In this article, we will compare and contrast two different phases of bipolar disorder: manic episodes vs. depression episodes.
First, let’s start with a description of the symptoms of both these mood swings.
In a manic episode, someone is experiencing an over-stimulation in their mind and body to the point that it is distracting them from everyday life.
This can range from being extremely euphoric to being paranoid or even hypersexual.
Someone experiencing a manic episode is usually not sleeping and sometimes can hardly eat.
They may be laughing, crying, angry and excited all at the same time.
Manic episodes are often marked by the extreme activity or distracted behavior of a person, as well as rapid speech or grandiose thoughts.
In contrast to that, in a depressive episode someone is feeling in such a low state that it affects their everyday life.
This can range from feeling completely hopeless to being completely numb from everyday life.
Someone experiencing a depressive episode is usually not sleeping, sometimes can hardly eat, and are often crying.
They may be angry or sad, and sometimes suicidal.
They feel alone and terrible about themselves.
The physical symptoms of a manic episode can vary greatly depending on the person.
The physical symptoms of bipolar disorder are not limited to just manic episodes and depression.
Some common physical symptoms of a manic episode are: fast talking, fast moving, poor eating habits, poor sleeping habits, poor hygiene/dirtiness, extreme hyperactivity or over-stimulation.
The physical symptoms of a depressive episode can vary greatly depending on the person.
Some common physical symptoms of a bipolar disorder include: extreme fatigue, loss of interest in things once enjoyed, trouble sleeping or insomnia, weight loss or gain, drop in grades if you are a student, self-destructive behavior such as drug abuse or promiscuity, irritability.
Treatment of Manic and Depression Episodes
In manic episodes, the treatments can include: medical management in the hospital (to get the patient safely to a stable state), psychotherapy (counseling), and electroconvulsive therapy. (ECT is a treatment in which the patient will be put to sleep by injections of electric shock.)
In contrast, in depressive episodes the treatments can include: medication to help stabilize the patient, psychotherapy (counseling), and electroconvulsive therapy. (ECT is a treatment in which the patient will be put to sleep by injections of electric shock.)
Next, let’s discuss causes of bipolar disorder. As mentioned above, the causes of bipolar disorder are not really certain yet.
The following are some of the main causes that we do know:
Genetics: children of people with bipolar disorder have a higher chance of developing it themselves.
A traumatic or stressful event.
It may include losses, such as the death of a loved one or divorce, or circumstances such as poverty, physical abuse or sexual abuse.
Sometimes this can happen at any time in your life. Sometimes it can happen as early as childhood.
These events are not always negative.
Heredity.
This is when your parents have bipolar disorder, even if they don’t show it often.
Brain chemistry:
Bipolar disorder can be linked to things like the amount of certain chemicals in the body, such as serotonin and norepinephrine.
It has also been linked to other chemical imbalances in the brain called neurotransmitters, which affect moods and behavior.
For example, there is a chemical that increases or decreases levels of serotonin (the chemical that controls moods and sleep) in the body.
Medical issues.
These include the effects of a stroke, traumatic brain injury, diabetes, thyroid disease and abuse of alcohol or drugs.
In conclusion, overall bipolar disorder affects from 1% to 3% of the population.
It is more common in women than men and it usually starts between the ages of 25 and age 60.
Bipolar disorder can be treated but not cured.
There is no exact cause for this disorder, but experts think that a combination of biological or genetic factors makes someone more likely to develop bipolar disorder.
The most reliable way to stop bipolar disorder from happening is to get treatment.
References:
American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders : dsm-5-tr (Fifth edition text revision). American Psychiatric Association Publishing. Retrieved October 13 2022.
Carvalho A. F. & Vieta E. (2017). The treatment of bipolar disorder : integrative clinical strategies & future directions. Oxford University Press.