5 Things You Should Know About Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder or manic depression is a syndrome which causes mood swings, extreme tempers, emotional highs and lows very frequently. Under such a mental illness, a person may feel extremely happy at one moment but may feel depressed at another moment. Dangerous and risky decisions are usually a result of this condition which often also leads to suicidal tendencies. Therefore, it is important to be aware about it so that proper care can be taken of the loved ones suffering from them.

Here’s a comprehensive list of 5 things that you must know about bipolar disorder.

1) Symptoms and signs

Bipolar and related disorders are of various types which makes this illness a very complex one. However, some common symptoms include mood episodes in which a person may feel extremely excited also known as a manic state. On the other hand, a person may also feel very low on energy during depressed episode.

2) Solution

The best treatment for bipolar disorders are usually a mix of medications and therapies. Medication may include antidepressants and mood stabilizers which keeps a patient’s mood swings in check. Psychotherapy is another very important part of the treatment where a patient can discuss her/his feelings with a psychologist.

3) Support

The family members should act as a support system for the patient. Apart from making sure that medicines are taken timely, family members should also keep a constant check on the patient. Nothing should be done to anger or depress the patient. Patients should always feel that they have someone to talk to.

4) State of living

A lot of times it has been seen that bipolar patients take a lot of drugs and alcohol. It is important that some lifestyle changes are made to put the patient out of harm. This includes maintaining a proper diet, avoiding alcohol, caffeine and cigarettes, exercising regularly and taking less stressful work. Maintaining a proper schedule also keeps the mood swings in check.

5) Superstitions

Some people believe that bipolar disorders are just another name for mood swings which is not true. The mood episodes experienced by people suffering from this illness are extreme in nature and not like normal mood swings. Another myth is that only medication and talk therapy can help the patient.

However, lifestyle changes can also go a long way in helping patients’ recover from this illness.

Bipolar is a serious mental illness which should be properly taken care of. Knowing important facts about it could help a loved one suffering from this illness.