Signs Of Bipolar Disorder: 4 Types Of Episodes

What is a bipolar disease? What are the signs and why is it important to detect it earlier? A bipolar disease is a form of mental disorder that is characterized by excessive mood swings. The signs vary depending on the episode of the disease at a certain time.

There are many signs of bipolar disorder. The severity of the disease being suffered by the person can be ascertained from the symptoms that they manifests. Since this is a diverse disease that has symptoms from extreme ends of the spectrum, the signs manifested by the sufferer will vary depending on what episode he is into during that specific time.

It is important to be able to detect the signs at the onset. This kind of mental disease is often mistaken with many other forms of mental disorder, so it should be detected properly and early in order to provide the necessary treatment.

There are four types of episodes that take effect during periods of bipolar depression.

Manic Episode

Mania is often overwhelming for a person when it is only starting to suffer from the disorder. The increase in energy level, creativity and productivity is a welcome surprise. But once it starts to progress, it becomes troublesome and destructive. People experiencing manic episodes are hyper. They are often misunderstood by the people around them especially those who are not familiar with the disorder. They are sometimes tagged as a bad person because they manifest signs that are considered anti-social. They are easily angered and they blame everyone. Their way of thinking is impaired and they are irritable. They are always showing extreme behaviors during periods of manic episodes.

Manic episodes can cause major disruptions to a person’s activities, job, social status and health. It can ruin relationships if the partner is not able to understand what the person is going through. But the thing is that people suffering from manic depression will deny that they suffer from it. They strongly believe that they are normal and that nothing is wrong about them.

Hypomanic Episodes

Hypomania is a less severe form of mania. This is on the side of the spectrum just below mania. This episode in a bipolar disorder is short lived. It does not stay for a long time because it will later develop into a full pledged mania or downgrade into a major depression.

Hypomanic episodes are not really destructive because this is a milder form of bipolar depression. It is actually constructive to a certain degree but it is not lasting. During hypomanic episodes, the person becomes more productive and have a mood that is slightly on the high side. They feel better and the person will not recognize that he is actually suffering from the disease. They think that they have never been better.

Major Depression Episodes

Major depression episode is a destructive episode in the case of a bipolar disorder. The person experiencing this episode can not function properly. They are pulled by the excessive feeling of lack of self worth. There is a gnawing sense of emptiness; sadness and anxiety that makes the person feel disturbed.

A person on a major depression episode feels utterly hopeless and pessimistic. They feel guilty over nothing and they are helpless. People suffering from depression experience sleep disturbance and lack of appetite in eating. They can not sleep, they are restless and they have impaired concentration.

The disturbing thing about major depression episodes is that the feeling of extreme self rejection and loneliness may lead to attempts of suicide. 

Mixed Episode

Mixed episodes can be observed among people suffering from bipolar disorder. This is a state of depression that has progressed into a full blown problem. Mixed episodes of bipolar disorder will determine whether the person suffers from type 1 or type 2 bipolar disorders. When he shows a combination of mania and depression, it is a type 1 bipolar disorder. The hypomanic episode with some attacks of depression is a type 2 bipolar disorder. Among the two types, type 1 is the more severe and harder to treat.

If you suspect that you suffer from drastic mood swings, it will be helpful if you know the symptoms of bipolar disorder and its different types of episodes. It will provide you a base on where to compare your experiences and determine what level of the disorder you already have.