Learning about the nature of these brain changes helps doctors better understand bipolar disorder and may in the future help predict which types of treatment will work best for a person with bipolar disorder. At this time, diagnosis is based on symptoms rather than brain imaging or other diagnostic tests. A psychiatrist or other mental health professional diagnoses bipolar disorder based on the symptoms, lifetime course, and experiences of the individual.
Some people have bipolar disorder for years before it is diagnosed. This may be because:. Treatment helps many people, even those with the most severe forms of bipolar disorder. Doctors treat bipolar disorder with medications, psychotherapy, or a combination of treatments.
Certain medications can help control the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Some people may need to try several different medications and work with their doctor before finding the ones that work best. The most common types of medications that doctors prescribe include mood stabilizers and atypical antipsychotics. Mood stabilizers such as lithium can help prevent mood episodes or reduce their severity when they occur.
Lithium also decreases the risk for suicide. Additional medications that target sleep or anxiety are sometimes added to mood stabilizers as part of a treatment plan. Talk with your doctor or a pharmacist to understand the risks and benefits of each medication. Report any concerns about side effects to your doctor right away. Avoid stopping medication without talking to your doctor first. Psychotherapy can offer support, education, skills, and strategies to people with bipolar disorder and their families.
Psychotherapy often is used in combination with medications; some types of psychotherapy e. Not much research has been conducted on herbal or natural supplements and how they may affect bipolar disorder.
Talk to your doctor before taking any supplement. Certain medications and supplements taken together can cause serious side effects or life-threatening drug reactions. However, there are tools and resources available that may help you find a provider or treatment. You can also:. This service is available to everyone. All calls are free and confidential. Living with bipolar disorder can be challenging, but there are ways to help make it easier for yourself, a friend, or a loved one.
Remember, bipolar disorder is a lifelong illness, but long-term, ongoing treatment can help control symptoms and enable you to live a healthy life. The National Institute of Mental Health NIMH conducts and supports research on bipolar disorder that increases our understanding of its causes and helps develop new treatments.
Researchers continue to study genetics and bipolar disorder, brain function, and symptoms in children and teens who have bipolar disorder, as well as family history in health and behavior. Clinical research is medical research that involves people like you. You may need a stronger dose than what they initially prescribe. You may also need a combination of medications or even different medications to control your symptoms.
All medications have potential side effects and interactions with other drugs. Writing in a diary can be an especially helpful part of your treatment. Keeping track of your moods, sleeping and eating patterns, and significant life events can help you and your doctor understand how therapy and medications are working. But with proper treatment and support from family and friends, you can manage your symptoms and maintain your quality of life.
This includes:. The more you know about the condition, the more in control you may feel as you adjust to life after diagnosis. You may be able to repair strained relationships. Educating others about bipolar disorder may make them more understanding of hurtful events from the past. Support groups, both online and in person, can be helpful for people with bipolar disorder. They can also be beneficial for your friends and relatives. The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance maintains a website that provides:.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness can also help you find support groups in your area. Good information about bipolar disorder and other conditions can also be found on its website. Talk to your doctor or call a local hospital to find out about support groups or other local resources. Discover six diagnostic features of bipolar disorder, a mental condition where a person fluctuates between periods of mania and depression.
Mania and hypomania are both symptoms of bipolar disorder. Here's how these conditions are similar and different. If someone close to you has bipolar disorder, dealing with the uncertainty can be hard.
Use these tips to help choose the right mental health professional for you. You may be more likely to develop bipolar disorder if you have a family member with the condition. Learn more about the connection. The length of manic or hypomanic symptoms depends on the type of bipolar disorder you have, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.
The length can also vary from person to person. You can learn all the facts on bipolar disorder here. A manic episode is characterized by these outward signs:. During periods of mania, you may make decisions that can result in long-term consequences.
You might also create elaborate plans or start new business ventures. The difference between mania and hypomania is that hypomania is less intense and shorter in duration. Experiencing a manic episode can be difficult and stressful. The good news is that, with the help of your therapist and doctor, you can navigate your manic episode well. Want to learn more about creating a routine to manage bipolar disorder? You can get tips here. Hypersexuality is a very common symptom of bipolar mania and a potential symptom of schizophrenia.
However, there is one thing that they agree on. During a manic episode of bipolar disorder, shopping sprees occur for many folks. Select personalised content.
Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. In the context of bipolar disorder , a mental illness that involves extreme swings in mood, a cycle is the period of time in which an individual goes through one episode of mania and one episode of depression or hypomania and depression.
Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer to how often these cycles occur. The frequency and duration of bipolar cycles are as varied as the individuals who have them. Typically, someone with bipolar disorder experiences one or two cycles a year, with manic episodes generally occurring in the spring or fall. A study of people with bipolar 1 disorder found that mood episodes lasted an average of 13 weeks.
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