How To Recognize Bipolar Disorder Triggers
Unexpected fluctuations in mood and activity can characterize bipolar disorder. These mood episodes intrinsic to bipolar disorder might sometimes appear spontaneous and unpredictable, but certain triggers can also cause them. You may be able to identify triggers when a generally easygoing individual starts to grow irritable. You can also look for signs of an impending shift to mania or depression based on certain signs.
Understanding and recognizing the triggers and signs for bipolar disorder is extremely helpful as a part of a treatment plan to help your loved one avoid stressful situations, maintain stable moods, and seek treatment after a reaction has already occurred. It also helps to know what to expect and seek the necessary resources when your loved one is going through a challenging time.
The following are some of the most common early warning signals of a manic episode:
Changes in sleep routines or sleep deprivation
Sleep disruptions can serve as a trigger for depressive episodes and mood shifts. According to research, sleep deprivation is the most frequently reported trigger of mood episodes in people who have bipolar disorder.¹
Drug or alcohol use
Drug and alcohol use for recreational purposes are well-known bipolar disorder triggers resulting in bouts of manic or hypomanic behavior or depressed episodes due to several neurological causes. When it comes to bipolar disorder, heavy, long-term alcohol and drug use is especially a matter of great concern.
Learn More About Bipolar Disorder
If you are working on supporting a friend through bipolar disorder, the first step to take is learning as much as you can about bipolar disorder.
You can dispel the myths you may believe about the disorder. You can learn more about how its treated and what to expect if your friend or loved one is in a period of mania or depression.
There are risks associated with bipolar disorder, including the potential for dangerous behaviors during periods of mania or suicidal thoughts or behaviors during a depressive period. The more you know about the disorder in general, the more prepared you will be to spot potential warning signs and seek the appropriate help for your friend or loved one.
How Is Bipolar Disorder Diagnosed
To diagnose bipolar disorder, a health care provider may complete a physical exam, order medical testing to rule out other illnesses, and refer the person for an evaluation by a mental health professional. Bipolar disorder is diagnosed based on the severity, length, and frequency of an individuals symptoms and experiences over their lifetime.
Some people have bipolar disorder for years before its diagnosed for several reasons. People with bipolar II disorder may seek help only for depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes may go unnoticed. Misdiagnosis may happen because some bipolar disorder symptoms are like those of other illnesses. For example, people with bipolar disorder who also have psychotic symptoms can be misdiagnosed with schizophrenia. Some health conditions, such as thyroid disease, can cause symptoms like those of bipolar disorder. The effects of recreational and illicit drugs can sometimes mimic or worsen mood symptoms.
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What Bipolar Disorder Is
Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder that affects the brain. As mentioned earlier, the disorder affects a persons mood, energy and activity levels, and their ability to complete everyday tasks. If you have heard the term manic-depressive disorder or manic-depressive illness, these are other names for bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorders bring sudden and dramatic changes in mood, which can be so extreme that they impair a persons ability to think and reason properly. A person with the illness could be energetic at one point and then experience extreme depression at another point. This cycling of behavioral changes is unpredictable. As a result, some people with bipolar are prone to risky behaviors and suicidal tendencies.
NIMH identifies three types of bipolar: bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymic disorder .
Bipolar I involves manic episodes that last at least seven days. A person with bipolar I experiences periods of unusually high mood and high energy that disrupt their lives. Manic symptoms are so severe that they require immediate hospital treatment. People with this type of bipolar may also struggle to work or socialize with other people. They also are susceptible to experiencing psychosis, a mental illness that causes one to lose touch with reality. Bipolar I can include depressive episodes that last two weeks, and people can have depression and manic symptoms occur at the same time.
Make Safety A Priority
Some people with bipolar disorder may become verbally or physically abusive. Aggressive behavior is most common when folks are not sticking with treatment and during active mood episodes when substance use also plays a role. If youre worried about your safety, try to remove yourself from the situation as soon as possible.
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Theresas Delicate Balancing Act
Theresa and her paranoid coworker have a difficult time interacting, but they try to maintain a positive relationship. Theresa realizes that she cannot force her coworker to cooperate with her, but she does not want to alienate him. Her boss gave her pointers on how to approach her coworker, and she promised to work with him as a mentor to improve the working relationship. Theresa understands that she has no authority to force her coworker to change, but she hopes that if they work together, they can both improve their situations.
What Are The Symptoms Of Mania
Symptoms of a manic episode
- Having an abnormally high level of activity or energy.
- Feeling extremely happy or excited even euphoric.
- Not sleeping or only getting a few hours of sleep but still feeling rested.
- Having an inflated self-esteem, thinking youre invincible.
- Being more talkative than usual. Talking so much and so fast that others cant interrupt.
- Having racing thoughts having lots of thoughts on lots of topics at the same time .
- Being easily distracted by unimportant or unrelated things.
- Being obsessed with and completely absorbed in an activity.
- Displaying purposeless movements, such as pacing around your home or office or fidgeting when youre sitting.
- Showing impulsive behavior that can lead to poor choices, such as buying sprees, reckless sex or foolish business investments.
Psychotic symptoms of a manic episode
- Delusions. Delusions are false beliefs or ideas that are incorrect interpretations of information. An example is a person thinking that everyone they see is following them.
- Hallucinations. Having a hallucination means you see, hear, taste, smell or feel things that arent really there. An example is a person hearing the voice of someone and talking to them when theyre not really there.
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Tips For Interacting With Someone Who Experiences Bipolar Anger
Interacting with someone who experiences the symptoms of bipolar anger can be challenging. So first, practice healthy coping skills to avoid the common pitfalls discussed above. As you begin to understand your loved ones condition better, youll also learn to anticipate and manage their anger.
In the meantime, here are a dozen quick strategies to help you cope until you can find a therapist:
Watch For Warning Signs Of Bipolar Disorder Relapse
Even if your loved one with bipolar disorder is committed to treatment, there may be times when their symptoms get worse. Take action right away if you notice any troubling symptoms or mood changes. Point out the emerging bipolar symptoms to your loved one and alert the doctor. With swift intervention, you may be able to prevent an episode of mania or depression from developing fully.
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Changes In Sleep Routines Or Sleep Deprivation
Changes in sleep routines or sleep deprivation can lead to an increased likelihood of irritability and anger. Trouble sleeping is a common symptom when someone with bipolar is experiencing mania or hypomania and can lead to increased irritability if there is a crash or low period following the manic period.
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How Is Mania Diagnosed
Your healthcare provider will ask about your medical history, family medical history, current prescriptions and non-prescription medications and any herbal products or supplements you take. Your provider may order blood tests and body scans to rule out other conditions that may mimic mania. One such condition is hyperthyroidism. If other diseases and conditions are ruled out, your provider may refer you to a mental health specialist
To be diagnosed with mania, your mental health specialist may follow the criteria of the American Psychiatric Associations Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-5. Their criteria for manic episode is:
- You have an abnormal, long-lasting elevated expression of emotion along with a high degree of energy and activity that lasts for at least one week and is present most of the day, nearly every day.
- You have three or more symptoms to a degree that theyre a noticeable change from your usual behavior .
- The mood disturbance is severe enough to cause significant harm to your social, work or school functioning or theres a need to hospitalize you to prevent you from harming yourself or others, or you have psychotic features, such as hallucinations or delusions.
- The manic episode cant be caused by the effects of a substance or another medical condition.
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What Are The Different Types Of Bipolar Disorder
There are different types of bipolar disorder.
What is bipolar disorder I disorder?
A diagnosis of bipolar I disorder means you will have had at least 1 episode of mania that lasts longer than 1 week. You may also have periods of depression. Manic episodes will generally last 3-6 months if left untreated. Depressive episodes will generally last 6-12 months without treatment.
What is bipolar II disorder?
A diagnosis of bipolar II disorder means it is common to have symptoms of depression. You will have had at least 1 period of major depression. And at least 1 period of hypomania instead of mania.
What is bipolar I or II disorder with mixed features?
You will experience symptoms of mania or hypomania and depression at the same time. You may hear this being called mixed bipolar state. You may feel very sad and hopeless at the same time as feeling restlessness and being overactive.
What is bipolar I or II disorder with rapid cycling?
Rapid cycling means you have had 4 or more depressive, manic or hypomanic episodes in a 12-month period.
What is bipolar I or II with seasonal pattern?
Seasonal pattern means that either your depression, mania or hypomania is regularly affected in the same way by the seasons. For example, you may find that each winter you have a depressive episode, but your mania doesnt regularly follow a pattern.
There can be some similarities between bipolar I or II with seasonal pattern and another conditional called seasonal affective disorder.
Types Of Bipolar Disorder
People are diagnosed with three basic types of bipolar disorder that involve clear changes in mood, energy, and activity levels. These moods range from manic episodes to depressive episodes.
- Bipolar I disorder is defined by manic episodes that last at least 7 days or when manic symptoms are so severe that hospital care is needed. Usually, separate depressive episodes occur as well, typically lasting at least 2 weeks. Episodes of mood disturbance with mixed features are also possible. The experience of four or more episodes of mania or depression within a year is termed rapid cycling.
- Bipolar II disorder is defined by a pattern of depressive and hypomanic episodes, but the episodes are less severe than the manic episodes in bipolar I disorder.
- Cyclothymic disorder is defined by recurrent hypomanic and depressive symptoms that are not intense enough or do not last long enough to qualify as hypomanic or depressive episodes.
Other specified and unspecified bipolar and related disorders is a diagnosis that refers to bipolar disorder symptoms that do not match the three major types of bipolar disorder outlined above.
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Create A Plan For Handling Emergencies
Unfortunately, when someone is living with bipolar disorder, there may be an emergency or crises that arise. For example, someone may be having suicidal thoughts. When your friend is doing well, work together on an emergency or crisis plan.
Your friend can outline the steps they will take if they feel a crisis occurring and you can also highlight what steps you will take. A bipolar diagnosis isnt the end of a persons world or life. It can be filled with ups and downs, but treatment can help drastically when someone has bipolar disorder.
If you care about someone with bipolar, youll likely face your own set of challenges. Make sure that you take the time to care for your well-being so that you can be a strong support system and advocate for the person you care about.
If you or someone you know has bipolar disorder, which is often a co-occurring disorder with substance abuse, contact The Recovery Village and speak with a representative to learn about treatment programs and options.
Youre Acting Like A Psycho
Not only is this an inaccurate description of bipolar symptoms, but it reinforces the stigma associated with bipolar disorder, which is harmful and hurtful to those with the condition.
Whats more, experiencing that stigma can heighten a persons symptoms and reduce their overall quality of life, according to research published in the Journal of Affective Disorders .
In reality, most people with bipolar disorder are kind and loving people who just happen to have a mental health condition that makes it difficult for them to regulate their moods, Hafeez says.
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Is It Hard To Live With Someone With Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder doesnt define an individual but can affect their mood and behavior.
You might find some of your loved ones behaviors upsetting or challenging to manage at home. This could negatively affect your relationship with them, as well as your mental health and quality of life.
It may also affect your relationships with other family members or housemates.
If you help to care for someone with bipolar disorder, your caregiving responsibilities might limit your social activities or ability to work. This might lead to social isolation, financial difficulties, or other challenges related to your living situation.
Developing effective strategies to cope with challenges that arise at home is important. It may help improve your relationship, living situation, and quality of life.
Its also important for people with bipolar disorder to get treatment and learn how to manage their condition. This can help limit their symptoms and reduce relationship conflicts.
Learning to manage bipolar disorder is an ongoing process. It may take time for you and your loved one to develop coping strategies that work well for you.
Help Them Keep Up With Their Appointments
Staying on top of appointments and medication management are important when someones receiving treatment for bipolar. Just like you cant make someone receive treatment, you cant force them to go to appointments. What you can do is help them create a calendar of appointments and when to take their medications. You can also remind them of appointments and if they like maybe you can drive them or go with them if its something youre both comfortable with.
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Do People With Bipolar Disorder Know They Have The Condition Before Getting Diagnosed
Sometimes. For example, Ayetoro had suspicions for years before officially being diagnosed in 2014.
I experienced what I thought were abnormal swings in mood from very high energy to very low energy for a very long time before. My moods would get so low that I was spending unusual amounts of time in bed depressed, she recalls. It was strange that this depression would follow periods of extremely high spirits.
She experienced two manic episodes before receiving her diagnosis. It was somewhat of a relief to put a name to what was with me, but then began the hard road to stability.
On the other hand, Howard was surprised to receive a diagnosis of bipolar I with psychosis at age 25. As for what made me believe I may have had an illness literally nothing. I was tricked into going to the hospital. Up until the moment I was admitted, I thought everything was normal. It was quite the shock.
Who would I be without bipolar disorder? Id love to find out, he adds. But harnessing my mind and using it to the best of my ability has been my lifes work.
Recognize When You Need To Back Away And Gently Verbalize It
Sometimes, you will need to back away from a situation with someone who has bipolar disorder. But how do you do so without offending them and making the situation worse?
First of all, remember your own need for self-care. If your involvement with this person is causing you to throw your own needs to the wind, pause. Take a breath and back up. If this person is someone you work with, remember to keep your work and home lives as separate as possible. If this person is a friend or family member, you might need to consider letting go of the reigns and giving control over their situation to a licensed professional.
Your loved one has their limits so do you. Focus on your own life while still lending your support. Get support for yourself if you start feeling overwhelmed. Caregivers, in particular, get overwhelmed quickly, and that is when it can be truly helpful to talk to your own counselor.
Set your boundaries and stick to them. Let your loved one know if you need some time to yourself. You can tell them, Hey, Im feeling worn out right now. Is it okay if we talk about things later? Never set an absolute date, but use words like later to let them know you still want to support them and talk with them about their issues. You just cannot do it at the moment when you are feeling inundated and stressed out.
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