Click a letter to see a list of medical procedures beginning with that letter.
Click 'Back to Intro' to return to the beginning of this section.
Bipolar disorder is a serious disorder of the brain. It may severely disrupt your life. At times, it may cause you and your loved ones great pain. But there is hope. Although there is no cure, treatment can help control your symptoms. Talk with your healthcare provider or a mental health professional. They can offer guidance and support.
What causes bipolar disorder?
The exact causes of bipolar disorder aren’t known. It is known that the disease runs in families. Genes that affect nerve cells in the brain may be inherited, but as yet these genes have not been found.
Who does it affect?
Over5 million adults in this country have bipolar disorder. Most often, it strikes young adults. It can affect children and older adults as well. Bipolar disorder affects both men and women. It can strike people of all races, cultures, and incomes.
Ups and downs
Bipolar disorder used to be called manic-depressive illness. That is because it causes extreme mood swings. At times the person may feel almost too happy. These times are often followed by great despair. In some cases, both extremes may occur at once. More often, moods shift back and forth. These mood swings may occur just once in a while. Or they may happen 4 or more times a year. Without treatment, they will likely recur throughout life.
Manic episodes
During manic episodes of bipolar disorder, you feel like you’re on top of the world. Even the worst news can’t seem to bring you down. You’ll likely feel as if you can do anything. And sometimes you may try. You may take great risks, thinking you can’t be hurt. The risks can involve dangerous physical, emotional, and financial decisions. You may also talk too fast, and your thoughts may race. You may go for days without sleeping. And you might be very active and do a lot of things in a short time. Manic episodes often end in a depression.
Depressive episodes
In depressive episodes, you feel intense, overwhelming sadness and depression. You may also feel worthless, tired, and helpless. Even the things you value most don’t give you pleasure. At times you may want to die. You may even think about taking your own life.
Warning signs for suicide
-
Thinking often about taking your life
-
Planning how you may attempt it
-
Talking or writing about committing suicide
-
Feeling that death is the only solution to your problems
-
Feeling a pressing need to make out your will or arrange your funeral
-
Giving away things you own
-
Participating in risky behaviors, such as sex with someone you don't know or drinking and driving
-
Buying a lethal weapon, such as a gun, or hoarding medicines that could be used in an overdose
Call 988
If you notice any of the warning signs for suicide, get help right away. Call or text 988. You will be connected to trained crisis counselors at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. An online chat option is also available at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org. Lifeline is free and available 24/7.
How daily issues affect your health
Many things in your daily life impact your health. This can include transportation, money problems, housing, access to food, and childcare. If you can’t get to medical appointments, you may not receive the care you need. When money is tight, it may be difficult to pay for medicines. And living far from a grocery store can make it hard to buy healthy food.
If you have concerns in any of these or other areas, talk with your healthcare team. They may know of local resources to assist you. Or they may have a staff person who can help.
To learn more
For more information, use the resources below:
Online Medical Reviewer:L Renee Watson MSN RN
Online Medical Reviewer:Marianne Fraser MSN RN
Online Medical Reviewer:Paul Ballas MD
Date Last Reviewed:7/1/2022
© 2000-2024 The StayWell Company, LLC. All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.
FAQs
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that causes unusual shifts in mood, ranging from extreme highs (mania or “manic” episodes) to lows (depression or “depressive” episode). A person who has bipolar disorder also experiences changes in their energy, thinking, behavior, and sleep.
What is the average age of death for someone with bipolar disorder? ›
Living with bipolar disorder is associated with decreased life expectancy. According to a 2022 review, pooled life expectancy in bipolar disorder is around 67 years, which is 13 years less than the general population.
What is end stage bipolar disorder? ›
Early stages of illness are characterized by a history of few previous mood episodes and full functional recovery in the euthymic interval between them. Late stages are characterized by chronic cognitive and functional impairment, often with subsyndromal mood symptoms.
What is unhealthy coping for bipolar people? ›
Specifically, bipolar patients respond to adversities with more rumination, catastrophizing, self-blame, substance use, risk-taking, and behavioral disengagement (i.e. giving up) while using significantly less positive reframing, positive refocusing, and 'putting into perspective' as well as less active coping (i.e. ...
How does a person with bipolar think? ›
Bipolar disorder is usually associated with extreme changes in mood, from manic to depressive. During these episodes, individuals can also experience intense shifts in their thinking patterns. The most common bipolar thinking patterns include rapid thinking, rumination, black-and-white thinking, and suicidal thoughts.
What is bipolar disorder for dummies? ›
People with bipolar disorder experience periods of unusually intense emotion and changes in sleep patterns and activity levels, and engage in behaviors that are out of character for them—often without recognizing their likely harmful or undesirable effects. These distinct periods are called mood episodes.
What are bipolar eyes? ›
Bipolar eyes describe changes such as pupil size, eye brightness, and gaze that occur with bipolar disorder. These changes differ in the manic vs. depressive stages of this disease. There are some reports that bipolar eyes exist. However, it is not enough to use these changes as diagnostic tools.
Will bipolar get worse with age? ›
Experts say more research is needed to understand exactly how bipolar impacts the brain as people grow older. “Untreated bipolar disorder can worsen with age, with both the frequency of mood episodes and their duration,” says Thomas Scary, MD, MA, staff psychiatrist, Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates in Philadelphia.
What is the most common cause of death in bipolar disorder? ›
Suicide was the most common cause of external cause deaths 58% (740/1,273). Accidental deaths were responsible for 40% (509/1,273) of external cause of deaths. 83% (1,061/1,273) of observed excess deaths in bipolar disorder were due to external causes – of them, 61% were due to suicide (651/1,061).
What are bipolar facial features? ›
On a background of minor dysmorphologies of the upper face, maxilla, midface and periorbital region, the main features in bipolar disorder are (a) retrusion and shortening of the premaxilla, nose, philtrum, lips and mouth (the frontonasal prominences), with (b) protrusion and widening of the mandible-chin.
What is the link between bipolar disorder and dementia? The relationship between BD and dementia is complex. Research suggests that having either condition may place a person at higher risk of developing the other condition. However, more research is needed to determine the exact connection.
What is the peak age for bipolar disorder? ›
What is the typical age of onset for bipolar disorder? The average age of bipolar onset is around 25 years old, although it can vary. 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.
How does a bipolar person act when angry? ›
Uncontrolled, intense, and unpredictable, the anger seems to begin without a trigger, such as a threat or frustration. People in the middle of bipolar anger can scream at and verbally abuse others just because they're there—and sometimes the person has no memory of doing so.
What should bipolar people avoid? ›
High-carbohydrate diets can cause mood crashes, so they should also be avoided. Other mood-damaging foods include chocolate, caffeine, and processed foods. Get your omega-3s. Omega-3 fatty acids may decrease mood swings in bipolar disorder.
What are the everyday struggles of a bipolar person? ›
Low energy, manic episodes, moodiness, reckless urges, sudden irritability, and hopelessness are just a few emotional obstacles experienced throughout the day. More symptoms include: Unpredictable mood swings. Inability to complete tasks.
How do you explain someone is bipolar? ›
Bipolar disorder is characterised by extreme mood swings. These can range from extreme highs (mania) to extreme lows (depression). Episodes of mania and depression often last for several days or longer.
What is bipolar simply? ›
Overview. Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities.
How do you explain bipolar to your partner? ›
Tell your partner about your disorder: Consider doing this before you make a long-term commitment. Describe what they can expect when you're experiencing a mood shift. It's also helpful to tell them what you do to manage your moods. This way, your partner won't be surprised when you experience a mood episode.
What is the main cause of bipolar disorder? ›
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.
