WISCONSIN UNITED
for MENTAL HEALTH

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder is characterized by severe mood swings and behavioral changes. It affects approximately 1 percent of the population, and affects males and females equally. People with Bipolar Disorder experience mood changes that vary from feeling “on top of the world” to wallowing in the depths of depression. This disorder also is known as manic-depression.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

The manic phase—When people first experience a manic phase, they feel a rather sudden onset of elation or euphoria that increases in a matter of days and may become a serious impairment. Symptoms of the manic phase may include:

• A mood that seems excessively good, euphoric or expansive. The person feels elated and nothing—including bad news, a horrifying event or a tragedy— alters this happiness. The mood is inappropriate given the situation and the person’s personality.
• Expressions of unwarranted optimism and lack of judgment. Self-confidence can reach the point of grandiose delusions. The person may think that nothing can prevent the accomplishment of a goal. Hallucinations may occur.
• Excessive plans or participation in numerous activities that have a good chance for failure. Enthusiasm about activities can become so intense that the person fails to recognize there isn’t enough time in the day for all of them.
• Flight of ideas. The person’s thoughts race uncontrollably. Ideas change abruptly from topic to topic.
• Decreased need for sleep. The person can go for days with little or no sleep without feeling tired.
• Distractibility. The person’s attention is easily diverted to inconsequential or unimportant details.
• Sudden irritability, rage or paranoia. When the person’s grandiose plans do not work out, an emotional outburst may occur.

Untreated, the manic phase can last as long as three months. As it decreases, the person may have a period of normal mood and behavior. Eventually, however, the depressive phase of the illness sets in.

The depressive phase—In some people, depression occurs immediately or within a few months. With others, a long interval precedes the next manic or depressive episode. The depressive phase has the same symptoms as major or unipolar depression.


Treatment of Bipolar Disorder

Recovery is possible for people with Bipolar Disorder. A combination of psychotherapy and medication returns the vast majority of people to happy, functioning lives. Without treatment, Bipolar Disorder can become disabling. And even with treatment the disorder can sometimes be difficult to regulate. It’s not unusual for it to take time (months to years) to find the correct medication and to learn effective ways to cope with the illness.

Prescribed medications successfully reduce the number and intensity of manic episodes. They also may prevent repeated episodes of depression, although some may need an antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication as well. All medications can have side effects and must be monitored carefully by a psychiatrist or other physician. Blood levels of the drug need to be measured and kidney, liver and thyroid functions also should be monitored.

Coping with Bipolar Disorder

Learning how to reduce stress can be crucial, because stress can largely impact Bipolar Disorder. Here are some tips for reducing stress:

• Take breaks and set aside time to relax
• Seek jobs that are not stressful to you
• Avoid excessive contact with people with whom you have conflicts
• Maintain regular working, eating and sleeping habits
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and illegal substances

The stresses of Bipolar Disorder can cause serious disruptions to family life. Professional care may help both family members and persons with bipolar disorder alike. Family members can learn coping strategies to help themselves as well as ways to become active in the person’s treatment.

People who cope successfully with Bipolar Disorder have learned it’s their responsibility to manage their illness. This means taking active steps to learn how to deal with the illness. They seek and use the help of mental health professionals, families and friends. And most of all, they rely on themselves to find the combination of medication, psychotherapy, social contacts and personal habits that works best for them.