Tulasi Healthcare Bipolar Disorder Treatment Centre in Gurgaon and Delhi NCR
An Overview of Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder or manic depression is a chronic mood disorder characterized by large shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and concentration of an individual leading to irritability and impulsive or reckless decision-making.
People suffering from this mental illness have periods in which they feel overly happy and at other periods feel sad, sluggish and hopeless. In between these periods, these people feel normal. These periods of high and low are treated as two poles of mood and thus it is popularly called as bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder is prevalent among individuals aged between 20 and 30 years and affects anywhere from 0.5 to 21 out of every 1000 Indians annually. Out of 150 individuals suffering from this mental illness, 70% left untreatable. Although this mental disorder is a lifelong condition, good medical care, lifestyle changes, psychological counselling (psychotherapy) at Gurgaon can make a huge difference.
Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
The most distinguishing symptoms of bipolar disorder are highs or lows in mood, coupled with changes in energy/ activity levels, sleep, thinking as well as behaviour. The three major symptoms that features this disorder are mania, hypomania, and depression. An individual may suffer from different types of bipolar disorder based on different combinations of these symptoms
Bipolar I Symptoms
Diagnosis of Bipolar I requires:
- One episode of mania that should last for atleast a week.
- Symptoms affecting daily activity of an individual.
- Symptoms that are not related to any other medical and mental health condition.
At times individuals may experience symptoms of psychosis or both mania and depression (known as mixed features).
Bipolar II Symptoms
Diagnosis of Bipolar II requires:
- One episode of hypomania that should last for 4 days or more.
- Change in mood and usual function of an individual due to hypomania that can be noticed by others.
- One episode of major depression that should last for 2 weeks or more.
- One episode of major depression that involves one or more key depression symptoms significantly impacting day to day activity of an individual.
- Symptoms that are not related to any other medical and mental health condition.
At times individuals can show symptoms of psychosis, but only during an episode of depression while at other times they can experience mixed mood episodes, which is a combination of depression and hypomania.
Cyclothymia Symptoms
Diagnosis of Cyclothymia requires:
- Periods of depression symptoms and periods of hypomanic symptoms, on and off that should last for 2 years or more.
- Symptoms that do not fulfil the full criteria of an episode of depression or hypomania.
- Symptoms that are available for atleast half of the 2 years and is never absent for more than 2 months.
- Symptoms that are not related to any other medical and mental health condition.
- Symptoms causing significant distress and affecting daily life.
Fluctuating mood is a major symptom of cyclothymia. Though cyclothymia may be less severe than Bipolar I/ II, they tend to last longer.
Hypomania usually does not have a major impact on an individual’s daily life while depression may lead to more serious distress and affects day-to-day activity of an individual.
Common symptoms of mania ("the highs"):
- Excessive hopefulness, happiness, and excitement.
- Restlessness.
- Sudden change in being joyful to being angry, irritable, and hostile.
- Poor concentration
- Enhanced energy level leading to less sleep.
- Exceptionally high sex drive.
- Demonstrating poor judgement.
- Alcohol and drug abuse.
- Impulsive behaviour.
- Less appetite
- Boost in self-confidence and well being
- Easy distraction.
Common symptoms of depression ("the lows"):
- Feeling of sadness
- Loss in energy level
- Feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness
- Poor concentration
- Loss of memory
- To talk slowly
- Decrease in sex drive
- Trouble in taking decision
- Crying in uncontrollable manner
- Insomnia
- Loss/ Gain in appetite
- Though of suicide attempt or death
What are the causes of Bipolar Disorder?
Though the exact cause of bipolar disorder has not yet been identified, studies have shown that bipolar disorder is seen more in women compared to men due to medical and mental issues that may include migraine, thyroid disease, and anxiety disorders. Factors contributing to bipolar disorder are as follows:
Brain structure and functioning: Studies have shown that people suffering from bipolar disorder have brains that differ in certain ways from normal individual. Thus healthcare providers carry diagnosis and treatment based on a person’s symptoms and history, instead of brain imaging or other diagnostic tests.
Genetics: Family (parent or sibling) history plays a significant role in developing bipolar disorder in individuals. Studies have shown that individuals with certain genes are more likely to develop this mental disorder.
Environment: Environment can also contribute to the development of bipolar disorder in individuals. Extreme stress, traumatic experiences and physical illness can invite bipolar disorder in a healthy human being.
Treatment options available for Bipolar Disorder at Tulasi Healthcare
In most cases, bipolar disorder is non-curable but various treatments and therapies help reduce symptoms of this medical illness. At Tulasi Psychiatric Hospital & Rehabilitation Centers, Bipolar treatment in delhi & gurgaon consists:
- Medication
- Counselling by recognized counsellor
- Change in lifestyle
Bipolar Disorder Medications
Common medications for this disorder are:
- Mood stabilizers: In most cases, lithium (Lithobid) is used for mood stabilization. In this approach, use of these medicines is not to be paired with the consumption of alcohol or consumption of water. In addition, Psychiatrist also prescribes a renal function test on case-to-case basis. Some other tests include thyroid and an annual ECG.
- Antipsychotics: In most cases, olanzapine (Zyprexa) is used to treat psychotic symptomssuch as hallucinations, or delusions that may accompany severe depression or mania. Sometimes, such medicines are also prescribed to treat other symptoms such as anxiety.
- Antidepressant: In most cases, fluoxetine-olanzapine (Symbyax) is used to treat depressive episodes in bipolar disorder.
- anti-anxiety medication for short term treatment, namely benzodiazepines
Psychotherapy for Bipolar Disorder Treatment
Recommended approaches are given below:
This is a talk therapy that helps individual change unwanted behavior patterns and identify and address unhelpful thoughts. Some of the supports which therapists offer are:
- Undertaking thought pattern of an individual suffering from this disorder.
- Reframe distressing emotions
- Learn and practise helpful coping strategies
Psychoeducation
This is a therapeutic approach to help an individual learn about a condition and its treatment. This knowledge can have a long term effect helping an individual and the supporting people in his/ her life recognize mood symptoms and managing those effectively.
Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy
In this approach, more indulgence is given to regulate the daily habits of an individual such as eating, sleeping, exercising, etc. A balance among these daily activities could lead to lesser mood swings and less severe symptoms.
Apart from the above approaches Tulasi Health Care’s team of rehabilitation experts also suggest few lifestyle changes that can help reduce symptoms of bipolar disorder.
Lifestyle changes to help Bipolar Disorder
Some simple changes in an individual’s lifestyle can help deal with bipolar disorder. Few of these are given below:
- Maintaining a balanced diet.
- Maintaining a schedule for eating and sleeping
- Regular exercise
- Learn recognizing mood swings
- Learn managing stress
- Avoid consumption of alcohol or recreational drugs
- Engage in healthy hobbies or sports
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