5 Things You must Know About Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness wherein an individual experiences alternate periods of depression and mania. This is also why bipolar disorder is often referred to as manic depression. People suffering from this disorder may feel ecstatic at one moment and irritable at the next. Since it is difficult to judge what comes next, people living with those having bipolar disorder usually don’t know what is happening with patients and how do they help them.
If someone you know seems to follow this pattern of behavior, that person may be suffering from bipolar disorder. The best way to confirm this is by scheduling an appointment with a psychiatrist and finding out what lies beneath. If you wish to help them, you first need to know a few things about bipolar disorder. Listed here are some of them.
1. Bipolar disorder can be life threatening
Bipolar disorder may sound like your regular mental disorder but it is not really so. It is a life threatening illness that can lead to death due to neurological conditions and suicide, in many cases. Even if it doesn’t pose a risk of death, it can still negatively affect one’s day to day life. Studies reveal that bipolar disorder needs attention all through the life, even if a patient has successfully recovered from it. In short, it can backfire anytime. The only difference after initial treatment and recovery is that the type of medication or treatment may change.
2. Individuals suffering from bipolar disorder may be addicted
It has been found that many patients suffering from bipolar disorder are addicted to drugs, or drinks or something else like a particular medication. Research says that individuals suffering from bipolar disorder give in to addictions so as to get back to a normal state or stay in a particular state for some amount of time. What happens in that case is, they have to opt for dual diagnosis in order to treat the disorder and also to let go of the addiction.
3. Individuals suffering from bipolar disorder are more likely to commit suicide
Research reveals that out of all the people committing suicide, the highest number is of those suffering from bipolar disorder. Although bipolar disorder allows its patients to enjoy moments of delight, their episodes of depression are so imposing that many times they don’t just contemplate but even commit suicide.
