You may have recently heard of ‘bipolar disorder’ or may have seen people affected by such mental health problem.
It is not uncommon in Nigeria, according to a study by College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, more than 1.5 million cases are reported each year in Nigeria.
How do you know if you are free from bipolar disorder? This article will briefly discuss about the basic symptoms of the disorder and how you can win the fight against it.
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What is Bipolar disorder?
According to Wikipedia, Bipolar disorder, previously known as manic depression, is a mental disorder characterized by periods of depression and periods of abnormally elevated mood that last from days to weeks each.
To make it simple, it is a mental illness that can randomly affect someone’s mood. However, people with bipolar disorder are not “insane” or “crazy”, neither are they dangerous. So, no need to stigmatise them.
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What causes Bipolar disorder?
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is yet to be ascertained by health officials. But it is generally believed that things like extreme stress, overwhelming problems, genetic and chemical factors could trigger some episodes of bipolar disorder.
Basic symptoms of Bipolar disorder
The major symptoms or signs of bipolar disorder can be generally categorised into two: depression and mania.
Depression: Symptoms of depression can include any of the following: feeling hopeless or negatively, low mood, excessive feeling of guilt, fatigue, lack of concentration, feeling restless or irritable, sleeping too much or not being able to sleep, suicidal thoughts and attempts e.t.c.
Mania: Symptoms of mania can include: doing things you normally wouldn’t, feeling of excitement even when things are not going well, hearing strange voices, easily distracted, sleepless nights, making impulsive decisions, having casual sex with different people, addiction to drugs and alcohol e.t.c.
Note: Those symptoms can make it difficult for one to deal with day-to-day life, it can also have a bad effect on your relationships and work.
Also worthy of note is that bipolar disorder can occur at any age, although it often develops between the ages of 15 and 19.
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Treatment of Bipolar disorder:
There is no known cure for bipolar disorder but the symptoms are very treatable. With proper medication, behavioral therapy, substance abuse treatment and electroconvulsive therapy, the disorder can be managed.
Hope this article was helpful?
