What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar Disorder (also known as ‘manic depression’) is a condition in which someone experiences significant changes in their energy, mood, thinking and behaviour. These changes can last anywhere from days to months. Bipolar involves shifts from extreme lows of depression to extreme high of mania. Mood changes are extremely intense and can result in considerable impairment in daily functioning.
For example, in a depressive episode a person is likely to experience disabling lethargic, be highly self-critical and feel hopeless. In contrast, the same person, in a manic episode, may feel completely energised on little sleep, feel extremely confident and make reckless decisions such as overspending or quitting a job.
Common symptoms of mania include:
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Feeling high and optimistic or extremely irritable
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Unrealistic and grandiose beliefs about your own abilities
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Sleeping very little
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Having very high levels of energy
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Speaking at a rapid pace
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Impaired judgment and impulsive behaviour
Common symptoms of depression include:
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Feeling hopeless or sad
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Irritability
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Inability to experience pleasure
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Fatigue or loss of energy
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Changes in appetite (either eating a lot or eating very little)
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Feelings of worthlessness
Our Expertise & Treatment For Bipolar Disorder
At Centric Mental Health, our experienced clinicians can help provide support to those suffering with symptoms of Bipolar Disorder; however, It is recommended that a person with Bipolar Mood Disorder also attend a medical professional because mood stabilising medication can be very helpful for the management of the condition. Bipolar Mood Disorder is a long-term condition and medical treatment should be continued even when symptom-free. If any of the above sounds familiar, please don’t hesitate to get in touch to set up an appointment.