Bipolar Disorder
What Is It?
About 1 in every 100 adults has Bipolar Disorder at some point in their life. It usually starts between the ages of 15 to 19 and rarely starts after the age of 40.
Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder that affects your moods, which can swing from one extreme to another. People with this condition have periods of feeling really low to periods of feeling really manic. When someone is depressed, they may experience low mood, have a lack of energy and problems with sleep and eating. When someone is manic, they may feel irritable, have lots of racing thoughts and lots of energy.
Unlike simple mood swings, each extreme episode of Bipolar Disorder can last for several weeks.
What Might Help?
- Psychological treatment. Talking therapy can help you deal with difficulties you experience and help you to understand and make sense of your condition.
- Medication. This can be used to help treat Bipolar and it’s really important that when prescribed it is taken regularly.
- Identifying early warning signs that you are becoming unwell. Learning to recognise the triggers can be really helpful.
- Lifestyle advice. Doing regular exercise, planning activities that you enjoy, improving diet and getting more sleep can really help to make you feel relaxed and reduce stress.
Useful Clips and Stories:
Top Apps:
- Bipolar Disorder Connect
- Imoodjournal
Extra Info:
- Bipolar UK is a helpful website
- More information on Bipolar
- Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder by Fast & Preston, 2012