I was talking to a co-worker the other day and we were discussing a teenage client who has extreme mood swings. One minute he’s happy go lucky, joking and laughing, the next he’s angry at the world and wants to hurt someone. “I’m guessing he’s Bipolar ,” my peer said. I just rolled my eyes.
Often people will say things like this when dealing with moody people. After all, most know that people who suffer from Bipolar Disorder have extreme ups and extreme downs. The misconception that most people have is that these ups and downs happen quickly, like mood swings. This could not be more wrong. People diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder do not have extreme mood swings. They have periods of depression and manias, or extreme highs. These periods do not last ten to fifteen minutes. They tend to last extended periods of time, from a week, to months, sometimes even years.
When a person is in a manic phase of the disease, they are often fragmented. They are energetic and restless. They are euphoric and highly excitable. Often they feel as though they can take on the world. These manic periods can lead to extreme risk taking behaviors, including drinking and drug use, promiscuous sexual behaviors, and impulsive decision making. These periods are often highly enjoyable, and a person in the middle of a manic phase may not recognize the need for help. They are often the life of the party. But things can turn very quickly. A manic phase can quickly spiral out of control and lead to severe consequences.
The flip side to Bipolar Disorder is the depression that occurs. Feelings of worthlessness, guilt, self-loathing that can be accompanied with work and sleep problems. They become moody and upset. There is a high risk of self-harm by cutting and mutilation. Sometimes these symptoms become so severe that people will consider or even attempt suicide.
The best case scenario for sufferers of Bipolar Disease is a combination of medication and therapy or counseling. There are maintenance drugs, which will reduce the swings from mania to depression and help to stabilize the individual. For those patients that continue to have severe ups and downs, different medications can be given for the manic periods and the depressed periods. Counseling will aid in compliance, particularly during manic periods when many people will not want to continue their meds due to elated feelings.
Bipolar Disease can be very difficulty, both on the patient and on the family. The ups and downs can become very stressful, and sometimes family members become frustrated. They feel as though the sufferer is just not trying to get better. This, in turn, causes the patient to become upset, which can trigger a mood change. This turns into a downward spiral. Keeping an open mind, whether you are suffering from the disease or a family member, is an important part of the maintenance of the disease. Be understanding and seek help through a physician, a clinic, family therapy, or even an online support group.