Bipolar Treatment

Bipolar disorder, also known as bipolar depression or manic depression, is a mental health disorder characterized by extreme mood swings of emotional highs, known as mania, and lows, known as depression.

During periods of depression, you may experience feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and you may lose interest in hobbies. When you experience periods of mania, or the less extreme form hypomania, you may feel euphoric or energetic. These extreme mood swings affect sleep patterns, energy levels, behavior, and your ability to think clearly.

There are a few different types of bipolar disorder, but all of them have common symptoms of manic and depressive episodes. It is important to verify which type you are suffering from because treatments vary between them.

Bipolar I Disorder – Mania and Depression

Bipolar I disorder is the most common form of bipolar disorder, and it is also the most severe. You must have had at least one manic episode, but most people with bipolar I disorder have also gone through at least one major depressive episode.

Bipolar II Disorder – Hypomania and Depression

If you have bipolar II disorder, you will have recurring episodes of both major depression and hypomania (a less severe form of mania). If you ever go through a manic episode, your diagnosis will then be changed to bipolar I disorder.

Cyclothymia – Hypomania and Mild Depression

This is a milder form of bipolar disorder, where the mood swings are not severe enough to be classified as mania or major depression.

Bipolar has other distinguishing features, such as increased risky behavior or poor social skills which fluctuate with mood changes – lack of sleep due to mania, feelings of racing thoughts during time periods on the opposite side associated with depression.