How does bipolar disorder affect mental health?
When your mood shifts to mania or hypomania (less extreme than mania), you may feel euphoric, full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgment, behavior and the ability to think clearly.
What mental illness does bipolar disorder mimic?
Mental disorders which may be commonly confused with bipolar disorder include Borderline Personality Disorder , Schizoaffective Disorder, Unipolar Depression, and Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder.
How serious is being bipolar?
Bipolar disorder is a relatively common but serious mental health condition that involves changes in mood, energy levels, and attention, alongside other symptoms. It can severely disrupt a person’s life, but treatment can drastically improve the outlook.
What can be mistaken for bipolar?
As mentioned previously, the most common misdiagnosis for bipolar patients is unipolar depression. An incorrect diagnosis of unipolar depression carries the risk of inappropriate treatment with antidepressants, which can result in manic episodes and trigger rapid cycling.
Who is qualified to diagnose a bipolar disorder?
Because bipolar is relatively uncommon, affecting only 2.8% of the population, and because treatment is so specific, it should only be diagnosed by a medical doctor who specializes in mental health. In most cases, a psychiatrist or psychologist is most qualified to assess whether you meet the bipolar diagnosis criteria.
How do the doctors diagnose bipolar disorder?
To diagnose bipolar disorder, a doctor may perform a physical examination, conduct an interview and order lab tests. While bipolar disorder cannot be seen on a blood test or body scan, these tests can help rule out other illnesses that can resemble the disorder, such as hyperthyroidism .
How bad is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder affects your mental state. It can cause episodes of mania and depression. These episodes can have a negative impact on all aspects of your life. Someone with bipolar disorder can be in a state of extreme joy or extreme despair. These episodes can alter your ability to function.
How can you treat bipolar without medication?
Daily routine can also be an excellent way to treat bipolar without medication (or alongside existing medication). It has been shown that a strict bipolar routine involving good sleep hygiene, eating, sleeping and socializing times can be a natural mood stabilizer.