Hello.
I'm Dr. Marc Frye and I'm
a psychiatrist at Mayo Clinic.
We all experience
the emotional ups and downs of life.
But when these mood swings become extreme,
changed suddenly and negatively
impact our function and our quality of life.
It may be due to a mental health condition
called bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder,
formerly called manic depression,
is a mental health condition that
causes extreme mood swings,
including emotional highs and lows,
with an associated marked change in energy.
During an emotional high,
you may feel euphoric or unusual, irritable.
Importantly,
the corresponding energy change can
be highly productive or unusually impulsive.
This is called mania.
A less severe form is called hypomania.
During an emotional low,
also called depression.
You may feel sad, hopeless,
apathetic, or have thoughts
that life is not worth living.
Again, the corresponding energy change
can be prominent.
Lethargy, feeling exhausted, sometimes,
an inability to get out of bed.
These mood swings can affect sleep, energy,
activity, judgment,
behavior, and the ability to think clearly.
Both episodes of mania and
depression can cause
great difficulty with work,
school, social activities,
and our relationships.
Bipolar disorder affects
more than 5 million
adult Americans every year.
The average age of illness onset is about 25,
but it can occur in adolescents or late life.
In contrast to major depression,
bipolar disorder affects men and women.
Equally.
Individuals with bipolar disorder
appear to have Brighton changes.
And it's more common in people who have
a sibling or parent with the condition.
Symptoms may include mania
and hypomania and depression.
Episodes of mood swings may
occur rarely or multiple times a year.
Most people experience
emotional symptoms between episodes,
while some may not.
There are two main types of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar type one disorder means an individual
has had at some point in
the past a manic episode.
In some cases, mania may
trigger a break from reality,
also known as psychosis.
With bipolar type to disorder.
An individual has had
at least one hypomanic episode in the past,
but never a manic episode.
We rely on a thorough interview,
asking questions about symptoms and history,
as well as the physical exam,
additional psychiatric assessments,
and or mood tracking.
Although bipolar disorder is
a lifelong condition,
symptoms can be very effectively managed.
In most cases, bipolar disorder is
treated with medications and counseling.
Bipolar disorder doesn't get
better on its own.
If you have any symptoms
of depression or mania,
please see your Dr.
or mental health professional.
Suicidal thoughts are common
among people with bipolar disorder.
If you or someone you love is
having suicidal thoughts called 988,
the suicide and crisis lifeline.
If you have a loved one who is in
immediate danger of suicide,
make sure someone stays with that person,
called 911 or your local
emergency room number immediately.
Or if you can do so safely,
take the person to
the nearest hospital emergency room.
If you're experiencing bipolar disorder,
you are not alone.
1.25 Americans live with
a serious mental illness,
such as bipolar disorder,
schizophrenia, or major depression.
You don't have to struggle with
mental health conditions by
herself, reach out,
seek help, find resources,
looking for more information
about bipolar disorder.
Does it Mayo clinic.org.