What Is It Like To Have Bipolar Disorder?
Learn what it’s like to have bipolar disorder. Discover the symptoms you should look out for and when should you seek medical attention.
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What is it really like to have bipolar disorder? Clisver Alvarez, describes it as a very rough experience that needs a lot of work but, like anything else, has silver linings.
Clisver Alvarez is the Owner and Founder of Blue Greis Lifestyle in Tennessee, a life coaching business through which she helps others by using her story – part of which is her struggle with bipolar.
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness also known as “the manic depressive illness that causes unusual changes in your mood, activity levels, energy”.
It affects your ability to function when doing daily activities.
Bipolar disorder can occur at any point in life, and it affects both men and women equally. There is sadly no cure for bipolar disorder but there are treatments for its symptoms.
There are two types of bipolar disorder, bipolar disorder I which involves periods of severe mood episodes from mania to depression, and bipolar II disorder which is a milder form of hypomania.
The exact cause of the bipolar disorder is unknown but the main factors that cause it are biological differences like a chemical imbalance, genetics, and environmental factors like mental stress and abuse.
Disclaimer: Please remember that this post is not intended to replace proper medical guidance or medication. If you suspect you have mental health issues, then please see your doctor to obtain a diagnosis. Alternatively, you can get matched to a licensed therapist online who is available 24/7.
Usual symptoms of bipolar disorder
Anyone can have ups and downs, but bipolar disorder is a bit more extreme. People living with bipolar disorder can have highs and lows. The highs are usually called a manic episode, and the lows can be called a depressive episode.
The mania usually presents itself with many different symptoms, such as:
- feeling very elated
- having a lot of energy
- having increased activity levels
- feeling “jumpy” or “wired”
- having trouble sleeping
- becoming more active than usual.
- talking fast about a lot of different things, or becoming agitated, irritable, or “touchy”.
- having racing thoughts.
- acting or believing that they can do a lot of things at once
- doing risky things, like spend a lot of money or do things like reckless driving and have a lot of promiscuous sex.
The depressive episode, on the other hand, can consist of symptoms like:
- feeling very sad, down, empty, or hopeless
- having low energy
- experiencing decreased activity levels
- having times where you may have trouble sleeping or sleep too much
- feeling like they can’t enjoy anything or feeling worried and empty
- having trouble concentrating and forgetting things a lot
- eating too much or too little
- feeling tired or “slowed down”
- thinking about death or suicide.
In America, 30%-70% of suicide victims have suffered from a form of depression. This is the reason why we must show support to people with bipolar depression.
When to seek help
Seek medical attention regularly.
To keep your symptoms from getting severe, you must get the help you need.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms above – especially insomnia, racing thoughts and irritability, recognise that those are possible signs of a manic episode.
These can be very destructive.
However, if you have feelings of sadness, loss of hope, and feel suicidal please see a doctor or a licenced therapist immediately.
Treatments
There are two ways you can treat bipolar disorder: either with medications and/or therapy.
There are three kinds of medications that can work as one or in combination to treat bipolar disorder: mood stabilizers, atypical antipsychotics, and/or antidepressants.
Another way to treat bipolar disorder is through therapy and like medication, this is also used in combination: cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal/social rhythm therapy, psychoeducation, prodromal detection therapy – particularly useful for preventing manic relapses and family-focused therapy.
Bipolar stigma
There is a big stigma that people with mental health issues are demented and or crazy.
I feel that the term crazy is very strong when describing a person and that we should not use it so loosely.
Many people fall into dark places like alcoholism and drug use because they don’t have the support from their families and peers.
Yet what many people don’t know is that many bipolar people can grow up to become great people. For example, Demi Lovato, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Russell Brand, Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain, Winston Churchill, Vincent Van Gogh were all said to be bipolar. And they are or were great successful individuals.
People with bipolar disorder have a lot of trouble building normal relationships with family and friends because it is so hard for them to control their emotions.
Yet, with the right support and treatment, they can learn to live a normal life.
Also, they say that people that suffer from this illness are more in tune with their emotions. This, in turn makes them better lovers and more well-rounded people.
What is it like to have bipolar disorder: My experience with bipolar mania
I myself have bipolar disorder and my experience with it has been very rough for me, especially when my parents didn’t know what was wrong with me.
The first time I got sick, I was psychotic and I left my house in the middle of the night without telling anyone. I was only 16 and I went to the hospital thinking and saying that I could not breathe. They prescribed prednisolone – a steroid for asthma.
From that moment on I became psychotic. I remember thinking that I was pregnant and telling my then-boyfriend to jump off the building ledge because I was suicidal.
Another time I was in the hospital with my mom and I remember seeing women get stabbed with scissors by a cop. There was also one time where I had an out of body experience and I thought I got hit by a car and saw myself walking beside me.
I even thought I was saving the world one time and that I was the next Jesus Christ, that was after nine months of me not taking my medication after having my son Ethen.
Whilst there are many things that can trigger an episode, I think mine is stress.
Yet being bipolar is not all bad.
I am more creative when I’m sick and I do more. I’m more loving and emotional which makes me a better person when it comes to relationships and expressing my feelings.
My husband says that because I’m bipolar our sex life is amazing.
I love to write, draw, design, and create things.
I have a lot of energy, and I always have a positive attitude.
Disclaimer: Please remember that this post is not intended to replace proper medical guidance or medication. If you suspect you have mental health issues, then please see your doctor to obtain a diagnosis. Alternatively, you can get matched to a licensed therapist online who is available 24/7.
