An estimated 8 million adults in the U.S. were living with bipolar disorder as of 2023. If you or someone you love is living with bipolar disorder, you understand just how intense manic and depressive episodes can be.
At Oceans Healthcare, we treat clients with even the most severe cases of bipolar disorder, providing care when you need it most.
The first step to understanding bipolar disorder is educating yourself on the subject. Depending on what type of bipolar you have, you’ll have different symptoms. That’s why we’re covering the different types of bipolar disorder.
Understanding the Highs and Lows of the Types of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mood condition previously known as manic-depressive disorder. The condition is characterized by severe mood swings, causing you to cycle between the “highs” of mania/hypomania and the “lows” of depression. These cycles are associated with major changes in energy levels and activity.
The three primary types of bipolar disorder are bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymic disorder. The type of bipolar disorder that you’re diagnosed with depends on which symptoms you experience most intensely and how often you experience the mood cycles. Now, let’s examine the different types of bipolar disorder.
Understanding Bipolar Disorder Type I: Mania
The defining feature of bipolar I is mania, which lasts for at least 7 days. During a manic episode, you’ll experience intense energy, euphoria, and rapid thoughts. These drastic mood changes will be noticeable to those around you. To be considered a true manic episode, your symptoms must be severe enough to cause considerable dysfunction at work or school. Mania sometimes requires hospitalization. In severe cases, mania leads to psychosis.
Most people with bipolar I also experience depressive episodes, which last for two weeks or longer. However, you can receive a bipolar I diagnosis without experiencing a depressive episode. In some cases, people with bipolar I will experience mixed episodes, where they have depressive and manic symptoms at the same time. If you have 4 or more manic and depressive episodes in a single year, you meet the criteria for rapid cycling.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder I
Bipolar I symptoms can be broken down into manic symptoms and depressive symptoms.
During a manic episode, you’ll have extremely high energy. You’ll have lots of new ideas and will talk about them a lot. You’ll have lowered impulse control and want to take part in pleasure-seeking behaviors even when they’re dangerous, like unprotected sex or overindulging in alcohol. Another hallmark of a manic episode is a decreased need for sleep.
Depressive episodes feature opposite symptoms. In a depressive episode, you’ll feel exhausted and won’t be able to get pleasure from things you usually enjoy. It’s also common to experience feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness.
Understanding Bipolar Disorder Type II: Depression
When it comes to bipolar II, depressive symptoms are more common and last longer than they do for people with bipolar I. With bipolar II, your depressive episodes can last weeks or months if they go untreated. Because of how heavily depression is featured in bipolar II, you could receive a misdiagnosis of major depressive disorder before receiving bipolar II diagnoses.
If you have bipolar II, you won’t experience a full manic episode. Instead, you’ll experience what is known as hypomania. Hypomania doesn’t last as long as traditional mania and won’t be as noticeable. Sometimes, hypomania is even associated with improved outcomes at work and school.
You can receive a bipolar II diagnosis if you’ve experienced one depressive episode and one hypomanic episode in a single year.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder II
The depressive episodes associated with bipolar II can be extremely intense. Common depressive symptoms include a lack of motivation, intense anxiety or irritability, and changes in sleep habits. Thoughts of self-harm or suicide are common in severe depressive episodes. If you’re thinking about hurting yourself or someone else, seek medical attention immediately.
During a hypomanic episode, you’ll experience high moods and excessive energy. You’ll also experience high self-confidence. Like with mania, you might not feel tired. Sometimes, hypomania can be difficult to identify because it feels like a positive change after long-lasting depression. While hypomania isn’t as severe as a manic episode, it can still cause problems. Hypomania can lead you to impulsive decisions, like spending money you don’t have or deciding to quit your job without much forethought.
Understanding Cyclothymic Disorder: Chronic Mood Shifts
Cyclothymic disorder is a less severe form of bipolar disorder. With cyclothymic disorder, you experience hypomanic symptoms and depressive symptoms that don’t amount to a major depressive episode. Despite symptoms being less severe, cyclothymic disorder can still cause major disruptions in your day-to-day life.
Many people with bipolar I and II usually experience periods of stability. However, the cyclothymic disorder is marked by chronic mood shifts. For people with cyclothymic disorder, stable moods do not typically last longer than 8 weeks at a time.
Tools for Managing Bipolar Disorder
When you’re living with bipolar, the condition can affect all parts of your life, from work and school to your relationships. The intense emotional changes associated with bipolar can make it especially difficult to be consistent in different areas of your life. Thankfully, your condition is manageable with therapy and medication. There are other steps you can take to manage your condition, as well.
Here are 5 tools you can use to manage bipolar disorder:
- Exercise: Exercise is a healthy way to manage your emotions. When you’re angry or frustrated, running and other high-intensity exercises will help you eliminate excess energy. More gentle exercises, like yoga, encourage mindfulness. All exercise helps you get in touch with your body, making it easier to identify your needs. It’s important to remember that there is such a thing as too much exercise. In some cases, overexercising is associated with manic episodes.
- Take medication as prescribed: If you’re using medication to manage your bipolar, it’s important to take it as instructed by your doctor. Consider setting a timer to remind you to take it at the same time every day. It’s important to be consistent with your medication so that it’s fully effective. If you miss a dose, consult the label on your medication bottle or call your doctor. Never take more medication than you’ve been prescribed.
- Rely on your support system: Identify people you know you can talk to about your experiences. Sometimes, big emotions can trigger episodes. A therapist, as well as friends and family members, can make up a strong support system. Having people who know what to look for in case of a manic or depressive episode can help you get ahead of your symptoms.
- Keep a journal: Having a journal can help you keep track of how you’re feeling. Over time, it will help you notice patterns. For example, you might see that you start feeling low for several days before a depressive episode hits, or you’ll notice that your writing style changes when a manic episode starts.
- Build a routine: Bipolar can make it difficult to stick to a routine. When you’re manic, you want to try new things all at once, and when you’re depressed, you don’t have the energy to be consistent. If you have a routine, it’s easier to notice changes in your behavior. Small habits, like keeping a consistent sleep schedule, are a great way to start a routine. Slowly, you can add more daily activities to help you reach your goals.
Get Help for Bipolar Disorder Today in Dixieland
Regardless of the type of bipolar disorder you have, your symptoms can make life difficult. You are capable of taking control of your symptoms with the right combination of therapy and medication. Mental health treatment will empower you to develop the skills you need to live a happy, fulfilling life with bipolar disorder.
At Oceans Healthcare, you’ll learn to manage your bipolar disorder. Each program is overseen by a board-certified psychiatrist, ensuring you get the highest quality of care. We also encourage collaboration, meaning you’ll have a whole team of clinicians brainstorming to find the best way to meet your needs. Call us now at 888-293-6899.
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