjointed thinking. People can experience psychosis during mania. Psychosis means losing touch with reality and experiencing delusions or hallucinations. Also in the ‘high’ phase people can feel agitated, irritable or short tempered. Sometimes the high phase can lead to indulgence in reckless behaviour. This can include gambling, excess drinking and smoking or over spending. Sometimes it also includes a loss of inhibitions relating to sexual behaviour.
At the other end of the scale symptoms of depression and dysthymia (low mood) can include the following: feelings of sadness, losing interest in life and enjoyable things, loss of libido, lethargy. Tiredness can be so bad it may be difficult to function. Symptoms can also be sleeping too much, panic attacks, feelings of despair or worthlessness, suicidal thoughts, changes in eating habits, paranoia, feelings of guilt, hallucinations and withdrawal from life and social situations.
Genetics
Theories and research suggest a genetic link within families to people who suffer bipolar. That is not to say that everyone with a parent or relative with the condition will also be bipolar. A common experience described by people with bipolar is that the illness occurred after a period of prolonged severe stress or by a traumatic incident. This is also supported by recent research.
Different types of Bipolar
What is less known about the illness is that there are two main types of bipolar disorder; bipolar 1 and bipolar 2. People with bipolar 1 swing between mania and depression, whilst with bipolar 2 individuals tend to swing between hypomania and depression. People with bipolar 1 will often come to the attention of the GP in both the manic and depressive stages of the condition. With bipolar 2 it can be harder to diagnose as individuals tend only to visit the GP when feeling severely depressed and as such can often be misdiagnosed with clinical depression. The ‘highs’ for those experiencing bipolar 2 tend to be milder than full blown mania.
There is a milder form of bipolar which is called Cyclothymia. People tend to experience mild but sometimes frequent mood shifts. People with Cyclothymia tend to go undiagnosed due to the mildness of symptoms.
Treatment
Most people with bipolar will be referred to a Psychiatrist who will work with them to establish the best treatment which can include a combination of medication and referral to behavioural therapy. Some people will have a community psychiatric nurse (CPN) who will support them in the community.
There are three main types of medication used to treat bipolar, mood stabilizers such as Lithium, Anti-Psychotics and Anti-Depressants.
It is possible to be on more than one type of medication such as a mood stabilizer and an anti-depressant. Often anti-depressants on their own are ineffective for people with bipolar.
Talking treatments can include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), trauma counselling and psychotherapy can be of benefit too.
Self Management
Those experiencing bipolar benefit greatly from recognizing the early warning signs and triggers which can pre-empt mood shifts. One common early warning sign is a change in sleeping habits. Not sleeping or being active most of the night could be an early indication of a mood shift towards mania. Increased sleeping and withdrawal from everyday activities could be indicative of moving towards depression.
Further Information
Bipolar Fellowship Scotland
Bipolar Fellowship Scotland (BFS) is the only organisation in Scotland which focuses solely on bipolar disorder. As such we offer training in self management skills for our members. BFS provides information, support and advice for people with bipolar disorder, their relatives, friends and carers.
Importantly we support a network of self help groups across Scotland that provide a safe environment for group members to discuss experiences and share support.
We inform and educate members of the public, professionals and other agencies about bipolar and the role of our organisation. We also encourage and assist research into all aspects of bipolar disorder.
If you have any questions on bipolar, want to know more about our services, or if you are interested in attending a self help group in your area please do not hesitate to contact us:
Yvonne Fleming & Alan Douglas
Bipolar Fellowship Scotland
Studio 1016, Mile End Mill,
Seedhill Road, Paisley
Tel: 0141 560 2050
E-mail: info@bipolarscotland.org.uk
Web: www.bipolarscotland.org.uk
MDF the Bipolar Organisation
MDF The Bipolar Organisation is a user led charity working to enable people affected by Bipolar disorder to take control of their lives. It covers England and Wales.
Web: www.mdf.org.uk
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
American website with information about depression and bipolar depression.
Web: www.dbsalliance.org