What is Bipolar?
What is Bipolar?
An Internship Honours Project by RaspberryCheesecake.
Bipolar
Bipolar is known as manic depression. It is a very severe mental health illness. It is characterised by mood swings. These mood swings include manic highs and depressive lows. Both male and female of any ethnic or social background can suffer from bipolar. There is no age range it targets and develops within.
The symptoms can start to occur at any time and can then reoccur when emotional pressures at their highest with the individual. Bipolar can be triggered by:
Work stress,
Study stress,
Family stress,
Emotional pressures,
Childbirth – in women,
Menopause – in women.
Unfortunately, there is no cure for bipolar, but having enough guidance and support, and receiving an early diagnosis, along with accepting the illness can still live a happy life. There are ways you can manage bipolar, and these are:
Medication,
Health care,
Therapy,
Self-management.
Types of Bipolar
There are six main types of Bipolar. These types of bipolar involve changes in the individuals: mood, activity levels and energy. These moods can range from extremely elated and energised behaviour, or very down and hopeless periods. The less severe manic periods are explained as hypomanic episodes.
The first main type of bipolar is, Bipolar 1 Disorder. This type of bipolar is defined by manic episodes. These episodes tend to last around 7 days. Sometimes the manic symptoms are so severe, the individual needs to be in immediate hospital care. Depressive episode can also occur however, these typically lasts for 2 weeks. Having episodes that consist of mixed features (depression and manic symptoms) can be possible. If this type of bipolar is untreated, manic episodes can last between three to six months. Also, without treatment, depressive episodes can last longer – between 6 to 12 months.
The second main type of bipolar is, Bipolar 2 Disorder. This type of bipolar is defined as a pattern of hypomanic and depressive episodes. However, this type of bipolar is not as severe as Bipolar 1 Disorder, because of the full-blown manic episodes that Bipolar 1 Disorder has. Majority of individuals with Bipolar 2 will likely to have more than one episode of severe depression and others could experience hypomania, which would be a 6 to 8 on the mood scale, rather than an extreme manic episode, which is 8 to 10 on the mood scale.
The third type of bipolar is, Cyclothymic Disorder. This type of bipolar is also known as Cyclothymia. This type of bipolar is defined by numerous hypomanic symptoms occurring. There are numerous periods when the individual develops depressive symptoms. These can last for 2 years, and 1 year in children and adolescents. However, this type of bipolars symptoms do not meet the diagnostic requirementsfor hypomanic episodes and depressive episodes. The symptoms can last for a period of at least 2 years. Cyclothymia can develop into bipolar.
The fourth type of bipolar is, Other Specified Bipolar. This is also known as, Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. This is when the symptoms and bipolar do not clearly indicate one of the other bipolar disorders.
The fifth type of bipolar is, Mixed State. These symptoms include stages of mania and depression at the same time. This can result in: agitation, trouble sleeping, suicidal thoughts, changes in appetite and psychosis.
The next type of bipolar is, Rapid Cycling. This is when individuals mood swings change faster. This can result in more than four mood swings within, a 12-month period. Rapid Cycling affects around 1 in 10 people with bipolar. This type of bipolar can happen with Bipolar 1 and 2.
The last type of Bipolar is Psychosis. This is sometimes severe mania or depression. On the mood scale, the mania comes out at around an 8 to 10 and depression comes out at around a 2 to 0 on the mood scale. This is accompanied by periods of psychosis. The symptoms of Psychosis can include: delusions and hallucinations.
Signs and symptoms
Individuals who have bipolar, has the following signs and symptoms, however, there are signs and symptoms for both depression and manic state of mind. These symptoms can variety from person-to-person.
Depression:
- Lack of energy,
- Self-doubt,
- Difficulty sleeping,
- Waking up early,
- Lack of appetite,
- Suicidal thoughts,
- Feeling pessimistic about everything,
- Feelings of guilt and despair,
- Feeling sad, hopeless or irritable majority of the time,
- Feelings of emptiness or worthlessness,
- Loss of interest in everyday activities,
- Difficulty concentrating and remembering things,
- Being delusional, having hallucinations and disturbed or illogical thinking.
Mania:
- Not eating,
- Talking very quickly,
- Feeling very happy, elated or overjoyed,
- Feeling self-important,
- Feeling full of energy,
- Being delusional, having hallucinations and disturbed or illogical thinking,
- Not feeling like sleeping,
- Being easily irritated or agitated,
- Being easily distracted,
- Feeling full of great new ideas and having important plans,
- Making decisions or saying things that are out of character, and that others see as being risky or harmful,
- Doing things that often have disastrous consequences, for example, spending large sums of money on expensive and sometimes unaffordable items.
What causes Bipolar?
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown. There can be a number of factors that can work together to make an individual more likely to develop the condition. There are thought to be a mix of: physical, environmental and social factors.
Chemical imbalance in the brain:
It is said that bipolar disorder is resulted of chemical imbalances in the brain. The chemicals that are responsible for controlling the brains functions are called neurotransmitters. These neurotransmitters include the chemicals: dopamine, noradrenaline and serotonin. Experts believe that if there is an imbalance in the levels of one of the neurotransmitters, individuals may develop symptoms of bipolar disorder. An example of this is when mania occurs, this is created by the levels of noradrenaline being too high. The episodes of depression may be the result of the noradrenaline levels being too low.
Genetics:
Experts also believe that bipolar disorder is linked to genetics, because it is a condition that seems to run in families. The family member or members that have bipolar disorder have a high risk of developing bipolar disorder. However, there is no single gene that is fully responsible for bipolar disorder. It is a number of environmental factors and genetic facts that act as triggers.
Triggers:
If the individual is going through a stressful circumstance or situation, then this situation can trigger some of the symptoms for bipolar disorder. Examples of triggers could include:
~ Death of a loved one or family member,
~ The breakdown of a relationship,
~ Sexual, physical or emotional abuse.
Bipolar Disorder Mood Scale
The Bipolar UK mood scale is from a scale of 0 to 10. Individuals who are not affected by bipolar will experience mood swings between 4 and 6 on the mood scale. However, if you do have bipolar, your mood swings are much higher or lower. They can be between 6 to 10. With depression part of bipolar, your levels can go as low as 4 to 0. 0 is the suicidal depression.
Hypomania (6 to 8 on the mood scale)
Individuals experiencing hypomania can come across very self-confident and euphoric, however, they may react with sudden anger, irritability or impatience. They may become more challenging and talkative, along with distracted. The individual may become more reckless than usual. This might mean that there would be errors for judgement.
Mania (8 to 10 on the mood scale)
The individual that is going through this stage may be experncing mania without knowing that it is happening. They may become incoherent, or disjointed with their thinking, this can lead to them becoming easily distracted.
Depression (4 to 0 on the mood scale)
Most individuals with bipolar experiences severe depression. Usually this will follow a period of mania or hypomania. For individuals during the winter, it is more likely for them to show signs of depression.
Facts/Trivias
• Just 1% to 2% of the population experience a lifetime of bipolar.
• On averageit takes 10.5 yearsto receive a correct diagnosis for bipolar in the UK.
• Bipolar affects every aspect of your life and your relationship. Family and friends can all be put under stress.
• Bipolar increases the risk of suicide by 20 times.
• Bipolar has a huge impact on family and friends.
Help and resources
Bipolar UK– Offers a wide range of information about bipolar, including medication and living with bipolar.
NHS - Bipolar– Learn the basics about bipolar, including diagnosis, treatment and causes of bipolar.
Mind.org.uk - Bipolar – Learn about the stigma against bipolar and real-life stories of people who live with bipolar.
Kidshealth - Bipolar – Kid friendly site about Bipolar. (Teenshealth)
Sources
https://www.bipolaruk.org/frequently-asked-questions
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bipolar-disorder/symptoms/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bipolar-disorder/causes/
https://www.bipolaruk.org/faqs/mood-scale
https://www.bipolaruk.org/faqs/bipolar-the-facts
Questions for Forum Discussion
Do you have any experience with bipolar, either from yourself or a loved one, if so, would you like to share you experience with us? But only if you are comfortable!
What type of support have you received or are you receiving from the people around you?
How do you deal with your bipolar? Would you mind sharing us any tips or ways on how youre handling it?
@Raspberrycheesecake
Do you have any experience with bipolar, either from yourself or a loved one, if so, would you like to share you experience with us? But only if you are comfortable!
I don't personally but I believe one of my family members does.
What type of support have you received or are you receiving from the people around you?
I think they have a lot of support from the family that knows :)
Thanks for the comment @wonderfulHart1330! I am sorry to hear about this, but I am so glad they have support like their family around them. Family support can make a huge difference because it makes you feel that you are not going through it alone. 
@wonderfulHart1330i'm bipolar it sucks sometimes
Wow ! Thank you so much for sharing this post, this is one of the most informative post I have come across lately. And to answer the questions:
Do you have any experience with bipolar, either from yourself or a loved one, if so, would you like to share you experience with us? But only if you are comfortable!
I myself suffer with Mixed Type Bipolar Disorder. Hmm, I'd surely like to share my story, not all of it tho coz it's really long hehe. Anyways, I got diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder last year but I know I had been struggling with it for about 4 years now. It's really tough to cope and adjust to it because my highs and lows change a few times a week and I tend to experience a lot of Mixed Episodes but I only realize it after the episode is done.
What type of support have you received or are you receiving from the people around you?
Ohhh, I receive support from my family, friends and 7cups people :') It can sometimes be overwhelming because of the amount of support and understanding they give me and I tend to feel like I would never be able to repay them for their awesomeness. But there are still those down days where I feel like I have no one and that nobody cares for me, which is pretty suck-y when I got off the low mood oof
How do you deal with your bipolar? Would you mind sharing us any tips or ways on how youre handling it?
Currently I am still struggling with Bipolar. I've tried meds but they did little to no help so I stopped taking them and aside from that, they are pretty pricey 
But the best tip I can probably give is to talk it out with someone, when you feel low and like no one really cares for you or whether you feel like your on top of the world, tell someone, someone will always be there to listen to you."A problem shared is a problem halved." And take it easy on yourself, you are but a hooman and you have limitations, too. Also, always, always ask for help when you need one or even when you feel like you don't. Help is always available, you just need to reach out 
And the most important one, is sleep, drink water and eat. We tend to forget to do this whether high or low but it's actually really important for this is what our body needs. That's all hehe
Thank you so much @QuirkyAnne! I am so glad you enjoyed the post and it was the most imformative post you've come across lately. I am sorry that you suffer with Bipolar, it must be so hard! It was so lovely to hear your story and understand how you got the help and support you have now, even when you said it was hard to cope at times! You are doing amazing!
I am so happy that you have support from both your family and friends, as well as 7Cups. It makes me so happy that you find being on 7Cups supportave and understanding. I undersatnd that it can be overwhelming with lots of support, but it can make things easier. I am sure you pay them back by being awesome and showing lots of strength! 
Having down days is okay, and I know that it can be hard to think that nobody cares for you, but even on your down days, people still care.
That's so sad that your medication wasn't working and you had to stop taking them and they were pricey! 
I agree with what you said about talking to someone about how you feel, it does make life a little easier. I understand that reaching out can be hard to do, but like you've proven - reaching out and asking for help is so much more better than keeping it all to yourself and bottling it up!
Like you said QuirkyAnne, help is always available and it always will. You should never feel like you are going through this alone, having support and listening ears around you - really changes your perspective on things! Also, sleeping, drinking water and eating is essential for our bodies. Setting reminders on your phone can help with this!
Thank you so much QuirkyAnne for sharing your story and being really brave by publishing it on this thread! You are a truly amazing person
@Raspberrycheesecake Thanks ! <3
@Raspberrycheesecake
what an amazing piece of work! You must be very proud! Well done! I learnt a lot there, it's sometimes hard to read the bare truth but you made it wonderfully interesting thank-you!
Thank you so much @MistyMagic! That means so much to me! I understand that it can be hard to read the truth, but sometimes it's good because we can spread awareness.
@Raspberrycheesecake
Yes I totally agree <3
Spreading awareness and removing stigma are things that we all need to work at
So what is your next piece of work going to cover?
Thank you so much @MistyMagic! I did do a Self-harm myths vs facts awhile ago, I might see if I can do somemore in the future, I really enjoyed doing this!
Hey everyone!
A few weeks ago, I was involved in this big drama which ended with my principal stating that I am ''bipolar". I have looked up the symptoms but I fit in some and I am free of some. Like, I have these really random mood swings (which happens a lot( and I am hyperactive most of the time.
I know that this site is just meant for support and all, but is there a chance of me being bipolar?
Hey @black1995, I am sorry to hear about the big drama you were involved in! 
I hope you are feeling okay now? As for being bipolar, your best bet is to maybe see a specialist about this and have the relevant checks to see if you are bipolar. We on 7Cups cannot diagnose you, with anything, as this is against the policies we have in place. However, I do wish you all the best and all the best of luck, if you choose to move forward with doing any tests to see if you are bipolar.
@Raspberrycheesecake I was a bit shaken but I am feeling better now. Thanks for asking. Personally speaking, I never felt that I was bipolar but hearing it from someone who has so much more experience than me kinda made me open to this possibility. I'll try and see a specialist. 
Hey @black1995, I understand it can be quite a heavy thing to take it and I understand that it shook you up! I think it would have me too! Good luck with seeing a specialist and I hope they help you out and answer any questions you have!
@Raspberrycheesecake thank you for taking out time to reply. You're a lovely person.
Thank you so much @black1995, and it's no problem at all.
Bipolar Disorder and Autism Linked!
An Internship Honors Project by Prachi9876
What is BD?
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a common mood disorder. In BD, elevated moods followed by depressed moods. These cycles can happen over days, weeks, or even months. It is a disorder of what you might call intra-psychic mentalism: in other words, reading of your own mind. Normally, we read our own mental states by way of sensing our moods, thoughts and feelings in relation to something, and report these to others with phrases like I feel like Y; I'm in the mood for X; or, I'm happy with Z. In BD these internal mind-readings become pathologically exaggerated into crippling swings from mania to depression, often combined with delusional ideas about the self, messianically megalomanic or suicidally self-critical as the case may be: intra-psychic hyper-mentalism in fact.
What is Autism?
Autism is a range of symptoms that include difficulties with social skills, speech, behavior, and communication. These challenges fall in a wide array. Each persons signs and symptoms of autism are different. ASD involves deficits in mental modules and brain centres involved with reading other peoples minds, such as gaze monitoring, conversation and social skills, interpreting body language, and so on.
According to one study, about 27 percent of children with autism show symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Research- Analyzing data from the postmortem brain tissue of over seven hundred human brains, researchers found similar levels of certain molecules in those suffering from autism, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Further analysis found links between bipolar and depression, as well as depression and autism.
In a recent study of children with autism (ages 7 to 17), it is found that nearly a third had frequent episodes of elevated mood. Just over 60 percent could be described as very irritable. Just over half talked excessively. Other common symptoms included excessive activity such as pacing (43 percent), accident proneness (44 percent), distractibility (43 percent) and a tendency to get in trouble (47 percent). Sleep disturbances were also common. The point is that all these behaviors could be considered symptoms of bipolar disorder! Yet clearly these children did not all have bipolar disorder. In many cases, their mania symptoms were, in fact, symptoms of autism. ADHD symptoms also overlap with these behaviors.
Both conditions show an activation of genes in star-shaped brain cells called astrocytes, these cells provide biochemical support to the cells that help form the blood-brain barrier, provide nutrients to nervous tissue, and play a role in the repair and scarring of the brain and spinal cord after traumatic injuries. The autism brains also show a unique increase in the expression of genes specific to immune cells called microglia.
Symptoms of bipolar disorder-They fall into two categories according to the type of mood experiencing.
Symptoms of a manic episode include:
Acting unusually happy, upbeat, and wired.
increased energy and agitation.
exaggerated sense of self and inflated self-esteem.
sleep disturbances, being easily distracted.
Symptoms of a depressive episode include:
acting or feeling down or depressed, sad, or hopeless
loss of interest in normal activities
sudden and dramatic changes in appetite
unexpected weight loss or weight gain
fatigue, loss of energy, and frequent sleeping.
Symptoms of autism include:
difficulty with social interaction and communication
practicing repetitive behaviors that are not easy to disturb
displaying very specific preferences or practices that are not easily changed
How to recognize mania in someone who has autism
Depression is often obvious and easy to identify than mania which makes it difficult to recognize mania in autism.
If you noticed a sudden shift or change in the symptoms, these behaviors may be the result of mania .Once youve identified when the symptoms appeared, look for the seven key signs of mania in people with autism.
Medical Treatment
The goal of treatment for bipolar disorder is to stabilize moods and prevent broad mood swings. This can stop problematic manic or depressive episodes. Typical treatment for bipolar disorder is either psychoactive medications like Lithium or anti-seizure mood stabilizers like Valporic acid
For children with BD and ASD, a combination of mood-stabilizing medicines and antipsychotic medicines like risperidone (Risperdal) and aripiprazole (Abilify) are used.
Some also prefer a family treatment intervention, especially with children. This combination treatment of education and therapy may help decrease severe mood swings and improve behavior.
Conclusion
The symptoms and reasons of bipolar disorder and Autism overlap with each other. But still it is possible to tease apart the symptoms of true bipolar disorder from those of autism by looking carefully at when the symptoms appeared and how long they lasted.
Bipolar Disorder is associated with a trend towards both an increased number of medication trials attempted, and slightly more medications used. A typical antipsychotics, like lithium is used most commonly Many medications were effective in this sample. It is also possible that bipolar spectrum disorders are underdiagnosed in individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Prospective treatment trials and clearer identification of diagnostic issues are necessary to provide definitive evidence to meet the clinical needs of individuals with Autism.
Helps and Resources
Autism Speaks-https://www.autismspeaks.org/
Autism Network-https://iancommunity.org/
Healthline- https://www.healthline.com/
References
https://www.7cups.com/forum/BipolarDisordersSupportCommunity_63/BipolarSupport_589/WhatisBipolar_149560/
https://www.healthline.com/health/bipolar-and-autism
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160504174903.html
QUESTIONS
1. Do you have any experience of autism with bipolar, either from yourself or a loved one, if so, would you like to share you experience with us? But only if you are comfortable!
2. What type of support have you received or are you receiving from the people around you?
3. Since we have learned about this, how will you help yourself or someone you love if you/they are having symptoms in the future?
As anyone had success in forgiving themselves from manic episodes that happened where they hurt people (not physically) but emotionally? I have long been forgiven but cannot forgive myself. Any tips?
Thanks.
@blueBeing6068 Sometimes I don't forgive myself right away, but then I remember that I do put in effort to prevent emotionally hurting others. So, it's not like I am planning to hurt others. That is a huge difference.
If you put effort in, do self care and are truly trying, one should not feel guilty. Sometimes our emotions are out of control, and things happen but we did not intend them to. I know it is easier said than done, but keep hope alive.
I hope that one day, you are able to forgive yourself. 😊
@Raspberrycheesecake excellent psycho education info. Some changes may not necessarily need changed but presented differently. Love to post for psycho education.
Hi, I am bipolar, as is my mom. And I really appreciate that you wrote this post, explaining what it really is. We are not close with Mom, so for a long time she'd been hiding what was actually happening to me. That is toxic, I know. But I cannot blame her. I was feeling so miserable at times that I could not study, could not eat properly, or do anything. I thought that everybody in the street is looking at me and seeing that I had a mental condition. Fortunately, in my college the English literature teacher recommended reading about BPD vs. Bipolar and somehow that was a step toward a normal state for me. I found a doctor later, and now I am on meds, but there are no such horrible fits as I used to have before.
@brightCake3328 Glad that you found things that work for you, yay!!! I also found things that worked for me, am very thankful. It can be trial and error and may take some time, but worth it. 💗