Bipolar disorder is a severe mental health condition that results in extreme shifts in mood and energy that can make day-to-day living difficult. Untreated bipolar disorder can harm relationships and careers, and in some cases, it can lead to suicide. The causes of bipolar disorder are unknown, but research has shown that several factors can contribute to the development of bipolar disorder.
If you or someone you love struggles with or suspects bipolar disorder, contact Honey Lake Clinic at 888.428.0562 for Christian-based bipolar disorder treatment based in Florida.
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic-depressive illness, is characterized by alternating periods of depression and mania or hypomania, which can significantly impact a person’s ability to function. Symptoms and the experience of bipolar disorder vary from person to person. Some people have very clear mood swings, with symptoms of mania and then of depression, each lasting for several days, weeks, or even months.
Others experience less definition between the two. A mixed state is when a manic and a depressive episode happens at the same time, leaving the person to feel negative, as with depression, but also feeling wired, amped up, and restless.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
Typically, medical and mental health professionals look for manic behavior as a key to identifying bipolar disorder.
During a manic episode, a person may demonstrate symptoms like:
- Impaired judgment and feeling wired
- Distraction, boredom, and missing or underperforming at work or school
- Unrealistic belief in one’s abilities and denial of any issues
- Aggressive forthrightness and increased risk-taking
- Feelings of euphoria, excessive self-confidence, and inflated self-esteem
- Rapid, pressurized speech, jumping topics, and racing, bizarre thoughts leading to reckless behavior, including financial waste, substance abuse, dangerous activities, and sexual promiscuity
During a depressive episode, a person may experience:
- A feeling of gloom, despair, and hopelessness
- Extreme sadness and insomnia
- Anxiety over trivial things and unresponsive physical pain
- Guilt and self-blame for perceived failures
- Changes in eating habits, with weight fluctuations
- Fatigue and listlessness, loss of pleasure in activities
- Low attention span, difficulty remembering
- Irritation triggered by minor annoyances
- Avoidance of work or school, leading to underperformance
- Suicidal thought processes or attempting suicide
What Causes Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder does not appear to have a single cause but is more likely to result from a range of factors. Here are five factors researchers have identified as possible contributors to bipolar disorder:
- Genetic factors – Bipolar disorder is more likely to emerge in a person who has a family member with the condition.
- Biological traits – Patients with bipolar disorder often show physical changes in their brains, but the link remains unclear.
- Brain-chemical imbalances – Neurotransmitter imbalances appear to play a key role in many mood disorders, including bipolar disorder.
- Hormonal changes – Hormonal imbalances might trigger or cause bipolar disorder.
- Environmental factors – Abuse, mental stress, a significant loss, or some other traumatic event may contribute to or trigger bipolar disorder.
People who are predisposed to bipolar disorder are more likely to experience an episode of the condition under these circumstances.
Getting Help for Bipolar Disorder at Honey Lake Clinic
Honey Lake Clinic is a non-profit Christian treatment center specializing in mental health and addiction services. Our qualified team of professionals is dedicated to providing the highest quality care for patients with bipolar disorder. We understand the complexities of this condition and have developed effective treatment programs to help individuals manage their symptoms and live fulfilling lives.
Our treatments include medication management, individual therapy, group therapy, and holistic approaches such as art therapy, equine therapy, and spiritual counseling. We also offer family support and education to help loved ones understand and cope with bipolar disorder.
If you or someone you love is struggling with bipolar disorder, know that there is hope and help available. Contact Honey Lake Clinic today at 888.428.0562 or online to learn more about our treatment programs and how we can support you in bipolar disorder recovery.
