In this fast-changing world full of challenges and competition, a person might not even realize that they have a mental disorder like depression. Many people believe that depression is a condition that comes and goes away on its own and does not require treatment, but it can become dangerous if left untreated.
What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental condition or a mania. In medical terms, it is also known as manic depression. It is characterized by high and low moods and energy swings. It is a state where a person shifts from being happy to suddenly feeling extremely sad or from showing enthusiasm to becoming dull and dizzy. There are two feelings — “Up” and “Down.” The “Up” feeling is called mania while the “down” feeling is called depression. People with bipolar disorder are happy and energetic when they are with friends and may get depressed or frustrated when they get back home. The symptoms of this disorder may vary from person to person. Some individuals show these symptoms for a few months, while others never get over it throughout their life.
Causes of bipolar disorder
Doctors and scientists have been unable to find the main reason behind bipolar disorder, but numerous factors can give birth to it.
- An individual whose family members have bipolar disorder are more likely to develop it.
- A person can also develop this illness due to numerous distressing factors that they may face in their life.
- Neurological factors such as brain development, brain structure, and chemical imbalances in the brain are thought to play a role in the emergence of bipolar disorder.
Two phases of bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is classified into two phases, namely, mania and depression. The symptoms of these stages may last for months, and if ignored, could aggravate the problem. Here is a brief explanation of these stages:
Mania
The symptoms of mania can last for up to two to three months. Some of these symptoms are high energy levels, euphoria, restlessness, rapid speech pattern, over-excitement, being easily distracted or irritated with anything, unusual sexual drive, straightforwardness, poor judgment, pointless talkativeness, and provocative or aggressive behavior which might suddenly change into a calm and humble state.
Depression
At this stage, a person with bipolar disorder becomes sad and anxious all the time. They may also become taciturn and seem to give up on everything in life. They have no complaints, and they have an all or nothing attitude towards everything in life. They may either be hungry all the time or not at all. A feeling of worthlessness, hopelessness, and guilt absorbs their mind, and it becomes even worse when the patient starts getting suicidal or criminal thoughts.
People often tend to treat mental illness with negligence because they think it will get better on its own or due to the fear of being shamed. However, if left untreated, mental illnesses can be fatal.
