A bipolar disorder is a continual psychological sickness which is often accompanied by intermittent phases of high euphoria and drastically miserable disposition. The frames of mind being referred to here are way more relentless than what may be considered normal emotional states in everyday life. Patients of bipolar disorder being treated in psychiatric hospitals go through phases and usually a series of events which disrupt almost all parameters of the lives they lead, including their daily routines and the performance of everyday activities. Bipolar disorders may also lead to insomnia, lethargy, disruption of behavioral patterns, and alteration in energy levels.

Bipolar disorder is a cerebral disease which makes a sufferer encounter mood swings, feel high on energy and misbehave erratically. Persons suffering from Bipolar disorder may feel high and maniacal at a point of time, followed by feeling extremely low and depressed in the following few minutes. Mood swings associated with bipolar disorders may last for more than a few days and can even go on for a few months. In some cases, temper alteration is so severe that it may interfere with a person’s ability to perform the routine chores of everyday life.

At the onset of an episode of frenzy, the affected person may experience a high and may assume themselves of being capable of achieving anything they want in life. The affected patients exhibit enhanced energy levels and amplified creativity. While in such a frame of mind, the sufferer may indulge in irrational activities such as shopping too much (known as oniomania in medical jargon), traveling a lot or even quitting one’s job.

However, on the flip side, when experiencing a severe low, the same affected patient may come across acute discouraging feelings or may even not be able to move out of bed because of the suppressing feelings.

A person suffering from bipolar disorder may also experience mixed episodes. Mixed episodes are comprised of symptoms of both despair & mania. This amalgamation of moods poses a high suicide risk to the sufferer.

Read more: Response to Bipolar Treatment is also affected by Diet and Weight

Types of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is existent in three diverse types. These types diverge according to the level of dejection or elation, length of occurrences & the severity of mood swings experienced by the patient at a psychiatric hospital:

1. Bipolar I disorder is accompanied by a manic episode or a mixed episode. Individuals with this form of bipolar disorder usually experience at least one episode of depression.
2. Bipolar II disorder is characterized by hypomanic episodes and depressive episodes. Hypomania is a less severe form of mania where the individual doesn’t experience symptoms severe enough to be labeled as full blown mania.
3. Finally, Cyclothymia is a milder form of bipolar disorder in which the cycle of moods never reaches full blown manic or depressive episodes.

More often than not, the 1st episode of mania or depression takes place during adolescence. At the outset, the exhibited signs and symptoms may be misleading and the bipolar disorder may not be detected and may well be undiagnosed. If unchecked, the bipolar disorder usually makes the sufferer’s mental health degenerate over time with the phases of ecstasy and despair becoming more frequent and severe. While the bipolar disorder cannot be fully healed or cured, it can be treated to a certain extent for affected individuals to lead healthy and optimistic lives. If you or someone you care for is suffering from Bipolar Disorder, do check psychiatric hospital in Delhi.