If you experience episodes of very high energy, excitement, irritability and episodes of low energy, sadness, depression and possible suicidal ideation, you may have a challenging but treatable Bipolar Disorder. Experiencing ups and downs in mood is typical for any person, but what differentiates Bipolar Disorder from the everyday mood is its severity and frequency of occurrence. People who live with it experience chronic and episodic periods of great excitement, overactivity, delusions, and euphoria (known as mania) and other periods of feeling sad and hopeless (known as depression).

The rate of clinical diagnoses of bipolar Disorder has increased markedly over the last 20 years, especially in teenagers and kids. The experience of Bipolar is very personal, and no two individuals have the same exact experience. It can even be hard for people with this disorder to know exactly how it affects them, and even when they do not display all the symptoms, it significantly affects their psychosocial life. We understand that it is a complicated condition and does not always have clear-cut solutions. While there is no one reason for its cause, several risk factors affect its occurrence, type and severity, including genetics, current stress, trauma, existing mental health concerns such as ADHD or anxiety, age, diet etc.

The types of Bipolar Disorder are:

• Bipolar I disorder is characterized by severe mood episodes ranging from mania to depression.

• Bipolar II disorder is a less severe type of mood elevation involving milder episodes of hypomania, with every other period being severe depression.

• Cyclothymic Disorder includes alternating episodes of hypomanic and depressive where their duration and severity are less than the full episodes of hypomania and depression.

How can Counselling help?

Fortunately, many different types of counselling have shown positive results with Bipolar Disorder that help people manage their highs and lows. In extreme cases of severity and full-blown mania and depression, medication is very helpful in managing symptoms to a point where counselling can be effective. Some of such counselling therapies include Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Family therapy, and group psychoeducation.

We understand how challenging Bipolar Disorder symptoms can be to manage, especially with a small support system. Many incredibly productive people who experience this Disorder live a more balanced life by understanding and managing their symptoms while also preventing the progression of Bipolar through counselling.

References

American Psychological Association (APA). (2012). Myths and Realities About Bipolar Disorder [web log]. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2012/10/bipolar-disorder.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Bipolar disorder. National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/bipolar-disorder

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