Stages of Bipolar Disorder. Bipolar disorder is characterized by mood episodes. These episodes include stages of depression and mania, but there are other stages involved in an episode. It's important to recognize the symptoms of each stage so your Mercy provider can help provide the right treatment.
Many people with bipolar disorder will experience two cycles per year, according to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. When someone has four or more manic, hypomanic, or depressive episodes in a 12-month period, this is called rapid cycling.
Bipolar I disorder is defined by manic episodes that last at least 7 days (most of the day, nearly every day) or when manic symptoms are so severe that hospital care is needed. Usually, separate depressive episodes occur as well, typically lasting at least 2 weeks.
How quickly does a person with bipolar disorder shift between highs and lows? It depends. Mood shift frequency varies from person to person. A small number of patients may have many episodes within one day, shifting from mania (an episode where a person is very high-spirited or irritable) to depression.
Bipolar disorder I: episodes of mania and sometimes depression. Bipolar disorder II: episodes of hypomania (a less severe and shorter version of mania) and depression. Cyclothymic disorder: symptoms of hypomania and depression without meeting criteria for a full mood episode.
Sleep, negative life events, drug and alcohol use, seasonal changes, the reproductive cycle, as well as goal attainment and positive events can all have a deleterious impact on your stability, triggering a destructive cycle of mood switching.
Bipolar disorder is characterised by recurrent episodes of depression and mania or hypomania. The duration of mood episodes varies from several days to several months, with usually a period of remission in between.
Detection of mania, or at least of brief hypomania, is required for diagnosis of bipolar disorder. This diagnosis is often missed or not remembered as an illness. People close to the patient may recall episodes, however, and patients who do not remember episodes of affective disturbance may recall their consequences.
Changes in mood here can happen quickly and occur over a few days or even over a few hours. If there are four mood changes within a month, it is called ultra-rapid cycling. While the phrase “rapid cycling” may make it seem that there is a regular cycle to these shifts in mood, most cycles do not follow a pattern.
Someone with bipolar disorder who is experiencing a mood episode may feel manic (extremely happy or extremely irritable) or depressive (extremely sad), APA experts explain. Sometimes their shifts between moods happen abruptly, sometimes not.
A person may be happy at one point but could quickly shift to frustration, irritability, or anger after something happens to them. On the other hand, bipolar disorder daily mood swings are much more intense and can be much more difficult for a person to control.
A person with bipolar disorder may be unaware they're in the manic phase. After the episode is over, they may be shocked at their behaviour. But at the time, they may believe other people are being negative or unhelpful. Some people with bipolar disorder have more frequent and severe episodes than others.
As a manic episode ends, you'll start to feel less frenzied, be able to think more clearly, and get more sleep. You may have to face unpleasant consequences of your actions during the episode. Therapy, medication, and social support are important factors that can help you cope with the end of a manic episode.
Long-term studies show that both major depression (unipolar and bipolar) and mania are most common in early adulthood and less common in older age. The prevalence of mania tends to decrease with age even more than depression. Mood symptoms in general decline with age, and the balance does shift more to depression.
Bipolar may worsen with age or over time if this condition is left untreated. As time goes on, a person may experience episodes that are more severe and more frequent than when symptoms first appeared.
A few people with rapid cycling bipolar disorder alternate between periods of hypomania and major depressive disorder. Far more commonly, though, repeated and distinct episodes of depression dominate the picture. Repeated periods of depression are punctuated by infrequent, shorter periods of elevated or normal mood.
Anger is not a symptom that everyone with bipolar experiences, but it is not uncommon either. Mania in particular tends to trigger aggressive emotions and anger. The racing thoughts and high energy levels you experience can leave you feeling angry, irritable, and frustrated.
Bipolar disorder can cause your mood to swing from an extreme high to an extreme low. Manic symptoms can include increased energy, excitement, impulsive behaviour, and agitation. Depressive symptoms can include lack of energy, feeling worthless, low self-esteem and suicidal thoughts.
During a manic episode, people with bipolar disorder can have what's called a bipolar blackout. During a blackout, the individual is not aware of their surroundings or actions and has trouble remembering them afterward. This can make interacting with someone in a blackout very frustrating, but it doesn't have to be.
Brain fog can occur in anyone with bipolar depression and is often characterized by symptoms like memory lapses, disorganization, groping for words, and difficulty learning new information. Bipolar brain fog can also be considered a form of memory loss that people with bipolar disorder experience regularly.
Your loved one with bipolar disorder can't control their moods. They can't just snap out of a depression or get a hold of themselves during a manic episode. Neither depression nor mania can be overcome through self-control, willpower, or reasoning.
70,000 Thoughts Per Day - International Bipolar Foundation.
Bipolar disorder is frequently inherited, with genetic factors accounting for approximately 80% of the cause of the condition. Bipolar disorder is the most likely psychiatric disorder to be passed down from family. If one parent has bipolar disorder, there's a 10% chance that their child will develop the illness.