I Hate Being Bipolar, It’s Awesome

Conflicting right? Bipolar disorder is considered a mental illness in which an individual’s brain has dysfunction in intracellular cascades leaving them prone to extreme mood swings; highs (mania) and lows (depression). More often than not they can experience bipolar regret, a constant sensation that occurs every time the individual undergoes an episode, inducing a steep uphill challenge. Luckily there are bipolar clinical trials underway examining the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder. While research is still unravelling this brain disorder, there have been many breakthroughs and advancements in our understanding of bipolar disorder.

If I Had Bipolar Disorder, What Would it Feel Like?

One might ask themselves “Am I crazy?” due to the revolving doors of emotions that they will experience. The waves or patterns of emotional instability vary for everyone. You might be someone who experiences a change in mood for hours or maybe days. Moods can shift from being so depressed and hopeless that interest or pleasure is lost in most activities, to mania where feelings of euphoria or unusually irritability take place. Here’s a more detailed list of the feelings associated with mood swings. 

Symptoms Associated with Mania or Hypomania may Include:

• A dramatic increase in energy levels
• Upbeat attitude
• Unusually talkative
• Racing thoughts
• Poor decision-making abilities
• Risky and dangerous behaviours

Major Depressive Symptoms may Include:

• Losing sleep, inability to sleep (insomnia)
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feelings of sadness and lack of worthiness
• Decreased ability to concentrate and focus
• Suicidal ideations

Based on these symptoms, swings can affect your sleeping patterns, ability to focus and think clearly, judgement, energy and relationships. Following manic episodes, individuals commonly feel guilt for their decisions during the episode. This is called “bipolar regret”.

The Different Types of Bipolar Disorder

According to the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, there are 3 categories of bipolar disorder: bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymic disorder.

Bipolar I 

Experiencing a manic episode for at least 7 days or severe episodes that trigger a break from reality are indicators of a bipolar I diagnosis. According to the DSM, the manic episode has to last for at least one week and should have 3 or more of the following symptoms: 

• Increased goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation
• Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
• Decreased need for sleep
• Distractibility
• More talkative than usual or under pressure to keep talking
• Flight of ideas or racing thoughts

When someone is diagnosed with Bipolar I, these symptoms are severe enough to cause impairment in regular daily functioning, whether it be at home, school, work or social life. 

Bipolar II

In this diagnosis, the individual alternates between depressive episodes and periods of hypomania (a less severe form of mania). Typically the individual must have had at least one major depressive episode that lasted for 2 weeks or more. Additionally, they must have experienced at least one hypomanic episode. The symptoms of a hypomanic episode include:

• Feeling unusually happy or optimistic
• Having an increased sex drive
• Engaging in risky behaviours
• Having a decreased need for sleep
• Being easily distracted
• Being more talkative than usual
• Feeling like you’re “on top of the world” 

Although the two are similar they are separate diagnoses. Bipolar II is not a milder form of bipolar I. While the manic episodes of bipolar I can be severe, dangerous and require hospitalization, individuals with bipolar II can be depressed for longer periods. If an individual has this type of bipolar disorder, they don’t experience a psychotic break from reality.

Cyclothymic Disorder

In this diagnosis, the individual will have had at least 2 years of many fluctuations between hypomania symptoms and periods of depressive symptoms (although less severe than major depression).

What is the Cause of Bipolar Disorder?

Although it is yet to be completely understood, it is accepted that the disorder may result from the interaction between genetic factors and environmental factors. There are currently bipolar disorder clinical trials to investigate the role of subclinical atherosclerotic and inflammatory markers between patients with bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and psychiatric non-mood disorders and healthy subjects. These clinical trials could contribute to a current pathophysiological formulation of the disease that suggests systemic toxicity may be influencing the anatomical brain changes identified in post-mortem and neuroimaging studies. 

Treatments for Bipolar Disorder

Medications

With prescribed medications, patients with bipolar disorder will commonly see their symptoms improve. Medications also help prevent future mood episodes. Medications known as “mood stabilizers” (e.g lithium) are meant to bring balance into a neuronal firing system to correct a signalling pattern in those who have bipolar disorder. Treatment is individualized and people may need to try different medications before finding what works best for them. Medication and therapy have the most effective results and have led to bipolar breakthroughs. 

Therapy

Although bipolar disorder is largely a chemical imbalance in the brain, there are a variety of therapies that can contribute to bringing balance. Psychotherapy can help the individual a deeper understanding of their triggers which can reduce the severity of moods or prevent episodes altogether. Therapeutic techniques like CBT, DBT, and EMDR can bring about awareness of trauma as well as heal it. 

Other therapies like Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be utilized when medication and psychotherapy have not helped. This technique is a bit more invasive as a doctor must apply several rounds of an electrical current to the scalp. Research suggests that ECT-induced seizures remodel brain signalling pathways.

Homeopathy

Homeopathy for bipolar disorder isn’t common but there are some doctors who have success in treating bipolar disorder using homeopathy. Depending on the specific symptoms, different remedies may help. For example, for the depressive phase with sadness as the main symptom, Ignatia Amara or Sepia Officinalis can bring about more balance in mood. 

How Do We Support People Who Have Bipolar Disorder?

Simcoe Addiction and Mental Health has an evidence-based approach to bipolar disorder treatment in Ontario that includes hope, empowerment and compassion. We are proud of being part of the community that works with different organizations to provide support and care for people and their families affected by this issue.

We help people to understand and recover from this disorder. Some of the possible causes of it include genetics. There’s other evidence indicating the structure of your brain may increase your risk for this disease. Some other research points to the fact that traumatic experiences, physical illness and extreme stress can contribute.

Family Members

Family members can also pass on this disorder to future generations. Research has indicated there is a strong genetic link between people who suffer from it. In fact, if one of your relatives is bipolar, your chances of getting the same disease are six times higher than people without a family connection.

Assessment

All patients receive an initial assessment. This works in parallel with the physical exam your doctor will provide. These can include urine and blood tests to rule out other possible reasons for the symptoms you are experiencing.

We have therapists and counsellors on staff who can carry out a thorough mental evaluation.

Although there will always be more to learn about bipolar disorder, there have been significant advancements in the modalities of treatments which we are proud to have at Simcoe. We don’t use homeopathy for bipolar disorder but we ensure individualized treatments for our patients. If you want to cease those sensations of bipolar regret and feel stable within your brain and body, reach out to us. We can help. If you aren’t located close to us, try using the search term “therapist for bipolar disorder near me” and check out the reviews!