Bipolar blackout is a term that refers to a period of memory loss during and after a manic episode.
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. The more you educate yourself, the more you'll be able to help during an episode.
Blackouts can because by consumption of a toxic substance (ie: alcohol) or by an extremely emotional episode (ie: bipolar, stress, anger).
When they're in the throes of these emotions, they may unintentionally shut others out as they try to navigate what's happening on their own. They could be hyper-focused on other activities or tasks. Hyper-focusing is a common symptom of bipolar disorder, and it can change the way someone interacts with the world.
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.
Bipolar blackout is a term that refers to a period of memory loss during and after a manic episode. When a person experiences mania and goes into a “blackout,” they have trouble staying cognizant of their environment and what they do during their episode.
It is also associated with various structural and functional changes in the brain. People with bipolar disorder may experience extreme shifts in mood, meaning that they can rapidly move from feeling depressed to having an episode of mania. The condition also affects concentration, energy, and decision making.
Experts are careful to distinguish between the odd angry outburst and the long-simmering anger and rage of bipolar anger, sometimes lasting over several days during both manic episodes and irritated states of depression.
Grandiosity and overconfidence. Easy tearfulness, frequent sadness. Needing little sleep to feel rested. Uncharacteristic impulsive behavior.
Some people with bipolar disorder experience impairments in memory and thinking, although this is not true for everyone. Memory problems may be more likely to develop if the person's symptoms are severe, or if they experience many manic episodes, psychosis, or both.
Does bipolar disorder affect intelligence? No, bipolar disorder doesn't seem to impact your intelligence, but it can affect some aspects of your cognition. As the table above explains, there's a difference between cognition and intelligence. They're related, though.
Manic episodes cause euphoria, exaggerated self-confidence, racing thoughts, high energy and activity levels, and risk-taking behaviors. Depressive episodes are characterized by excessive sadness, lack of energy, loss of interest in activities, changes in eating and sleeping behaviors, and suicidal thoughts.
With bipolar rage there does not necessarily need to be a trigger, it can show up without warning and is always absent of reason. It chooses chaos, it's not the individual choosing to lose control. If anything, control is something we're desperate to have and that desperation only makes our anger more chaotic.
The results showed that manic episodes led to decreased volume in certain areas of the brain. Bipolar disorder has been linked to various structural brain changes, including most notably progressive grey matter loss in the brain's frontal regions.
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.
In other words, experiencing bipolar disorder does not mean you can't tell right from wrong, but its symptoms can temporarily make it harder to let our sense of morality guide our actions.
The most common misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder is major depressive disorder (MDD). The symptoms of major depression last for at least two weeks and can include: persistent feelings of sadness or low mood.
Sometimes bipolar symptoms start in childhood or later in life. However, the most frequent range of onset is between the ages of 14 to 21 years. Childhood bipolar is relatively rare, with only up to 3% of children receiving this diagnosis.
Left untreated, bipolar disorder can result in serious problems that affect every area of your life, such as: Problems related to drug and alcohol use. Suicide or suicide attempts. Legal or financial problems.
Research done in 2012 and 2014 discovered that there is a greater existence of aggression in people with bipolar disorder than in those without. According to researchers at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, the majority of people with bipolar disorder do experience rage and angry outbursts.
As with many emotions, however, people with bipolar disorder appear to be more vulnerable to extreme reactions. “Everyone can become frustrated or angry, but loss of control can be part and parcel of bipolar disorder rage,” says Jeffrey Borenstein, MD, president and CEO of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation.
This can be a daunting process but knowledge is power and definite skills can be learned that will help the person with the challenges that may arise. Bipolar can cause overthinking and overthinking combined with depression and increased sensitivity can be very challenging.
Bipolar disorder often runs in families, and research suggests this is mostly explained by heredity—people with certain genes are more likely to develop bipolar disorder than others. Many genes are involved, and no one gene can cause the disorder.