Still there are many people who misunderstand bipolar disorder to be some madness or mental problem. This is very wrong and unfortunate; bipolar disorder is a brain condition which actually represents having extreme highs or lows. This happens so quick that most people take it as a madness rather than a mental illness. A person suffering through this disorder can be at times in depression and on other hand be celebrating with friends. Also bipolar disorder is categorised into 2 categories- Bipolar 1 disorder and bipolar 2 disorders. Today we will have a look at both conditions and sight difference between them.
Bipolar 1 Disorder Vs Bipolar 2 Disorder
One thing which is common between both of them is that bipolar disorders of both kinds are known for their extreme mood changes. We spoke to Dr. Ramesh Kumar Tripathi, Clinical Psychiatrist and Consultant at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Bangalore. He told us that bipolar disorder leads to maniac episodes in both categories of disorder however it is the severity that differs.
In bipolar 1 disorder, the person experiences a full maniac episode whereas in the bipolar 2 disorder, the person only gets hypomania episode. Even though having hypomania is less severe condition but it can still have a huge impact on the person.
Person with bipolar 1 disorder experiences major depressive episodes, but the time frame is less than that of bipolar 2 disorder people. They have more severe and more severe depressive episode that permanently impacts their brain.
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Symptoms of Bipolar 1 disorder
This is a condition in which the person has atleast one manic episode which is not so depressive. In bipolar 1 disorder, the person experiences symptoms that require immediate medical attention. Symptoms of Bipolar 1 disorder include-
- Exceptional levels of energy
- Restlessness in person
- Trouble concentrating on one task
- Feeling of extreme happiness or sadness
- Risky behaviour or troublesome attitude
- Poor sleeping patterns
In the following case, the person going through this condition tends to become very obvious at some times which are also a sign of warning. If they keep to quiet at a time, they may have something destructive in their mind.
Symptoms of Bipolar 2 Disorder
In the condition of bipolar 2 disorders, the depressive episodes last for a longer duration and the person remains in hypomania situation till that time. You may often notice a person with this type of disorder sitting in the corner extremely cut off from rest of the world. A person may not get enough sleep and there are not maniac episodes as in case of type 1 bipolar disorder.
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Also the symptoms are also close to depression and hypomania stage. The person needs to have medical attention; however the urgency is less in this case because the person does not usually get at extreme levels. Here are some symptoms attached to it.
- Extreme loneliness
- Sadness and depressive tone
- Does not talk to anyone
- In a state of deep thinking
- Social skills become negligible
- Fear or phobia of certain people or things
- Poor sleep patterns
- Less eating or skipping meals
- Irritability
- Thoughts of suicide
What Causes Bipolar Disorder?
The cause behind bipolar disorder is not known. However both categories of bipolar disorder could be affected because of any condition. According to experts and studies, there are certain disturbances in your brain which leads to imbalance in chemicals and result to such situation. Certainly both types of bipolar disorders are quite problematic because if not diagnosed at correct time, a person may attempt life-threatening acts.
As some research suggests, this condition might also run in families. For example if you have a sibling or parent that is affected by bipolar disorder, then it is more likely that you may have it too. Also the gene responsible for affecting this disorder is not known yet. Hence there is not permanent cure to treat this brain disorder.
Another cause of bipolar disorder is associated with chronic stress, drug abuse and alcohol abuse. These may not directly cause this disorder but can be factors that can trigger the condition of bipolar disorder. If you might have experienced, the cases are also associated with child abuse or some tragic incidents that are associated with their childhood.
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