Symptoms of Depression Bipolar
People with bipolar disorder may have episodes of mania and depression. Sometimes, these mood fluctuations are hard to distinguish from regular depression or anxiety.
It's important to see a doctor and share your medical history. Your healthcare provider will ask about any medications, even over-the counter supplements.
1. Feelings of hopelessness or a sense of worthlessness
You may feel worthless when you suffer from bipolar depression. It is crucial to inform your doctor about these feelings as they could lead to serious depression. Iam Psychiatry can cause you to have suicidal thoughts which can be dangerous and need to be treated immediately. You must immediately dial 999 or visit your nearest A&E.
Your doctor will evaluate you and conduct tests. These might include blood and urine tests. You may also undergo a physical exam or brain imaging. These can help determine what is causing your mood fluctuations.
A psychiatrist or psychologist will ask you questions about your symptoms and family history. Then, they will determine whether you suffer from bipolar disorder or a mental health issue known as mood disorder. Bipolar disorder can have mixed features. This means that the person has both a manic and depressive episode.
During a manic episode, you might have high energy and impulsive behavior. You might also have racing thoughts or a feeling that everything is going smoothly. Depressive episodes can last for several weeks and cause feelings of despair and hopelessness. You may be unable to enjoy things you usually enjoy, such as work or sex. You may have trouble sleeping and feel exhausted throughout the day. You may be having suicidal thoughts or other psychotic symptoms like hallucinations and delusions.
You can learn to recognize the warning signs of a bipolar depression episode and take steps to prevent it from happening. For instance maintain a regular sleep schedule and avoid caffeine. You can also try eating a healthier diet and exercising and speak to your mental health professional about the ways to cope. It is important to adhere to your treatment plan which could include a mix of medicine and talk therapy.
2. Feelings of guilt or a sense of inadequacy
In a depressive episode sufferers of bipolar disorder can feel guilty or worthless. These feelings can be quite intense, and they may feel like they will never get better. It is important to discuss these emotions with your doctor and to find ways to manage them. You can record your negative thoughts in a journal or notepad, and then counteract them with positive thoughts. You can also start your own "praise list" by asking your family and friends to tell you what they love about you. You can use the list to boost your confidence when you're feeling down.
Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness are typical in depression bipolar, and they can sometimes cause thoughts of suicide. If you feel suicidal call immediately 999 or visit the nearest A&E.
Manic episodes can be a time when people with bipolar disorder feel "up" and exuberant. This can be fun, but could be risky when you're at risk of harming yourself or another person. Manic episodes can lead to an impulsive behavior, like drinking or using drugs or sex that is not protected or safe. They may also cause psychosis, such as hallucinations and illusions.
For a diagnosis of major depression, doctors will look for a variety of symptoms that make it hard to function each day for at minimum two weeks. They can also diagnose agitation if it's associated with depression. The signs of agitation are feeling restless, irritable, or angry, and an inability to engage in activities and thoughts of self-harm or suicide. People suffering from bipolar disorder might be agitated as part of a depression episode or if they are suffering from hypomania.
3. The loss of interest or enjoyment in pursuits
The symptoms of bipolar depression are similar to normal depression, but they have distinct characteristics. For instance, people suffering from bipolar depression can suffer from mania and depression at times, or experience both low and high at the simultaneously. This is known as a mixed episode. It can be extremely difficult to manage.
Other symptoms of bipolar depression include guilt, irritability, and changes in your appetite. You might also experience difficulty sleeping, a loss of interest in activities you normally enjoy, or feelings of agitation. These symptoms can impact your personal and professional life, making it difficult to focus or think clearly.
In more severe cases of bipolar disorder, you might develop psychosis (a condition in which you lose contact with reality), which is dangerous and requires immediate intervention. You may also have thoughts of self-harm which is a serious mental health emergency that must be addressed immediately.
Even if you don't consider them to be relevant, it is essential to inform your GP of all symptoms. This will help your GP make sure you get the correct diagnosis and treatment.
There are various types of depression, including major depression, which lasts for at minimum two weeks and causes disruption with your daily routine and chronic depressive disorder, which is an illness that lasts for a long time and can cause low mood and sleep problems. You can help your moods by getting regular exercise by avoiding alcohol and other drugs, eating well and sleeping at the same time every night. You can also keep an account of your moods and sharing them with your GP or therapist. It might also be beneficial to join an organization that can help you, like Bipolar UK.
4. Loss of appetite and weight loss
Some people with depression or mania can lose appetites and some may gain weight. Food and nutrition are important, so it is crucial to keep with a healthy lifestyle and exercise regularly during these times.
During manic episodes, people can feel an increase in energy, creativity or feelings of euphoria. They might be very active, sleep little or feel invincible. They might also have psychosis, which is characterized by false beliefs and perceptions, such as hallucinations. During a manic phase it is crucial to be alert for risky or reckless behavior, like driving fast or engaging in sexual relationships that are not protected. Bipolar disorder can lead to suicidal thoughts or behavior. However, these behaviors and thoughts can be thwarted by a trained mental healthcare professional.
Depression and mania can have different effects on a person's body It is therefore important to talk about the symptoms you're experiencing with your doctor or therapist. They might prescribe medication or other treatments to help with mood swings. It is also important to monitor your mood to be able to notice when it changes and what makes them more or less.
It takes a long time to diagnose people suffering from bipolar disorder. It's because there aren't any physical tests that can confirm the condition. The diagnosis is made by analyzing a person's symptoms, history, and difficulties with daily functioning. A mental health professional may suggest that the patient has bipolar I disorder, which can cause full periods of depression and mania or bipolar II, which can cause periods of depression and hypomania. A third condition, referred to as cyclothymia, has a similar pattern, but it is less severe.
5. Feelings of worthlessness and worthlessness
Feelings of being unworthy or devalued are a common symptom of depression bipolar. These emotions can make it difficult to function and can be very troubling. They can also lead to suicide thoughts or attempts. It is important to inform a doctor or therapist about these emotions. This will help them determine the best treatment option for you.
You might have experienced depression symptoms for a lengthy period of time before you were diagnosed with bipolar disorder. This is because mental health professionals don't examine for it in the same way they do for physical illnesses like heart disease or diabetes. They base their diagnosis on the patient's symptoms, history, and how it affects daily life.
Some people who have bipolar disorder experience episodes of feeling very up energetic, enthusiastic, and confident (mania). This can be followed by periods of time when you feel sad or down. In mania, you might experience trouble sleeping or feel angry. You may also be very active. You might also have a sense of inflated self-worth or false beliefs as well as hallucinations. In hypomania, you may exhibit milder signs of mania, like an overconfidence feeling and agitation but not anger or risk-taking behavior.
There are several different treatments for bipolar disorder. Talk therapy and medication can help you deal with mood swings. Alternative therapies such as acupuncture or S-adenosylmethionine can also improve symptoms. Always consult your doctor before taking any supplement or herbal. They may interact with your medications and cause side consequences. You might need to be admitted to hospital if you suffer from severe depression or mania. This is due to electroconvulsive (ECT) therapy or repetitive transcranial magnet stimulation (rTMS) may be required. These procedures deliver small doses of brain stimulation that can alter the balance of certain chemicals.