treatments

Bipolar Disorder has many
different faces. Bipolar Disorder is diagnosed when someone has episodes of mania that can change to depression. However, there are different types of the disorder as if being diagnosed wasn't enough.
Bipolar 1 - Episodes
of extreme mood changes that go from mania to extreme depression.
Bipolar 2 - Milder
mood elevation with milder episodes of hypomania that alternate with periods of severe depression.
Cyclothymic -
Describes brief periods of hypomania alternating with brief periods of depression that aren't as severe as the former two.
These are three of the
common diagnosis for Bipolar Disorder. Mixed episodes and rapid cycling are also considered different aspects of the disorder. A lot of times there are other mental disorders that accompany Bipolar Disorder as well as Substance Abuse.
People are often
misdiagnosed for many reasons. Often Depression is diagnosed and Substance Abuse can make it difficult to tell the difference between mood changes. Web MD has some good information about all spectrums of Bipolar Disorder. They also have a self check guide.
Although Bipolar Disorder is
lifelong disorder, there are various treatments that can help with the symptoms. Along with therapy, there are medications that also help which can include mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and others.
May is Mental Health
Awareness Month. There are plenty of resources online that can be useful in helping doctors recognize the signs and loved ones can do research to understand more about the disorder. There's so much stigma attached to Mental Illnesses so it's important to do research.
If anyone needs to do more
or are experiencing a crisis, NAMI (National Alliance of Mental Illness) has great resources and a helpline for emergency situations. Stay safe. #BipolarDisorder #mentalillnesses #WebMD #treatments #Stigma #MentalHealth