Sunday, March 24, 2024

Are People Born With Bipolar

Don't Miss

Can Lack Of Sleep Worsen The Symptoms Of Bipolar Disorder

Narcissism vs. Bipolar Disorder (why some people confuse the two)

Some findings show that people with bipolar disorder have a genetic predisposition to sleep-wake cycle problems that may trigger symptoms of depression and mania.

The problem for those with bipolar disorder, however, is that sleep loss may lead to a mood episode such as mania in some patients. Worrying about losing sleep can increase anxiety, thus worsening the bipolar mood disorder altogether. Once a sleep-deprived person with bipolar disorder goes into the manic state, the need for sleep decreases even more.

In one study, researchers interviewed 39 bipolar patients with primarily manic or depressed episodes to determine the presence of social rhythm disruptions during the two months prior to the onset of the mood.

When comparing the results with volunteers in the control group, researchers concluded that most people with bipolar disorder experience at least one social rhythm disruption prior to a major mood episode. In addition, the researchers found that social rhythm disruption affected more bipolar patients with mania than the patients with depression. Their findings concluded that 65% of the patients with bipolar disorder had at least one disruption in their daily rhythm in the eight weeks before the onset of a manic episode.

Dont Miss: Eating Disorders Psychology Articles

What Are 5 Signs Of Bipolar

Understanding the Difference Between Depression and Bipolar Disorder

  • Bipolar Sign 1: Abnormal or Excessive Elation or Energy. …
  • Bipolar Sign 2: Racing Thoughts and Speech. …
  • Bipolar Sign 3: Grandiose Thinking. …
  • Bipolar Sign 4: Decreased Need for Sleep During Manic Episodes. …
  • Bipolar Sign 5: Hypersexuality.

Can Lifestyle Habits Increase The Risk Of Bipolar Disorder

Lack of sleep increases the risk of having an episode of mania in someone with bipolar disorder. In addition, antidepressants, particularly when taken as the only medication, may also trigger a switch into a manic state.

Excessive use of alcohol or drugs can also trigger bipolar symptoms. Research has shown that about 50% of bipolar sufferers have a substance abuse or alcohol problem. Sufferers often use alcohol or drugs in an effort to reduce unpleasant feelings during low mood periods, or as part of the recklessness and impulsivity associated with manic highs.

Also Check: What Is Feretrophobia

What Risks And Complications Can Bipolar Disorder Cause

There can be complications and risks for people who live with bipolar disorder. But these risks can be lessened with the right support and treatment.

What about suicide and self-harm?

You might have an illness where you experience psychosis, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Your risk of suicide is estimated to be between 5% and 6% higher than the general population.

You are more likely to try to take your own life if you have a history of attempted suicide and depression. It is important that you get the right treatment for your symptoms of depression and have an up to date crisis plan.

There is also research that suggests you are 30% – 40% more likely to self-harm if you live with bipolar disorder.

What about financial risk?

If you have mania or hypomania you may struggle to manage your finances. You may spend lots of money without thinking about the effect that it may have on your life.

You could make a Lasting Power of Attorney. This is a legal process. This means that you pick someone that you trust to manage your finances if you lack mental capacity to manage them by yourself.

You can work with your carer and mental health team. You can form an action plan. This can say what they can do if you have a period of mania or hypomania and you start to make poor financial decisions.

What about physical health risk?

What about alcohol and drugs risk?

If you want advice or help with alcohol or drug use contact your GP.

What about driving risk?

When To Seek Help From A Doctor

Living With BiPolar Disorder

People with bipolar disorder may not realize that they have the condition, even if their manic or depressive behavior disrupts their lives.

Once a doctor diagnoses the condition, people should regularly consult with them to evaluate the effectiveness of their treatment.

People with bipolar disorder should call 911 or a local emergency number if they have thoughts of suicide or self-harm. A person can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24 hours per day at 800-273-8255.

Read Also: Progression Of Schizophrenia

Bipolar Disorder Or Depression

Doctors sometimes find it hard to distinguish between bipolar disorder and depression, and this can lead to misdiagnosis. People with bipolar disorder are more likely to seek help during a low mood because depression is more likely to have a negative impact on their health and wellbeing. During a high mood, they may feel exceptionally well.

Factors that increase the chance of this happening include the following:

  • Depression is the dominant mood.
  • Depression is the first episode you have.
  • You have experienced mania or hypomania but not realized it could be significant.

Its essential to get an accurate diagnosis in order to work out a treatment plan. Antidepressants may not be effective in treating bipolar disorder.

In addition, some antidepressant medications can trigger a first manic or hypomanic episode if youre susceptible to them, and this could complicate both treatment and the outcome.

If you go to see your doctor with depression, be sure to tell them about any of the following, as these can help get an accurate diagnosis:

  • a family history of bipolar disorder or other mental health conditions
  • any other conditions that affect your mental or physical wellbeing
  • any medications, drugs, or other substances youre taking or have used in the past
  • if youve already tried antidepressants and they did not help

The Human Genome And Bipolar Disorder

In a large genome-wide association study , researchers have identified 64 regions of the human genome that may increase someones chances of developing bipolar disorder. This is more than twice the number previously known.

For the study, an international team of researchers and scientists looked for common genetic markers in people with bipolar disorder.

They scanned more than 7.5 million common DNA variations in nearly 415,000 people more than 40,000 were diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Overall, they identified 64 regions of the genome that may increase someones chances of developing the condition. These included DNA variations involved in brain cell communication and calcium signaling.

The studys findings also suggested that:

  • Sleep habits as well as alcohol and substance use influence bipolar disorder development.
  • There are genetically distinct bipolar disorder subtypes.
  • Genetic overlap may exist between bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia and autism.
  • Bipolar I disorder has a strong genetic similarity with schizophrenia, but bipolar II disorder is more genetically similar to depression.

Although theres a genetic component to developing bipolar disorder, other environmental and behavioral factors need to be present to trigger symptoms of this mental health condition.

Read Also: Celine Dion Anorexic

Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified

Bipolar disorder not otherwise specified is a general category for a person who only has symptoms of bipolar disorder that dont match the three other categories. The symptoms are not enough to make a diagnosis of one of the other three types.

The signs of bipolar disorder can generally be divided into those for mania, and those for depression.

Boosted By Hypomania Carrie Fisher Became A Bestselling Author

You Can’t Ask That, Bipolar Disorder

Carrie Fisher’s portrayal of Princess Leia in the original Star Wars trilogy turned her into a pop-culture icon. However, partly due to her tumultuous childhood, she struggled with drug and alcohol addictions. In her early twenties, Fisher was told she was hypomanic, but she didn’t believe her doctor.

Over time, however, she came to terms with her condition and became a bestselling author, writing books such as Postcards From the Edge and Surrender the Pink. Becoming a mother was the impetus for this change.

“Prior to having a child, I really did feel, it’s my business if I wanted to stop my medications,” she told bp Magazine. “I no longer feel that’s so.”

Editor’s Picks

Recommended Reading: Can High Blood Sugar Cause Anxiety Attacks

Virginia Woolf Suffered Psychiatric Breakdowns

The 20th-century English novelist and essayist Virginia Woolf is said to have expanded the boundaries of the novel with works such as Mrs. Dalloway and To the Lighthouse. She suffered mood swings and breakdowns throughout her life.

An article in the American Journal of Psychiatry explains her behavior: “From the age of 13, Woolf had symptoms that today would be diagnosed as bipolar disorder she experienced mood swings from severe depression to manic excitement and episodes of psychosis. In her own time, however, psychiatry had little to offer her.”

At the age of 50, Pauley began experiencing episodes of depression and mania. It is thought that steroids used to treat hives kick-started her symptoms, which were diagnosed as bipolar disorder. She describes her experiences in her bestselling memoir Skywriting: A Life Out of the Blue.

“If we’re lucky, the next generation won’t drag around that personal stigma,” she tells bp Magazine. “They also are going to grow up with a wider array of medications that addresses whatever causes this malady of ours.”

How Is Bipolar Disorder Diagnosed

To diagnose bipolar disorder, a doctor or other health care provider may:

  • Complete a full physical exam.
  • Order medical testing to rule out other illnesses.
  • Refer the person for an evaluation by a psychiatrist.

A psychiatrist or other mental health professional diagnoses bipolar disorder based on the symptoms, lifetime course, and experiences of the individual. Some people have bipolar disorder for years before it is diagnosed. This may be because:

  • Bipolar disorder has symptoms in common with several other mental health disorders. A doctor may think the person has a different disorder, such as schizophrenia or depression.
  • Family and friends may notice the symptoms, but not realize that the symptoms are part of a more significant problem.
  • People with bipolar disorder often have other health conditions, which can make it hard for doctors to diagnose bipolar disorder.

Don’t Miss: What Is The Fear Of Vomiting Called

Can Environmental Stress Increase The Risk Of Bipolar Disorder

People are sometimes diagnosed with bipolar following a stressful or traumatic event in their lives. These environmental triggers can include seasonal changes, holidays, and major life changes such as starting a new job, losing a job, going to college, family disagreements, , or a death in the family. Stress, in and of itself, does not cause bipolar disorder , but in people with the biological vulnerability to bipolar disorder, having effective skills for managing life stresses can be critical to a healthy lifestyle in order to avoid things that can aggravate the illness .

Show Sources

List Of People With Bipolar Disorder

Are People Born with Bipolar Disorder?

Numerous notable people have had some form of mood disorder. This is a list of people accompanied by verifiable sources associating them with some form of bipolar disorder , including cyclothymia, based on their own public statements this discussion is sometimes tied to the larger topic of creativity and mental illness. In the case of dead people only, individuals with a speculative or retrospective diagnosis should only be listed if they are accompanied by a source reflective of the mainstream, academic view. Individuals should not be added to this list unless the disorder is regularly and commonly mentioned in mainstream, reliable sources.

  • Alan Garner, novelist, wrote about having bipolar disorder in a collection of critical and autobiographical essays.
  • Paul Gascoigne, English footballer, wrote about his treatment for bipolar disorder in his second book.
  • Mel Gibson, actor and director.
  • Selena Gomez, American singer-songwriter and actress. Revealed her bipolar diagnosis in April 2020 in an Instagram livestream with Miley Cyrus.
  • Matthew Good, Canadian musician. He first disclosed his illness in a personal blog.
  • , Greek novelist.
  • Kerry Katona, English television presenter, writer, magazine columnist, and former pop singer with girl band Atomic Kitten.

Recommended Reading: Does Prozac Help With Panic Attacks

What Are Your Treatment Options

Treatment will depend on which type of bipolar disorder you have, and what your symptoms are. Most of the time, youll need medication to manage your symptoms, along with therapy. Medications that may be used include:

Antidepressants Antipsychotics Mood stabilizers Anti-anxiety medications

Sometimes traditional medication therapy isnt enough. At Boston MindCare, our doctors offer a unique treatment option when nothing else has worked. Ketamine infusion therapy can help the symptoms of depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder. It works by inhibiting glutamate in your brain to stabilize your mood.

Like many of the other medications used to treat this disorder, ketamine comes with some side effects, so its important to talk to our doctors to see if this treatment is right for you.

You dont need to deal with bipolar disorder on your own. If youre looking for help, call our office at 701-207-9841 or book an appointment online today.

Read Also: What Does The Suffix Phobia Mean

Does The Cause Of Bipolar Disorder Matter

Well, certainly to researchers it does, and it should, but for any individual, I would say no, not so much. Because whether you jar was full of genetics or other risk factors for mental illness, the fact is youre stuck with bipolar disorder now anyway. The thing to know is that being born with a disorder doesnt make it any more or less real than one you developed along the way. And saying no one is born with bipolar disorder is just another way of trying to suggest that bipolar disorder is a less-than illness or trying to blame someone for causing your mental illness.

Well, no one did. You didnt cause your bipolar disorder and neither did any other one thing. Mental illness is complicated and no one knows where their marbles all come from. The causes dont have to be genetic, and the causes certainly dont have to be known, for a disease to be real.

After all, no one knows why someone who smokes all their life escapes cancer while the person with an über-healthy lifestyle dies of cancer at 34.

And bipolar is the same. No one really knows why some of us end up sick and others dont. But that doesnt make it less real, less devastating or anyones fault.

Don’t Miss: When Does Schizophrenia Develop In Females

Heritability Of Bipolar Disorder

Of course, I had the genetics for bipolar disorder passed down to me from my father. Having a parent with bipolar disorder increases your chances of getting bipolar dramatically.

  • The chances of bipolar disorder when one parent has bipolar 30-35%
  • The chances of bipolar disorder where both parents are bipolar 70-75%
  • When one twin has bipolar, the chances of a fraternal twin having bipolar disorder 14%
  • When on twin has bipolar, the chances of an identical twin having bipolar disorder 65%

The average persons chance of having bipolar disorder is 1%.

Are You Born With Bipolar

Living with BIPOLAR Disorder | Childhood Bipolar Diagnosis

So, the bottom line, is that if you have bipolar disorder, you were likely born with the predisposition for this disorder, and for many a stressful life event and/or upbringing can trigger the onset of the illness. It is important to remember that what is stressful to one person may not be stressful to another.

Also Check: Does Anxiety Cause Blurry Vision

Symptoms Of Depressive Episodes

Depressive episodes can also emerge without warning. Some of the triggers for these depressive periods include lack of sleep, excessive stress, or a negative life event, but often there is no known cause for the depression. The depressive episodes must be carefully monitored, as there is an increased risk of suicidal behavior during these phases.

Symptoms include:

  • Feelings of despair and hopelessness
  • Intense fatigue
  • Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
  • Chronic pain with no known medical cause
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Suicidal thoughts

What Is The Main Cause Of Bipolar Disorder

Factors that may increase the risk of developing bipolar disorder or act as a trigger for the first episode include: Having a first-degree relative, such as a parent or sibling, with bipolar disorder. Periods of high stress, such as the death of a loved one or other traumatic event. Drug or alcohol abuse.

Also Check: Phobia Means

Brain Structure And Function

Researchers are learning that the brain structure and function of people with bipolar disorder may be different from the brain structure and function of people who do not have bipolar disorder or other psychiatric disorders. Learning about the nature of these brain changes helps doctors better understand bipolar disorder and may in the future help predict which types of treatment will work best for a person with bipolar disorder. At this time, diagnosis is based on symptoms rather than brain imaging or other diagnostic tests.

Information For Family Carers And Friends

LIVING WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER

How can I get support?

You can speak to your GP. You should be given your own assessment through NHS mental health services to work out what effect your caring role is having on your health. And what support you need. Such as practical support and emergency support.

These are some other options for you:

  • Join a carers service
  • Join a carers support group
  • Ask your local authority for a carers assessment
  • Read about the condition
  • Apply for welfare benefits for carers

Rethink Mental Illness run carers support groups in some areas. You can also search for groups on the Carers Trust website:

How can I support the person I care for?

You might find it easier to support someone with bipolar disorder if you understand their symptoms, treatment and self-management skills.

You should be aware of what you can do if you are worried about their mental state. It can be helpful to know contact information for their mental health team or GP.

You could find out from your relative if they have a crisis plan. You could help your relative to make a crisis plan if they dont have one.

As a carer you should be involved in decisions about care planning. But you dont have a legal right to this. The medical team should encourage the person that you care for to allow information to be shared with you.

You can find out more information about:

You May Like: Anxiety Causes Fainting

More articles

Popular Articles

How To Get Over A Phobia

What Does Ptsd Feel Like