Bipolar disorder, in general, is a type of severe mental health condition which is often characterized as mood changes, manic or hypomanic periods, or depressive episodes. There are extreme changes in moods and behaviors which can impact daily activities, professionals as well as personal life. Therefore, characteristics of bipolar disorder vary to a great extent in men and women. Women going through bipolar disorders are more likely to cause serious risk due to hormonal changes. But with proper treatment and medications, it’s possible to have a favorable lifestyle.
Types of bipolar disorder
Before this, let’s understand the types of bipolar disorders. There are three main types of disorders: Bipolar Disorder I, Bipolar Disorder II, and Cyclothymic Disorder.
Bipolar Disorder I: It is characterized by only one manic episode and lasts only for some days or weeks. It occurs equally both in men and women which impacts the overall functioning level of the body.
Bipolar Disorder II: It is characterized by only one hypomanic episode or major depressive episode which mainly lasts for at least two weeks. Women are more likely to develop Bipolar II disorder and have mixed episodes of mood swings.
Cyclothymic disorder: Cyclothymic disorder is considered to be a less severe form of bipolar disorder. Also, the signs and symptoms don’t meet the norms for manic or hypomanic episodes and it lasts for around a few weeks to months, and mood shifts under this aren’t as extreme as those in other bipolar disorders.
Signs and Symptoms
To understand how bipolar disorder can affect women it’s important to know about the signs and symptoms related to bipolar disorder as women with such disorder tend to get more depressive episodes than men. Some of the key symptoms include:
– Mania
– Hypomania
– Mixed Mania
Mania
It has a relatively severe negative impact than those with the other two. During manic episodes, a person may feel highly energetic and creative, disrupting the day-to-day activities. Furthermore, distractibility, racing thoughts, and engagement in life-threatening activities are also some of the major symptoms. Some severe symptoms of mania are paranoia, hallucinations, and impulsivity.
Hypomania
It is typically a less or milder form of mania that lasts only for days or so. Symptoms, in this case, are not as extremes as mania. Both disorders usually have similar symptoms. Hypomania may present with irritability, significant mood swings, changes in sleep patterns, and lack of concentration.
Mixed Mania
People with manic and hypomanic episodes might also encounter or experience mixed episodes. As females are more likely to experience mixed episodes than males. There is rapid cycling which is linked to increased rates of depression, suicide, and anxiety.
Treatments and management in women
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong mental health condition that is quite common in women. But there isn’t a cure for bipolar disorder yet there are many treatments and options which are available to help women to manage the symptoms.
Medications
They are often used as the primary treatment option to control bipolar symptoms. In the first place, drugs are used which include antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and antidepressants. They are used as an initial treatment, though this type of medication can also cause some side effects such as vomiting, nausea, and drowsiness which are easily treatable. Women especially when they are pregnant should discuss with their doctors or health care provider before engaging in any sort of medication.
Therapy
Therapy is essentially advised by health experts especially people with mental health disorders. Coping up with bipolar disorder can be challenging but through therapy, the process seems worth satisfying. Therapy when in combination with medication can be a more effective option to manage bipolar disorder.
Physical and Mental Exercise
Exercise plays a vital role in better wellbeing. Though bipolar disorders are typically managed and coped up by the above methods, adding exercise to the treatment can help to manage them better. As women go through severe mood changes during disorder episodes thus exercise has a great positive effect on their mood swings, behavior and helps to combat stress and anxiety.
Causes
A serious cause of the bipolar disorder is still not clear. There is no specific or particular cause of a person being manic, hypomanic, or mixed. However, it is said that genetic and environmental factors play a major role in such conditioning. Some of the prime cause is:
- Significant and stressful life
- Sleep-deprived lifestyle or lack of sleep.
- Family history
- Pregnancy
- Drugs and alcohol abuse
- Pregnancy
- Traumatic events
- Seasonal changes
Bipolar disorders require management that must be monitored for a lifetime. There are many more trusted sources through which one can easily learn about the aspects of bipolar disorder. Healthcanal content is medically reviewed and provides great insights on the same. If an individual suspects any kind of symptoms mentioned above or any seasonal episodes it’s good to see a doctor or psychiatrist. As they both cause elevated energy and mood disturbances, it’s better to have timely treatment as living with such bipolar disorders is very challenging. If an individual suspects any kind of symptoms mentioned above or any seasonal episodes it’s good to see a doctor or psychiatrist. As they both cause elevated energy and mood disturbances, it’s better to have timely treatment as living with such bipolar disorders is very challenging.