Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings.
The following are key symptoms:
- Manic episodes or an extremely elevated mood
- episodes of depression, or a low mood
Manic depression and bipolar disease are two older terms for it.
Bipolar is not an uncommon condition. According to the National Institute of Mental Health Trusted Source, 2.8 percent of U.S. adults, or approximately 5 million people, have it.
Although there is no cure for bipolar disorder, there are many effective treatments available. These treatment options can assist you in learning how to manage mood swings, which can improve not only your symptoms but also your overall quality of life.
Bipolar disorder classifications
Bipolar disorder is classified into three types: bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymia.
Bipolar I
The presence of at least one manic episode characterizes Bipolar I. Before and after the manic episode, you may experience hypomanic episodes, which are less severe than manic episodes, or major depressive episodes. This type of bipolar disorder affects both men and women equally.
Bipolar II
Bipolar II patients have one major depressive episode that lasts at least two weeks. They also have at least one four-day hypomanic episode. This type of bipolar disorder may be more common in women, according to a 2017 Trusted Source review.
Cyclothymia
Cyclothymia patients experience hypomania and depression.
These episodes are characterized by symptoms that are shorter and less severe than those associated with bipolar I or bipolar II disorder. The majority of people with this condition only have no mood symptoms for 1 or 2 months at a time.
Some people have distinct mood symptoms that resemble but do not entirely correspond to these three types. If this is the case for you, you may be given the following diagnosis:
- other bipolar disorders and related disorders
- unspecified bipolar disorder and associated disorders
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