Symptoms of Bipolar Syndrome – Mania Phase, Depression, and the Combination

Bipolar is not a physical illness but a psychiatric illness. Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric disorder characterized by fluctuating feelings, such as from sadness suddenly becoming happy, from anger to suddenly being happy and vice versa. There are two phases in bipolar namely the rising phase and the down phase.

The rising phase is the state of one’s soul which tends to lead to a positive attitude such as being energetic, energetic and active (lots of talks). The rising phase is called the term mania.

The down phase is someone’s mental condition which tends to lead to negative attitudes such as sadness, lethargy and not enthusiasm. The down phase is called the term depression period.

Bipolar sufferers have different severity. There are patients who can experience normal periods like normal people between periods of mania and periods of depression, this includes relatively mild. There are also patients who experience a rapid period of rotation, i.e. from the ascending phase to the downward phase without any pauses to the normal phase, this includes classified as severe bipolar.

There is one more period in bipolar, which is called mixed period mixed period is where a person experiences two phases at one time, namely experiencing mania and depression simultaneously. For example, someone is feeling very energetic, but he is also experiencing very sad.

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Causes of Bipolar Disorder

The bipolar disease can occur due to several things such as:

1. Genetics

One of the common factors of bipolar disorder is genes. If one parent has bipolar disorder, his child has the risk of being bipolar as well, with a percentage of 15% to 30% being attacked.

If both parents have a bipolar disease, then the possibility of their child getting this disease with a presentation of 50% to 75%. Another factor of genetics is the person who has a twin. Identical twins will have a higher risk of bipolar disease than other types of twins.

2. Psychological

Psychology is one of the causes of bipolar disorder caused by a neurochemical system and mood disorders. Disorders caused by neurochemical systems, namely a condition where the chemical fluid system in the brain is not balanced so that the nerves that deliver messages to the brain are disrupted because the chemical fluid conditions in the brain are not balanced. While mood disorders occur because of a phase change.

Healthy humans only have a normal phase, while people who suffer from bipolar; their normal phase is often replaced by a phase of depression or a phase of mania.

They can even experience two phases at once, namely the depression phase and the mania phase simultaneously. If a person has experienced a phase of depression and a phase of mania simultaneously, this is already classified as severe bipolar.

3. Neuroendocrine System

The nervous system that is associated with emotions is disrupted, causing a phase to fall on someone. This down phase causes depression which can cause bipolar.

4. Environment

Environmental conditions can also be a reason for someone experiencing bipolar disorder.

Environmental conditions, namely the relationship of someone with other people or with their environment such as the relationships with other people, for example with friends, with parents, lovers or coworkers. With a lover, for example, when they are in love, they feel very happy that, while when they are broken, they feel deep sadness.

5. Narcotics

Bipolar can also be caused by someone consuming illegal drugs such as various types of drugs, alcoholic beverages, ecstasy, marijuana, and drugs that have high doses.

6. Level of Intelligence

A person with a high level of intelligence is more at a higher risk of developing bipolar disorder than those with a low level of intelligence. A smart person will be more critical in dealing with a problem including analyzing the problem itself so that the risk of being affected by depression is higher. 

Bipolar Types

Bipolar has several types. Knowing and understanding the type will make it easier to find suitable ways to overcome and cure it. Here are some types of bipolar:

• Bipolar I Disorder – That is a bipolar disorder which is still classified as early or low. This usually happens in one phase, for example feeling too happy that is too much or feeling sad that is too excessive.
• Bipolar II Disorders – In this bipolar disorder, there are 2 phases that occur alternately namely there is a rising phase, but not until the period of mania only until the hypomania period which is a period almost similar to the period of mania. But it seems more not too happy but has the same risk and there is a phase down (depression period) for example, someone looks happy, then a few hours look very sad.
• Cyclothymia – In cyclothymia it is almost the same as bipolar II disorder but the difference in cyclothymia is more severe, that is, it can be categorized as excessive but very acute sadness.

Bipolar disorder occurs in a person due to a disturbed mental state. A person can be said to have the bipolar disorder if he experiences an extreme phase or a fluctuating feeling in a long time, which is days to weeks, at least one or two weeks.

Symptoms When the Phase Rises (Mania)

1. Mood Swings

The mood is very happy in a long period, the patient’s ego becomes high so it becomes easily confined. Patients feel very important and proud of themselves. Patients can do things that are beyond their control, such as spending savings and can harm others.

2. Changes in Behavior

Someone will be talking very quickly, giving up the idea of ​​his mind, his thoughts being rushed, in this period, the sufferer becomes easily confused. In patients with severe levels, they sometimes feel hallucinations and delusions.

They will seem to hear or see something that really does not exist when they experience hallucinations, while they will believe something that is not reasonable and is not true. 

Other behavioral changes such as:

• Sexual appetite increases
• Make a plan that does not make sense
• Very active and very fast moving
• Feel very familiar with others
• Easily throw criticism at others
• Likes to hold back in daily behavior
• Hear voices that other people cannot hear

Symptoms When the Phase Drops (Depression)

1. Mood Swings

There is a significant decrease in mood. The mood becomes worried, very sad, and anxious. The sufferer has trouble sleeping, feels guilty, pessimistic, empty, and loses interest in activities they used to do.

Other symptoms are frequent crying or wanting to cry for no apparent reason, not being able to feel the excitement, feeling useless and easily discouraged, feeling guilty and sinful, lacking confidence.

2. Changes in Behavior

During the depression period, the sufferer will feel tired; their feelings become anxious; they change habits such as eating, sleeping, and even thinking of suicide.

This phase also makes sufferers difficult to concentrate and experience a decrease in memory so that they reduce their performance or productivity.

They also tend to withdraw from their social life so that they can make a relationship with the closest people damaged. Other symptoms are losing sexual desire, weight loss or weight gain, loss of appetite or even increased appetite.

Symptoms When Experiencing the Hypomania Phase

This phase is a phase similar to the phase of mania or rising phase, but still has a difference, which lies in the level of calm. In this phase, the patient feels calmer than the mania phase.

The hypomania phase is rather difficult to diagnose because the sufferer feels happy, but the risk is the same as the phase of mania. Symptoms that arise in this phase are:

• Someone is high spirited, high energy, and creativity arises
• Optimism arises, always looks happy, more active than usual but becomes irritable
• Interest in sleep decreases

Combination of Episodes

This episode is the most dangerous episode, where a person experiences two episodes, namely mania, and depression simultaneously. A few hours a person experiences an episode of mania, a few hours later he experiences a depressive episode.

This happens for a long time and in a fast-changing period. Patients with mixed symptoms have the highest risk of suicide. The symptoms that arise if the sufferer wants to commit suicide include:

• Often talk about death and the desire to die to people who are nearby
• His thoughts always revolve around death
• Excessive consumption of illegal drugs
• Forgetting obligations and debt

If the patient has experienced symptoms such as the symptoms in the mixed phase, immediately see a psychologist. Do not leave the sufferer alone and keep sharp and dangerous objects away from them because it can endanger themselves and others around them.

Ways to Overcome Bipolar Mental Disorders

Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric disorder, so treatment is certainly more difficult than physical illness. But that does not mean there is no hope and how to cure it. Some ways to treat bipolar as follows:

1. Self-Therapy

Self-therapy is a therapy carried out by oneself with the full awareness that indeed they are experiencing bipolar disorder and feel the need to recover. Some steps that need to be done for self-therapy are:

• Establish intention in your heart that you can recover. The intention is very influential in your recovery. Intention can be more suggestive of yourself because you do self-therapy so there must be really intention in your heart.
• Find out as much information about bipolar, how to deal with and other things related to bipolar. The more information you get, the more it will help you do the bipolar self-healing process. In searching for information, of course, carefully the source of information obtained.
• As much as possible you have to do activities with relaxation, keep yourself away from things that can make yourself stressed. Maintain a balance of life between work, rest and socializing with the environment and society. Try to relax your mind and soul to calm your heart and mind more like doing night prayers, yoga, and meditation for health or deep breathing exercises.
• Find and choose friends who can motivate your life. Closest people like family, friends or lovers are usually more able to motivate yourself. You can also take part in a club or a heart and soul calm group to be able to share with each other and help each other.
• Arrange a healthy lifestyle and then work on a healthy lifestyle that you have arranged, such as sleeping, eating, and exercising.
• Monitor your mood independently, do not get out of control, immediately do things that can alert yourself before bipolar symptoms appear.
• Don’t let your mind go blank, fill it with various activities that can be useful in your life, such as reading or just relaxing to rest your body. 
  
  

2. Sedatives

Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder that occurs due to stress; sedatives will help bipolar sufferers calm down and return to their normal phase. Handling using drugs has more weaknesses than therapy. Sedatives are only able to control not cure.

Healing with sedatives does not mean that it cannot be cured; it might happen but must be accompanied by the condition of the patient who is able to control emotions in him.

3. Therapy With A Psychiatrist

If you feel less able to do self-therapy then you can do therapy with competent experts. A psychiatrist or psychiatrist will first identify the level and type of bipolar you are experiencing. After being identified, therapy will be carried out to help with the bipolar healing that you experience. Obey and follow the doctor’s instructions so that you can recover completely.

Open your eyes and mind so that the therapy team is easier to help you in the healing process. Although this therapy is done with a doctor or team of experts, healing is still within you. Belief and willingness to recover greatly affect your level of recovery.

That is the explanation of bipolar symptoms that arise, as well as how to overcome them. In today’s age, mental disorders such as bipolar occur more easily because the development of the age is increasingly rapid and the problems that occur are increasingly complex. Take good care of yourself. Recognize bipolar symptoms so that you can immediately prevent them from happening.