Tips for living with bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder also known as manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings including high emotions (hypomania or mania) and depression. These mood changes can affect sleep, energy, activity, behavior, and the ability to think.
Although bipolar disorder can last a lifetime, you can keep mood swings and other symptoms under control by following a treatment plan. Here are helpful tips to help you live with bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by extreme changes in mood. The symptoms of bipolar disorder can be a state of high euphoria known as mania, interspersed with periods of low emotion known as depression. Hence bipolar disorder is also known as bipolar disease or manic depression.
People with bipolar disorder often have difficulty managing day-to-day tasks at school and work or have trouble maintaining relationships. Scientists have yet to find a cure, but there are many treatment options that can help manage the symptoms of bipolar disorder. These methods require doctors to learn the signs of bipolar disorder to monitor and make the most accurate assessment of the disease.

In fact, bipolar disorder is not an uncommon brain disorder. It is reported that about 2.8% of US adults - or about 5 million people - have been diagnosed with this disease. The average age when people with bipolar disorder first develop symptoms is 25 years old.
Depression from bipolar disorder lasts for at least two weeks, followed by a high (manic) episode that can last for days or weeks. Some people will experience episodes of mood swings several times a year, while others may experience them more rarely. This is what bipolar disorder feels like to some people.
Classification of bipolar disorder: It is divided into 3 main types of bipolar disorder: bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Bipolar I Disorder: Bipolar I disorder is defined by the presence of at least one manic episode. Patients may experience episodes of mania or major depression before and after the manic episode. This type of bipolar disorder affects both men and women equally. Bipolar II Disorder: People with this type of bipolar disorder experience a severe depressive episode that lasts for at least two weeks. They also had at least one manic episode that lasted about 4 days. This type of bipolar disorder is thought to be more common in women. Cyclothymia: People with cyclothymia-type bipolar disorder have periods of low excitement and depression. These symptoms will usually be shorter and less severe than mania and depression caused by bipolar I or bipolar II disorder. Most people with this condition only experience a month or two at a time when their mood stabilizes. When discussing a patient's diagnosis, the doctor will be able to tell them what type of bipolar disorder they have.

There are 3 main symptoms that can occur with bipolar disorder: Mania, hypomania, and depression.
When experiencing manic episodes, a person with bipolar disorder can experience extremely positive and intense emotions. They may feel excited, impulsive, euphoric, and energetic. During a manic episode, the above feelings can also participate in behaviors such as:
Spending comfortably without thinking; Desire to have sex without protection; Use narcotic ; Hypomania will often be associated with bipolar II disorder. It's similar to mania, but not as serious. Unlike mania, hypomania probably won't cause any problems at work, at school, or in social relationships. However, people with hypomania still notice changes in their mood. After the manic phase, entering the depressive phase, the patient may experience some symptoms such as:
Extreme boredom; Feeling hopeless in all problems encountered; Loss of motivation; Apathy, lack of interest in activities and jobs once enjoyed; Sleeping too little or too much; Having suicidal thoughts; Although not an uncommon condition, it can be very difficult to diagnose bipolar disorder because of its different symptoms. For women, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are often accompanied by menstrual irregularities.

3.1. Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder in Women
The prevalence of bipolar disorder in both men and women is statistically equal. However, the main symptoms of bipolar disorder can vary between the sexes. In many cases, a woman with bipolar disorder can:
Be diagnosed later in life, usually in her 20s or 30s; Having manic episodes that are milder and don't last as long as men's; Will experience more depressive episodes than manic episodes; Having four or more manic and depressive episodes in a year, alternating between episodes; Concurrently experiencing other medical conditions, including thyroid disease, overweight, obesity, anxiety disorders, and migraines; There is a higher risk of developing an alcohol use disorder in life. Women with bipolar disorder may also relapse more often than men. This is thought to be due to hormonal changes related to menstruation, during pregnancy or menopause. If you're a woman and think you may have bipolar disorder, it's important to be aware of its symptoms, as well as the typical symptoms that only occur in women, so you can help find mood adjustments. as well as your own feelings.

3.2. Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder in Men
Men and women both experience the same symptoms of bipolar disorder. However, men are more likely to experience symptoms than women. Men with bipolar disorder may:
Often be diagnosed earlier in life than women; Experiencing more severe episodes, especially manic episodes; Have a substance abuse problem, especially during a manic episode; Actions during a manic phase are often more intense and intense than in women. Men with bipolar disorder are less likely to seek medical attention on their own than women. They may die by suicide.

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness. That means patients with the disease will have to live with it for the rest of their lives. However, that doesn't mean they can't live a happy, healthy life.
Proper treatment can help patients manage changes in mood and cope with symptoms. To achieve the highest effectiveness in treatment, it is advisable to form a group to take care of and motivate the patient when needed. In addition to the patient's primary doctor can also find a psychiatrist and psychologist. Through talk therapy, doctors can help patients deal with symptoms of bipolar disorder that medication cannot help.
In addition, patients can also find a community of people with bipolar disorder to discuss and share their difficulties and find solutions together. Finding others who are also living with this disorder will likely provide you with a group of people you can rely on and turn to for help.
Finding the right treatment for a patient requires persistence. Likewise, they need to be patient with themselves as they learn to manage their bipolar disorder and anticipate changes in their mood. Together with their care team, the patient will find ways to maintain a normal, happy, and healthy life. While living with bipolar disorder can be a real challenge, it can help maintain a sense of joy and optimism about life.
Bipolar disorder is a neurological and chronic illness. Currently, there is no medication or treatment that can completely cure bipolar disorder. However, by changing the lifestyle, combined with seeking help from doctors, neuropsychologists, patients can completely maintain an optimistic and happy life. Finding a community of people with bipolar disorder to share and encourage in life is also a useful method for living with bipolar disorder.
Patients need to go to a reputable hospital for examination and treatment as soon as there are signs of bipolar disorder. Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the leading prestigious hospitals in the country, trusted by a large number of patients for medical examination and treatment. Not only the physical system, modern equipment: 6 ultrasound rooms, 4 DR X-ray rooms (1 full-axis machine, 1 light machine, 1 general machine and 1 mammography machine) , 2 DR portable X-ray machines, 2 multi-row CT scanner rooms (1 128 rows and 1 16 arrays), 2 Magnetic resonance imaging rooms (1 3 Tesla and 1 1.5 Tesla), 1 room for 2 levels of interventional angiography and 1 room to measure bone mineral density.... Vinmec is also the place to gather a team of experienced doctors and nurses who will greatly assist in diagnosis and detection. early signs of abnormality in the patient's body. In particular, with a space designed according to 5-star hotel standards, Vinmec ensures to bring the patient the most comfort, friendliness and peace of mind.

Reference sources: healthline.com, webmd.com