Many consider depression caused by bipolar disorder as a difficult psychological condition, because it affects not only the affected person, but everyone around him.
However, if treated properly, the patient can lead a normal life.
A report by the "PowerOfPositivity" website reviewed the most important symptoms experienced by people with bipolar disorder, and stresses the importance of knowing these symptoms so that the patient gets the help he needs to avoid the worst and not cause any harm to those around him.
What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a condition in which the affected person suffers from severe fluctuations in mood, thinking and behavior and is unable to perform daily tasks. The sufferer lives difficult times and may go through dangerous situations, but the worst is that he does not realize the cause of these fluctuations.
Depression and manic episodes
Bipolar depression is a psychological condition that results from bipolar disorder, and a person can go through manic episodes characterized by an excessive sense of euphoria.
In both cases, the patient is in a dangerous situation, and when he combines them, he feels severe depression and abnormal activity.
Feeling sad or hopeless is the most common symptom of bipolar depression.
Types of bipolar disorder
There are 3 types of bipolar disorder, which are determined by the mood that the affected person may be experiencing:
1- Bipolar disorder of the first type
: in which the patient suffers from manic episodes that last for at least a week, and also suffers from depressive episodes that last at least two weeks, and this type may require hospitalization.
2 - Bipolar disorder of the second type
: in which the affected person suffers from episodes of depression more than episodes of mania.
He may also suffer from hypomanic episodes.
3- Cyclothymia
: A person with this type of disorder suffers from depressive episodes and mild manic episodes for at least two years.
The condition can last for only one year in children.
And perhaps a person can develop another type of bipolar disorder that may not be compatible with any of these three types, and unfortunately there is no cure for bipolar disorder, and this means that what we can do is try to control the condition so that it does not get out of control.
For this reason, we should not ignore the
signs
that someone has bipolar disorder.
1. Feeling sad or hopeless
Feeling sad or hopeless is one of the most common symptoms of bipolar depression, and it is also a symptom of unipolar depression, and the latter is the most common type of depression and its types (postpartum depression - seasonal depression, psychological depression associated with hallucinations, depression associated with inability to move or Making involuntary movements and depression related to unwillingness to perform any favorite activity).
We may notice the difference between the two disorders if the sufferer is also suffering from manic episodes.
It is important to know that depression in this case is not just a feeling of frustration, but a feeling of complete despair.
2. Loss of interest in everything
A person with bipolar disorder may lose interest in anything in life, and it is not just the things he used to like to do, but it includes everything without exception.
3. Nothing brings pleasure
When people are experiencing a loss of interest in life, it stands to reason that nothing they do will please them.
In such a situation, the depressed is unable to control his feelings and feels great pressure when he wants to focus on something, and he becomes a kind of apathy when dealing with stressful situations, and he loses the feeling and the desire to care about anything around him.
4. Sleeping too much or too little
Depression caused by bipolar disorder affects the brain and produces changes that affect sleep patterns.
Some sufferers may sleep excessively due to the absence of the desire and motives to wake up and come to life, and the patient may suffer from a lack of sleep due to the psychological and physical changes that he undergoes due to depression.
5. Confusion and tension
The affected person cannot remain calm, and is often in a state of tension and confusion, and this mainly appears through speaking at a rapid pace.
These symptoms can sometimes be caused by stress, so you will need to look for other signs of bipolar depression in order to verify the condition.
6. Low levels of energy in the body
In addition to changes in the body, interrupted sleep, and an increase in stress levels, it is not surprising that the energy level of the sufferer decreases.
The body and brain are depleted during episodes of bipolar depression, so all of the body's energy is diverted to stay alive.
This is especially true for those who do not get enough sleep.
7. Feeling unjustified guilt
The depression caused by bipolar disorder can cause feelings of guilt without any justification.
The reason is often trivial and does not require all that remorse, but depression makes the sufferer feel as if it is the worst sin he can ever commit.
Stress is one of the main causes of loss of focus, and it exacerbates the condition of a person with bipolar disorder (German)
8. Loss of focus
With a lot of things getting out of control mentally and emotionally, it is not uncommon for a person to lose focus, and stress is one of the main causes of loss of focus, which in turn exacerbates the condition of a person with bipolar disorder.
The inability to concentrate may also be caused by distraction, another symptom of bipolar disorder.
9. Frequency
A person with bipolar disorder cannot make almost any decision and feels anxious, hesitant and fearful before any new step.
Frequency also indicates that an episode of bipolar disorder is about to occur, and that the development of the condition and the occurrence of a depressive episode can be avoided.
10. Extreme nervousness in children
An episode of bipolar depression may appear in children in the form of emotional behaviors, as they cannot adequately express what is happening to them, and they suffer from hormonal disorders.
Such behavior may be normal in children, but having a seizure of bipolar disorder makes it worse, so the child becomes aggressive towards members of his family and friends at school.
In children, an episode of bipolar depression appears in the form of emotional behaviors (Getty Images)
11. Psychosis
Psychosis is a prominent symptom in people with depression caused by bipolar disorder, and it appears in the form of hallucinations and delusions, similar to what occurs in people with schizophrenia.
We should never ignore this symptom, because whoever suffers from it may harm himself or someone around him.
12. Think about suicide
Research has shown that up to 60% of people with bipolar disorder are considering suicide, and nearly 20% of them actually take that step, as depression is so severe that they feel suicide is the only solution.