Bipolar Disorder
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What is Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition marked by extreme shifts in mood.
Key symptoms include:
- episodes of mania, or an extremely elevated mood
- episodes of depression, or a low mood
Older terms for bipolar disorder include manic depression and bipolar disease.
Bipolar disorder isn’t a rare condition. Although bipolar disorder doesn’t have a cure, many effective treatments are available. These treatment options can help you learn to manage mood episodes, which can improve not only your symptoms, but also your overall quality of life.
Types of Bipolar Disorder
5 Types of Internet Addiction
Bipolar I
Bipolar I is defined by the appearance of at least one manic episode. You may experience hypomanic episodes, which are less severe than manic episodes, or major depressive episodes before and after the manic episode. This type of bipolar disorder affects people of all sexes equally.
Bipolar II
People with bipolar II experience one major depressive episode that lasts at least 2 weeks. They also have at least 1 hypomanic episode that lasts about 4 days. According to a 2017 reviewTrusted Source, this type of bipolar disorder may be more common in women.
Cyclothymia
Cyber or online relationship addicts are deeply involved with finding and maintaining relationships online, often forgetting and neglecting real-life family and friends. Typically online relationships are formed in chat rooms or different social networking sites but can People with cyclothymia have episodes of hypomania and depression. These episodes involve symptoms that are shorter and less severe than the mania and depression caused by bipolar I or bipolar II disorder. Most people with this condition only experience no mood symptoms for 1 or 2 months at a time.
Your doctor can explain more about what kind of bipolar disorder you have when discussing your diagnosis.
Some people experience distinct mood symptoms that resemble but don’t quite align with these three types.
If that’s the case for you, you might get a diagnosis of:- other specified bipolar and related disorders
- unspecified bipolar and related disorders
Signs And Symptoms

To receive a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, you must experience at least one period of mania or hypomania.
These both involve feelings of excitement, impulsivity, and high energy, but hypomania is considered less severe than mania. Mania symptoms can affect your day-to-day life, leading to problems at work or home. Hypomania symptoms typically don’t.
Some people with bipolar disorder also experience major depressive episodes, or “down” moods.
These three main symptoms — mania, hypomania, and depression — are the main features of bipolar disorder. Different types of bipolar disorder involve different combinations of these symptoms.
Bipolar I symptoms
A diagnosis of bipolar I disorder requires:
- at least 1 episode of mania that lasts at least 1 week
- symptoms that affect daily function
- symptoms that don’t relate to another medical or mental health condition or substance use
You could also experience symptoms of psychosis, or both mania and depression (known as mixed features). These symptoms can have more impact on your life. If you do have them, it’s worth reaching out for professional support as soon as possible (more on this later).
While you don’t need to experience episodes of hypomania or depression to receive a bipolar I diagnosis, many people with bipolar I do report these symptoms.
Bipolar II symptoms
A diagnosis of bipolar II requires:
- at least 1 episode of hypomania that lasts 4 days or longer and involves 3 or more symptoms of hypomania
- hypomania-related changes in mood and usual function that others can notice, though these may not necessarily affect your daily life
- at least 1 episode of major depression that lasts 2 weeks or longer
- at least 1 episode of major depression, involving 5 or more key depression symptoms that have a significant impact on your day-to-day life
- symptoms that don’t relate to another medical or mental health condition or substance use
Bipolar II can also involve symptoms of psychosis, but only during an episode of depression. You could also experience mixed mood episodes, which means you’ll have symptoms of depression and hypomania at the same time.
With bipolar II, though, you won’t experience mania. If you have a manic episode, you’ll receive a diagnosis of bipolar I.
Cyclothymia symptoms
A diagnosis of cyclothymia requires:
- periods of hypomanic symptoms and periods of depression symptoms, off and on, over 2 years or longer (1 year for children and adolescents)
- symptoms that never meet full criteria for an episode of hypomania or depression
- symptoms that are present for at least half of the 2 years and never absent for longer than 2 months at a time
- symptoms that don’t relate to another medical or mental health condition or substance use
- symptoms that cause significant distress and affect daily life
Fluctuating mood symptoms characterize cyclothymia. These symptoms may be less severe than those of bipolar I or II. Still, they tend to last longer, so you’ll generally have less time when you experience no symptoms.
Hypomania may not have a big impact on your daily life. Depression, on the other hand, often leads to more serious distress and affects day-to-day function, even if your symptoms don’t qualify for a major depressive episode.
Treating An Internet Addiction
Several treatments can help you manage bipolar disorder symptoms. These include medications, counseling, and lifestyle changes. Some natural remedies can also have benefits.
Medications
Recommended medications may include:
- mood stabilizers
- antipsychotics
- antidepressant-antipsychotics
- anti-anxiety medication used for short-term treatment
Psychotherapy
Recommended therapy approaches may include:
Cognitive behavioral therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a type of talk therapy that helps you identify and address unhelpful thoughts and change unwanted patterns of behavior.
Therapy offers a safe space to discuss ways to manage your symptoms. Your therapist can also offer support with:
- understanding thought patterns
- reframing distressing emotions
- learning and practicing more helpful coping strategies
Psychoeducation
Psychoeducation is a therapeutic approach centered around helping you learn about a condition and its treatment. This knowledge can go a long way toward helping you and the supportive people in your life recognize early mood symptoms and manage them more effectively.
Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy
Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy focuses on regulating daily habits, such as sleeping, eating, and exercising. Balancing these everyday basics could lead to fewer mood episodes and less severe symptoms.
