Bipolar I and II: All you need to know

Bipolar disorder is a medical condition in which a person experiences alternating mood swings from high manic to low depression for a specific time frame. Mania is a state of elation characterized by heightened energy levels whereas the depressive stage is a state of feeling very sad, low and hopeless.

There are different types of bipolar disorders, and all of them have better outcomes when treated early. As the condition progresses, the person may go further into the high or low states and severely impact their health as well as personal and professional lives.

The awareness of bipolar disorders is on the rise thanks to many celebrities being very open about their struggles with the disorder. Cadambam’s uses scientific methods that are a combination of medication, counselling and continued care post-treatment to help the person reintegrate into everyday life and keep their bipolar disorder in check for life.

Types of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is classified by the type, duration and severity of the symptoms as bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, cyclothymic disorder and other bipolar related disorders. Statistics reveal that about 4% of the world’s population is bipolar. The majority of them are teenagers.

What is Bipolar-I Disorder?

Bipolar disorder I is also called manic-depression or manic-depressive disorder. The individual affected by bipolar I disorder encounters manic episodes. A manic episode is a factor in which the individual has abnormally elevated high energy for a period of time. This state of mania may be accompanied by abnormal or out of character behaviour that disrupts life. To be classified as bipolar I, the person would have at least seven days of manic episodes or manic symptoms. The person would have at least two weeks of depressive episodes as well. The person may also exhibit mixed features of depression and manic symptoms simultaneously.

Symptoms of Bipolar-I

• Abnormally inflated self-image
• Rapid and loud speech
• Random speech without any link to each other
• Increased energy, with hyperactivity
• Too much or too little sleep
• Hypersexuality
• Substance abuse

What is Bipolar II Disorder?

The person with Bipolar II has one or more than one major depressive episode and at least one episode of hypomania. Hypomania is a less severe manic episode than that categorised in bipolar I.  A person with bipolar 2 disorder experiences more depressive episodes than episodes of hypomania. These depressive episodes may occur soon after episodes of hypomania subside or after a period. Some individuals with bipolar II disorder cycle back and forth between hypomania and depressive episodes, while others have more extended periods of normal mood between episodes. The depressive episodes are similar to that of a major depressive disorder.

The symptoms of hypomania include:

• Abnormally inflated self-esteem.
• Decreased need for sleep
• Talking more than usual
• Racing of thoughts.
• Inattention
• Indulging in a lot of goal-directed activities.
• Engaging in risk-taking or reckless activities

Symptoms of major depressive disorder or depressive episodes:

• Feelings of sadness, hopeless, worthlessness or emptiness.
• Decreased interest in previously enjoyable activities
• Decrease or increase in appetite
• Decrease or increase in sleep
• Loss of energy.
• Excessive or inappropriate feelings of guilt
• Inability or decreased ability to think or concentrate
• Having recurrent thoughts of death or attempts of suicide

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How Cadambam’s Treats Bipolar?

Cadambam’s formulates a treatment plan individually for each person. The treatment is a combination of medication and therapy. Medicines for bipolar disorder should not be self-prescribed as they are only prescribed by a medical professional after diagnosing the type and the severity of the bipolar disorder. The medication regime should be adhered to very strictly to keep symptoms well under check. Therapy includes cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy, family-focused therapy and social rhythm therapy. Cadabams has over two decades of experience in helping bipolar people take control of their disorder and live perfectly normal lives.

Here’s Ms Rafia’s personal story of recovery from bipolar at Cadabam’s. Watch the video.

Why Cadabam’s for Bipolar Treatment?

Cadabam’s offers an intensive level of care for individuals suffering from bipolar disorder to help them to learn to manage their illness and get back to stability within their school or work environments. Our team of clinical experts and mental health care professionals specialize in treating all sorts of mood disorders and offer comprehensive bipolar treatment programs including family therapy and medication management.

At Cadabam’s, we build a clinical team for the personalized treatment of an individual based on their diagnosis, co-occurring issues, gender, medical issues, and family situation.

Bipolar FAQs: All you need to know

What causes bipolar disorder to develop?

There are many factors that could lead to the onset of bipolar disorder, but the major cause is thought to be an imbalance in the neurotransmitter levels. Moreover, BPD can also result due to physical difference in the brain, genetics, stress, trauma, hormone levels, abuse, etc.

Is BPD dangerous?

Yes, bipolar disorder is a potentially dangerous  mental illness which should never be left untreated. During manic episodes, people with BPD engage in risky behaviors, and during depressive episodes, inflict self-harm. Many people with BPD also tend to develop alcohol and drug addiction.

Is a normal life possible when living with BPD?

With consistent and long-term care of bipolar disorder symptoms, people with BPD can live a full and happy life. Along with the treatment, the patient will also require strong commitment from themselves and support from their family and friends. A sense of belonging to a community and their loved ones will help patients keep away from feeling isolated and helpless.

What is the difference between depression and bipolar disorder?

The occurrence of manic episodes is what differentiates bipolar disorder from depression. Therefore, when a person is being diagnosed for bipolar disorder, depression alone is not enough. However, to confirm the diagnosis for bipolar disorder, one manic episode meeting the DSM-IV criteria is enough.