Bipolar Disorder: Is it Treatable?

Presented by BetterHelp.

Bipolar Disorder is a serious mental health condition that you may be curious about. Although it is a type of depression, it is much more than that as well. This article will explain what entails, symptoms that may be present, and whether the condition is treatable or not.

What is Bipolar Disorder?

A person that experiences Bipolar Disorder has periods of time where they have feelings of sadness and depression, as well as periods of time where they feel high or manic. You may have heard bipolar disorder referred to as manic depression in the past, but it is usually not called by this name anymore.

An individual must experience both periods of depression and mania to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but they may feel depressed more often than they feel manic, or the reverse could be true. It is generally not a 50-50 split.

You can find out more about Bipolar Disorder at this site, where you can learn about specific details regarding this condition.

Symptoms

Keep an eye out for these symptoms when you are concerned that someone you care about may be experiencing bipolar disorder.

Being unable to sleep
Sleeping too much
Being unable to eat
Eating too much
Loss of interest in many tasks
Feeling like life has no meaning
Inability to make decisions
Taking dangerous risks
Exhibiting excessive amounts of energy
Easily distracted
Talking much more than usual

If you notice that a loved one or family member is expressing a number of these symptoms, you should talk to them about getting checked out by a psychiatrist. The sooner they are able to meet with a professional, the sooner they may see a decrease in their symptoms.

Causes

There is a chance that you could have bipolar disorder when another person in your family has it. Another possible cause of this condition are changes in your brain and the way it operates, which may be different from other individuals.

A person might also experience bipolar if they have been traumatized, suffered abuse, or have a tremendous amount of stress that doesn’t lessen.

Is it treatable?

Bipolar disorder is a treatable condition. Once you meet with a therapist, they will be able to diagnose you with this disorder and determine what the proper treatment plan will be, so you can get the process started.

Many treatment options include both therapy and medication. Therapy may be able to help you address what is making you feel depressed or manic and will allow you to change behaviors at times.

Medication may be a vital way to lessen some of the most severe symptoms that you are experiencing. While they may not go away, they could become easier to manage.

You should make sure that you express to your therapist how you are feeling when they ask you. If a medicine isn’t working properly or it is causing additional symptoms, this is something they likely want to hear about. A doctor should have a number of options when it comes to medicines, so if you don’t find relief with one, they may be able to switch you to something that works better for you.

Conclusion

When you are concerned about bipolar disorder, whether you are experiencing it or someone you love is, the best advice is to see a therapist as soon as symptoms are noted. There are many options available when it comes to treating this condition, so you may be able to see relief from some of your symptoms once you find the proper treatment plan for you. Be sure to work with your doctor and keep an open mind. It could take time to notice a big difference.