Bipolar Affective Disorder

By Clare Smart, LifeWorks Counsellor

Bipolar Affective Disorder

Bipolar Affective disorder used to be known as Manic Depression. It affects around 1 in 100 adults and equal numbers of Men and Women. A person with Bipolar Disorder will experience changes or 'swings' in their mood far more intense than most other people. This article explains a little about the types of Bipolar disorder; the symptoms, treatments and how counselling can help.

What is Bipolar Disorder?

The mood states that people with Bipolar disorder experience are; Depression (Low), Mania (high) or mixed states (e.g. depressed mood but overactive).

There are four different types of Bipolar disorder.

Bipolar I

At least one high or manic episode, which has lasted for longer than one week.

Some people with Bipolar I will have only manic episodes, although most will also have periods of depression.

Untreated, manic episodes generally last 3 to 6 months.

Depressive episodes last rather longer - 6 to 12 months without treatment.

Bipolar II

There has been more than one episode of severe depression, but only mild manic episodes - these are called 'hypomania'.

Rapid cycling

More than four mood swings happen in a 12 month period. This affects around 1 in 10 people with bipolar disorder, and can happen with both types I and II.

Cyclothymia

The mood swings are not as severe as those in full bipolar disorder, but can be longer. This can develop into full bipolar disorder.

It can be difficult to understand what it feels like to have Bipolar disorder and is easier to think of it in terms of the different mood states that can be experienced.

Depression

The feeling of depression is something we all experience from time to time but in clinical depression or bipolar disorder, the feeling of depression is worse. It goes on for longer and makes it difficult or impossible to deal with the normal things of life.

To read more about Depression please read the article on Depression

Mania

Mania is an extreme sense of well-being, energy and optimism. It can be so intense that it affects your thinking and judgement. You may believe strange things about yourself, make bad decisions, and behave in embarrassing, harmful or dangerous ways.

Like depression, it can make it difficult or impossible to deal with life in an effective way. A period of mania can affect both relationships and work. When it isn't so extreme, it is called 'hypomania'.

If you become manic, you may notice that you are:

very happy and excited

irritated with other people who don't share your optimistic outlook

feeling more important than usual.

full of new and exciting ideas and making unrealistic plans

moving quickly from one idea to another or talking very quickly

hearing voices that other people can't hear

full of energy, moving around quickly

unable or unwilling to sleep

more interested in sex

behaving unusually

making odd decisions on the spur of the moment, sometimes with disastrous consequences

recklessly spending your money

over-familiar or recklessly critical with other people

less inhibited in general.

If you are experiencing a manic episode for the first time, you may not realise that there is anything wrong - although your friends and family will. You may even feel offended if someone tries to point this out to you.

If an episode of mania or depression becomes very severe, you may develop psychotic symptoms. In a manic episode - these will tend to be grandiose beliefs about yourself - that you are on an important mission or that you have special powers and abilities. In a depressive episode - that you are uniquely guilty, that you are worse than anybody else, or even that you don't exist.

As well as these unusual beliefs, you might experience hallucinations - when you hear, smell, feel or see something, but there isn't anything (or anybody) there to account for.

How can Bipolar Disorder be treated?

Most people with Bipolar Disorder will take medication at some stage. The most common types of medication prescribed for Bipolar disorder are mood stabilisers e.g. Lithium. Antidepressants and Antipsychotic medication may also be prescribed according to the symptoms experienced.

Self Help is essential in managing Bipolar disorder. This includes monitoring your mood and becoming an expert at recognising the early changes in your mood and learning techniques to manage these changes. A healthy lifestyle is also important with a good routine of sleeping and eating well and exercising regularly. Reducing the stress in your life and learning new ways to relax are also good ways to self manage. Share your illness with people that you trust and that can support you when you need it.

How can counselling help if I have Bipolar Disorder?

Counselling can help the individual with Bipolar disorder to learn about their illness and about the techniques involved in self management of symptoms. It is a safe place to talk about any problems that may have occurred as a result of the disorder or to talk about plans for the future. A counsellor will help you to recognise changes in your mood and support you to cope with stressful situations or difficulties in relationships.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is used for the Depression and for relapse prevention.

It can be upsetting and exhausting caring for a person with Bipolar disorder. Counselling can greatly benefit friends and carers and help them to understand what is happening to their loved one and how they can best support them.

If you would like to make an appointment for counselling for Bipolar disorder, please contact Clare at LifeWorks

Clare Smart - Counsellor
Lifeworks Counselling and Development
Dubai

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