Introduction
The term “bipolar disorder” seems to be familiar to many people, as many celebrities such as Kurt Cobain and Carrie Fisher have also been affected. However, most people do not know exactly what is behind this psychiatric disorder. The bipolar disorder is characterized by at least two episodes in which the mood of the affected person is up and down. It is a so-called life between mania and depression.
Mania rate
The mania is accompanied by an exaggerated mood elevation or irritability. It lasts at least a week, usually two to three months. The symptoms of mania are as follows:
- Restlessness, irritability, aggression
- Excessive optimism
- Exaggerated self-esteem, e.g. the person concerned thinks he is the best photographer in the world
- Perceptual disorders
- High distractibility: Although the people concerned are very active and motivated, they cannot concentrate on their work because they are easily distracted.
- Lack of judgement
- Flight of ideas and thoughts: The affected person changes from one idea to another. – Significantly reduced need for sleep: The affected person does not want to sleep and feels fit without sleep
- Increased sexual drive: The affected persons often have changing partnerships
- Strong urge to speak: The affected people talk very quickly and a lot
- Senseless shopping, loss of social inhibitions: The affected people spend more money than they could actually afford. – Ideas of size, megalomania, e.g. the person concerned thinks that everyone wants an autograph from him or her
About two out of three people with bipolar disorder are unusually irritable during their manic phase.
Conflicts and aggression are more frequent. All in all, the lifestyle is severely impaired by this. About one in three people with bipolar disorder is excessively euphoric during the manic phase.
Feelings full of willpower and excessive optimism arise. In addition, the affected person has an exaggerated sense of self-worth. A very common feature of the manic phases is increased sexual drive.
Affected persons have frequently changing partners or become unfaithful to their existing partner. This often causes them difficulties in everyday life. – What are the symptoms of a bipolar disorder?
- Symptoms of mania
Relatives and friends of people with bipolar disorder often have the feeling that they are not being told the truth by the person affected. However, there is no evidence that people with bipolar disorder lie more often. However, they often perceive their environment differently than people in their environment. Thus they often feel that lies are real.
Proportion of depression
The depressive phase of a bipolar disorder proceeds in the same way as a normal depression. In most cases, the depressive phase lasts five to six months. It is characterised by the following symptoms: In addition, the following symptoms may also occur:
- Depressed mood
- Loss of interests
- Reduced drive, increased need for sleep
- Disturbances in the concentration
- Low self-esteem
- Feelings of guilt
- Negative expectations of the future
- Suicidal thoughts and attempts
- Reduced appetite
In the depressive phase of the bipolar disorder, the disease proceeds in the same way as a normal depression. Those affected have a depressed mood, a loss of interest and are lacking in drive. Feelings of hopelessness, hopelessness and suicidal thoughts occur.
