What is bipolar disorder and how to recognize it? Although it is a very complex diagnosis, many do not take bipolar disorder seriously, characterizing it only as frequent mood swings. There is always a danger of prejudice in lack of information, and people with neuroses and psychoses are often subject to them, which further contributes to the collapse of their already impaired quality of life. Non-acceptance stems from misunderstanding and it can be fatal for someone around you who suffers from a mental disorder. Mental health is important so get informed because no one in this world wants to feel bad if they don't have to. In the text in front of you, you will learn everything about bipolar disorder, which we hear more and more often today. Learn to recognize it so you can help yourself or someone else tomorrow. Bipolar disorder - what is it? Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder accompanied by changes in mood, visual changes in a person's activity and behavior. It could be characterized as a real rollercoaster of moods since it moves in extremes: from deep sadness and hopelessness to enormous euphoria, incredible zest and energy rush. Sometimes these extremes change quickly, and sometimes only one of these two contradictions can keep the patient for days. Because of this large discrepancy, this disorder is also called manic depression. The causes of its occurrence are not entirely clear, although everything points to a genetic predisposition. In addition to heredity, risk factors include neurotransmitter disorders, hormonal imbalance, stress and trauma. Therefore, it is considered that the brain of the patient is very delicate and sensitive to any kind of stress and that there are certain disturbances in the transmission of nerve impulses that should soothe and restore tranquility. Excessive stimulation, negative as well as positive situations and charms have a very violent effect on people with this disorder, resulting in a chemical imbalance that then triggers a manic episode. A series of sad smileys When it comes to frequency, this disorder affects 1 to 3% of the world's population, and it all begins, as is usually the case with psychoses and neuroses, in the most sensitive period of life - the period of adolescence or early adulthood. It occurs equally in women and men, and those who have close relatives suffering from the disorder are at the highest risk. How to recognize bipolar disorder? It is a disorder that includes a whole range of symptoms that vary depending on the phase of the disorder, since a bipolar person goes through episodes of mania, hypomania (similar to manic, but much milder) and depression. Here are the features of these stages: Mania and hypomania: a burst of energy campiness elevated mood reduced need for sleep rashness and decisiveness increased self-confidence irresponsible behavior irritability Depression: sadness hopelessness loss of interest changes in appetite changes in body mass insomnia fatigue loss of energy low self-esteem and feelings of worthlessness problems with concentration suicidal thoughts Diagnosing bipolar disorder is very demanding and therefore a thorough psychiatric examination is necessary, in which, in addition to the symptoms, the medical history and family history are also evaluated. Sometimes even that is not enough, and additional examinations are carried out. Here we are talking about differential diagnosis, which is crucial when it comes to mental disorders, since many of the symptoms are common to different disorders. This is exactly the case with the disorder we are dealing with here because it has a lot of similarities with borderline personality disorder. Certain symptoms, such as those related to mood, then explosiveness (impulsivity) and problems in interpersonal relationships, overlap and create confusion when establishing a diagnosis that must be correct in order to adequately treat the disease. Because of all this, the differential diagnosis is extremely complex and requires a certain amount of time in order to conduct a sufficient number of assessment sessions and monitor the symptoms. The psychiatrist carefully analyzes the symptoms, takes into account their duration and repetition, as well as their impact on the person's functioning and connection with various situational factors. Sometimes it happens that a person has both diagnoses, which complicates the establishment of treatment methods, as well as the whole process. A bipolar person Each individual who experiences bipolar disorder actually expresses it in a unique and unique way. The symptoms, however, can be very pronounced, and as such affect every aspect of the sufferer's life. In addition, the order in which each episode occurs is different and unique, as is their number. This can be affected by various factors like the changing of the seasons, for example, and here's what the said episodes look like: Hypomania - a person is overwhelmed with pleasure, which positively affects his self-confidence, creativity and sociability. Usually, during this stage, sufferers are very productive, fun and extroverted, and they don't even think to seek help. The transition to the next phase usually follows quickly