People with BD experience severe mood swings, including manic and depressive episodes.
This means that someone with BD may have different thought processes depending on the mood they’re experiencing.
What is BD?
BD usually emerges during late adolescence, late teens, or early adulthood. But it can occur at any stage in life.
Psychiatrists recognize several types of BD, each with its own characteristics:
- Bipolar I disorder: This type involves manic episodes, usually accompanied by depressive episodes. It is characterized by severe mood swings.
- Bipolar II disorder: Individuals will experience hypomanic episodes, which are less severe than manic episodes, alongside depressive episodes.
- Schizoaffective disorder: This term describes BD combined with persistent psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations or delusions, that extend beyond manic or depressive episodes.
- Cyclothymic disorder (Cyclothymia): This type sees frequent mood changes, with people spending most of their time in either a high mood or depression. There are only small periods of regular mood in between.
BD affects around 2% of adults in the United States.
Common thoughts in BD
In BD, the different moods may affect your thought process.
Mania
One of the main BD traits is the presence of manic episodes. These episodes involve periods of elevated mood, where you may feel extremely happy or excitable (also known as euphoria).
But manic episodes aren’t always enjoyable. During these episodes, you may:
- feel overwhelmed or have too much energy
- have less need for sleep
- speak quickly
- have racing thoughts
- sometimes show poor judgment
During severe mania, you may make impulsive decisions, spend too much money, and engage in reckless behavior. You may also even experience hallucinations or delusions.
Hypomania
BD can still be present even if the symptoms are less extreme. For instance, people with bipolar II disorder may experience hypomania, a milder form of mania.
Without appropriate treatment, hypomania can progress into severe mania or depression.
Depression
People with BD also experience episodes of depression. They usually spend more time feeling depressed than manic.
During depressive episodes, you may:
- feel persistently sad, indifferent, hopeless, or anxious
- have self-doubt or view yourself as worthless
- experience physical symptoms such as too much sleep, low energy, and difficulty concentrating
Depression is a serious risk and can lead to suicidal thoughts or behaviors, so it’s important to seek appropriate support and treatment. If you need immediate support, please don’t hesitate to contact National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, or text HOME to the Crisis Textline at 741741.
Episodes with mixed features
Sometimes, people with BD can experience both manic and depressive symptoms at the same time. This is known as an episode with mixed features.
During such episodes, you may have feelings of intense sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness while also experiencing high levels of energy.
BD symptoms
Experts sometimes find it challenging to identify BD. This means that it can remain undiagnosed or mistaken for other conditions.
Some signs that may indicate BD include:
- noticeable mood shifts
- extreme energy level changes
- disrupted sleep patterns
- poor decision-making abilities
It’s important to note that many people with BD will have long periods of feeling and behaving in a usual way between episodes of mania and depression.
What are the treatment options for BD?
Managing BD usually involves a combination of medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes.
Medication
The specific medications doctors recommend for BD may vary based on your symptoms and needs. It’s important to speak with your healthcare team for personalized advice.
Medications can help stabilize mood and prevent or manage episodes. Common medications for BD include:
- mood stabilizers, like:
- lithium (Lithobid)
- valproate (Depakote)
- lamotrigine (Lamictal)
- antipsychotics, like:
- olanzapine (Zyprexa)
- quetiapine (Seroquel)
- aripiprazole (Abilify)
Healthcare professionals commonly prescribe antidepressants to treat depression and anxiety disorders. But antidepressants are not usually the first-line medications for BD. Antidepressants without mood stabilizers can potentially trigger a manic episode or rapid mood cycling.
Examples of antidepressants include:
- citalopram (Celexa)
- escitalopram (Lexapro)
- duloxetine (Cymbalta)
- sertraline (Zoloft)
- fluoxetine (Prozac)
- bupropion (Wellbutrin)
- venlafaxine (Effexor)
If you need help covering the cost of medications, the free Optum Perks Discount Card could help you save up to 80% on prescription drugs. Follow the links on drug names for savings on that medication, or search for a specific drug here.
