Here at Bridges to Recovery, we want to help you fully understand the issues that may be ailing you, or the diagnosis you have received. It is the goal of our dedicated team of medical, psychiatric and clinical professionals to help you develop the skills and mechanisms you need to become the absolute best possible version of yourself. Our luxury treatment centers specialize in treating a wide range of complex mental health disorders, with one of our main concentrations being bipolar disorder. So, what is bipolar disorder? And what are the bipolar disorder symptoms you should be mindful of?
Seeing an example of how bipolar symptoms are exhibited in a real life situation is a key factor in understanding what you or a loved one may be living with. Let us take a moment to meet Alicia.
Alicia is a 32-year-old English professor. She recently graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with her Ph.D. in 20th Century American Literature and Rhetoric. Her dissertation impressed her professors so much that directly after graduation she was offered an assistant professorship position at a small liberal arts college in the San Francisco Bay Area. Despite all of her accomplishments, there is something strange going on with Alicia.
Alicia’s colleagues and students have started to notice some rather unusual behavior. Her once highly regarded lectures and class activities have become dull and uninspired. Some students have even stated that it seemed as if the energy had been drained right out of her. In addition, the English department chair cited several concerning examples of Alicia’s behavior during department meetings—i.e. her absence of memory surrounding previous discussions, her lack of concentration on getting her research published, her irritability towards her fellow professors, and an overall sense of hollowness that she gives off. To only add to Alicia’s deteriorating situation, the college dean has reported a strong smell of alcohol coming from Alicia’s office.
At home, Alicia’s husband and children have noticed her experiencing sleep issues, weight changes, and the seeming inability to experience any type of pleasure. What is going on with Alicia? The behaviors that she has been experiencing are classic examples of bipolar symptoms.
Bipolar disorder can be difficult to understand, but we’ll simplify it as best we can.
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that can pull an individual in two vastly different directions. One direction is that of incredibly energetic periods—also known as mania. The other direction is that of absolutely low periods—also known as depression. Living with bipolar disorder can be one of the most challenging experiences an individual will ever have to face.
The radical swings in emotions can be alarming to you, your friends, and your family. That is okay. People have a tendency to be afraid of what they do not understand. In order to overcome your mental disorder, some sort of understanding of bipolar disorder and bipolar disorder symptoms must be achieved. Our professional staff of some of the best minds in the mental health treatment community will develop an individualized recovery plan tailored to your unique needs.
Bipolar disorder and bipolar symptoms can come in many different forms, so it is vital to your bipolar recovery to understand the variety of situations in which the disorder can manifest itself.
Bipolar disorder presents in two distinct phases: Manic and Depressive. Although both phases of the disorder share some similarities, it is important to differentiate between the bipolar symptoms associated with each.
Let us take on bipolar depression symptoms first:
On the other side of the bipolar disorder coin is mania. It is important to note that mania is quite different from depression, though many people mistakenly believe a manic episode indicates that a person is overcoming their bipolar disorder. So, what exactly are the bipolar mania symptoms?
Here is a selection of the major symptoms associated with bipolar mania:
Bipolar disorder can occur in men and women of all ages; however, research has shown that bipolar disorder is more prevalent in women. Is there a reason for this? Are the symptoms the same?
Bipolar disorder symptoms are very similar amongst both men and women. That being said, symptoms can vary from person to person. One of the main differences between bipolar disorder in men and bipolar disorder in women is:
Otherwise, bipolar symptoms in women do not differ extensively from symptoms in men. In addition to adults, can teens and children also experience bipolar disorder?
An important concept to note is that although bipolar symptoms can manifest themselves uniquely in different people and people of different ages, the base indicators remain the same across the board. That being said, one of the major differences between bipolar symptoms in adults and bipolar symptoms in teens and children is the duration of mood swings and bipolar episodes. For example, bipolar episodes in adults can last for weeks to months, while teens and children may experience much shorter swings in emotions ranging from hours to days.
If you decide to commit yourself to taking back control of your life and keeping those bipolar symptoms as few and far between as possible, you should seek the best bipolar treatment available. At Bridges to Recovery, our doctors and treatment specialists are well-versed in the variety of bipolar symptoms you may be suffering from, and are prepared to combat them with a fully-personalized combination of medications and psychotherapy. We will work closely with you to craft a recovery plan that will help you achieve unity between your personal, professional, and spiritual selves.
The journey to your permanent recovery is only about to begin. Despite the fear you may be feeling at the thought of putting your life on hold and seeking treatment, the sacrifice will be more than worth it.
If you are experiencing bipolar disorder symptoms, please do not hesitate to contact us for more information. We look forward to hearing from you!
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