BY CHRISTAIN WARREN FREED
Globally, there are an estimated 48 million people living with bipolar disorder, with almost 6 million of them living here in the United States. Given the planetary population of over 8 billion, that’s not a particularly massive number but for each person living with this crippling disorder there are countless others in their circles who also learn to adapt and endure: family, friends, coworkers, and more. The number of lives each person touches makes the world just a little smaller and, for some, infinitely more complicated. And this doesn’t include the number of undiagnosed cases.
Bipolar disorder doesn’t care if you’re male or female. It strikes both sexes equally. Unlike other disorders or syndromes, bipolar disorder builds on a long, slow fuse. It can take an average of 8-10 years from the onset of symptoms before being diagnosed. Often, these symptoms are masked or complicated by symptoms of ADHD and PTSD.
Like many other syndromes, bipolar disorder can be hereditary. According to psychiatrist E. Fuller Torrey, first-degree relatives have a 12% risk of developing bipolar disorder. That risk increases to 27% if one parent has been diagnosed. Should both parents have it, your risk rockets to 74%.
Whether you are living with bipolar disorder or are close to someone who is bipolar, or if you’re not quite sure and want to learn more, this article is for you.
Signs and Common Symptoms
Formally called manic depression, bipolar disorder is a mental health condition causing extreme and severe mood swings, from emotional highs to extreme lows or depression. There are several types of bipolar disorder with both similar and unique symptoms:
Bipolar I Disorder: having at least one manic episode that may come before or after hypomanic or major depressive episodes
Bipolar II Disorder: having at least one major depressive episode AND at least one hypomanic episode without ever having had a manic episode
Cyclothymia: having endured at least two years of many periods of both hypomania and depression. These symptoms are less severe than in major depression, however.
Other Types: a random assortment of related disorders caused by drug and alcohol use, medical conditions such as Cushing’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or strokes.
For a comprehensive list of symptoms and signs, please go to mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bipolar-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355955.
Symptoms are more difficult to identify in children and teens, making it hard to tell whether they are signs of a mental health disorder or just part of the ups and downs associated with growth and puberty. One key distinction in everyone diagnosed is how little they are aware of how much their emotional instability disrupts their lives and the lives of their loved ones. Because of this, too many don’t get the treatments they need.
Living with Bipolar Disorder
Having no experience with this myself, I reached out to North Carolina native Jesslyn McCutcheon to provide a little insight into what it’s like to live with bipolar disorder. Jesslyn is an author, advocate, and motivational speaker. Her story is one of hope and overcoming those dark times to thrive in a rich life. While she focuses on helping women who live with bipolar disorder, her story resonates with everyone.
Jesslyn was diagnosed relatively young. She sensed something wasn’t right not long after graduating college. Each morning felt like she had weights tied to her ankles. Getting out of bed was a chore, much less getting ready for work. Like most who’ve been diagnosed, she tried fighting through it, but soon came the overwhelming depression knocking her down.
Now, years later, Jesslyn explains how she makes it through each day. “A typical day for me starts before I even get out of bed. Some mornings feel like I’m trying to lift myself through cement, every movement is heavy, every task feels overwhelming. Other mornings I wake up buzzing with energy, already planning ten things at once and fighting the urge to do them all at that very moment.”
The unsteady emotional shifts, often at random, come without warning. If you have bipolar disorder, you may feel sad or anxious in one moment and irritable the next. These mood shifts can be severe, depending on how long you’ve been struggling, and lead down the dark roads to hypomania. The key to staying stable is constant monitoring, despite that, alone, being draining.
There is constant unpredictability associated with this disorder, demanding an unending vigilance. Every day looks different. Mood swings usually affect sleep, energy, behavior, judgment, and the ability to think or focus. These shifts result in feeling hopeless or sad and experiencing a loss of interest in most activities.
Helping Loved Ones with Bipolar Disorder
But what if you are a family member of someone who has been diagnosed? That world has its own unique challenges. One resident near and dear detailed how she and her family have spent decades helping her 57-year-old brother deal with his diagnosis.
“My brother was diagnosed bipolar when he was a teenager. Early on, as a family, we tiptoed around him because we never knew what mood he would be in. When he was ‘up,’ he was friendly, outgoing, sociable, and responsible. When he was ‘down,’ he was ornery and could be mean.”
Understanding is critical to helping. Keeping an open line of communication and establishing a safe environment mitigate some of the negative effects but they aren’t a complete plan. Friends and family are important for those diagnosed. Providing a shoulder to lean on is just as important as knowing who to call and when to seek proper medical attention.
Treatment Options and Coping Mechanisms
The first win in the battle against bipolar disorder often comes with a diagnosis. Knowing what the problem is not only provides answers, it gives one a direction to go to find help and combat the negative effects. Some days these mechanisms work. Others, not so much. The important thing is to establish your defenses to prevent a downward spiral.
There are a number of treatments and medications that help minimize bipolar disorder. Mood stabilizers and antidepressants can play a key role in defining normalcy. While self-management helps, there are several types of psychotherapy available not only for the person diagnosed but for the entire family. Support groups are useful, too.
Whether you have bipolar disorder or are a family member in despair because you don’t know where to turn and how to help, the important thing to remember is you are not alone. There are accessible resources no matter where you are. There is a path forward. There is always hope. Finding the right tools and resources will breathe life back into the journey. Hold your loved ones tightly and become the rock upon which they rely. Living with bipolar disorder doesn’t have a quick fix. It’s a lifelong battle.
Helpful Resources:
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
(312) 642-0049, dbsalliance.org
International Bipolar Foundation
(858) 598-5967, ibpf.org, text “Connect” to 741741
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org/ to be connected to a trained crisis counselor. Deaf and hard of hearing call 711, then 988. Veterans call 988, then press 1 or text 838255.
