Bipolar Disorder 
 

Bipolar disorder is a disorder in which your mood can become extremely high or low, with episodes lasting for days or weeks.

It affects one in 100 people and tends to begin in adolescence, with symptoms usually starting between the ages of 15 and 19 years old 

It's important to know that even if you’re affected by it, with the right treatment you can get on with life achieving your goals and continue doing the activities you enjoy

Symptoms of bipolar disorder

Manic episodes

Mania is a feeling of being extremely 'high', with lots of energy and enthusiasm. It's different from a normal good mood, because the feelings are very intense and go on continuously for a long time.

  • Feeling of "high" or extreme happiness
  • Increased self-confidence and energy.
  • Increased irritability.
  • You do not need to much sleep
  • You get distracted easily
  • Talk a lot and quickly
  •  feeling full of ideas.
  • High-risk behaviors: such as spending a lot of money suddenly ,being more social, or sexual behaviors
  • Increased sexual desire
  • Poor judgment

Just because you experience one or more of these symptoms, it doesn’t mean you definitely have bipolar disorder. Diagnosis requires presence of many symptoms for long time and function impairment. Psychiatrist is the only one who can diagnose bipolar disorder. 

Episodes of depression

Symptoms of bipolar disorder may include periods or episodes of depression that last at least two weeks

  • You have no desire to do activities that you used to enjoy before
  • Eating more or less than usual.
  • Feeling very upset, sad, unhappy or lonely.
  • Negative thoughts about yourself, criticism, blame and guilt.
  • Feeling hopeless.
  • Thoughts of death, self-harm or suicide.
  • Feeling tired and loss of energy.
Psychotic symptoms

Possible symptoms of bipolar disorder, especially during episodes of mania, include the presence of psychotic symptoms, the most famous of which are delusions of grandeur: for example, the belief that I am a great person or have supernatural abilities or a prophet

Possible auditory hallucinations: like I hear a voice calling me and no one is around or no one else can hear it

What to do if i think I could have bipolar disorder

Talk to your parents, a trusted adult, or a school social worker 

You can call the psychological support hotline of the General Secretariat of Mental Health 

Visit with your parents one of children and adolescents clinics in mental health hospitals of the General Secretariat of Mental Health or psychiatric clinics of university hospitals or any trusted psychiatrist 

How is bipolar disorder treated?

Drug treatment: such as mood stabilizers, which are prescribed by a psychiatrist 

Talk therapy: such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, to better understand your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, especially in episodes of depression 

Support groups: to meet people who have the same disorder in to exchange stories and experiences with guidance of a psychotherapist managing the group