Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings, from mania to depression. Bipolar disorder can be associated with significant disability and difficulties in many areas of life, and can be a factor in suicide, job loss, and family discord. However, proper treatment can lead to better functioning and improved quality of life.

RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH BIPOLAR

Bipolar can significantly affect a person's life. Dangers can include:

• Suicide Attempts - this is common among those with bipolar disorder.
• Self-Harm - non-suicidal self harm is also common with people suffering from bipolar.
• Impulsivity - When a person is in the manic stage of bipolar, they can behave impulsively and without thought or consideration of others around them. This behaviour often causes damage to relationships, work, as well as in most other areas of life.
• Violence - People suffering from bipolar can sometimes (not all) show signs of violence or aggression, they can damage things, harm themselves, and even other people.
• Physical neglect - this is common in the depressive phase.
  

TYPES OF BIPOLAR

Bipolar I - in this type a person has bouts of mania, followed by depression, which generally goes in cycles.

Bipolar II - In this type, the mania is hypomania, which means it is not too severe, however the depressive episode can often be very intense.

Cyclothymic Disorder - In this type, periods of both mania and depression are quite mild in intensity.

Rapid Cycling - This is where episodes of mania and depression occur rapidly within a year.

Mixed Bipolar - In this type, episodes of mania or depression can follow each other in quick succession, and can even sometimes happen simultaneously.

Symptoms of Bipolar can include:

Depression stage - During a period of depression, symptoms may include:

• Feeling sad, hopeless or irritable most of the time
• Lacking energy
• Difficulty concentrating and remembering things
• Loss of interest in everyday activities
• Feelings of emptiness or worthlessness
• Feelings of guilt and despair
• feeling pessimistic about everything
• Self-doubt
• Being delusional, having hallucinations and disturbed or illogical thinking
• Lack of appetite
• Difficulty sleeping
• Waking up early
• Suicidal thoughts
• Self-harming

Mania stage - The manic phase of bipolar disorder may include:

• Feeling very happy, elated or overjoyed
• Talking very quickly
• Feeling full of energy
• Feeling self-important
• Feeling full of great new ideas and having important plans
• Being easily distracted
• Being easily irritated or agitated
• Being delusional, having hallucinations and disturbed or illogical thinking
• Not feeling like sleeping
• Doing things that often have disastrous consequences – such as spending large sums of money on expensive and sometimes unaffordable items
• Making decisions or saying things that are out of character and that others see as being risky or harmful
  

SUMMARY

If bipolar goes unaddressed, it can cause significant damage to a person's mental and physical health.