The main difference between the two is
that depression is unipolar
, meaning that there is no “up” period, but bipolar disorder includes symptoms of mania. To differentiate between the two disorders, it helps to understand the symptoms of each one.
Is bipolar considered a depressive disorder?
Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities.
What is the defining difference between making a diagnosis of major depressive disorder versus bipolar disorder?
People with a diagnosis of bipolar II disorder will have had at least one hypomanic episode,
which preceded or followed a major depressive episode
. People with major depressive disorder do not experience any extreme, elevated feelings that doctors would classify as mania or hypomania.
What are the 4 types of bipolar?
- Bipolar 1. This type of bipolar disorder is characterized by manic episodes, with or without depression symptoms. …
- Bipolar 2. Bipolar 2 disorder is characterized by having both manic and depressive episodes. …
- Cyclothymic disorder. …
- Other types.
Does Bipolar get worse as you age?
Bipolar may worsen with age or over time if this condition is left untreated
. As time goes on, a person may experience episodes that are more severe and more frequent than when symptoms first appeared.
What is a bipolar person like?
People with bipolar experience
both episodes of severe depression, and episodes of mania
– overwhelming joy, excitement or happiness, huge energy, a reduced need for sleep, and reduced inhibitions. The experience of bipolar is uniquely personal. No two people have exactly the same experience.
Is bipolar a serious mental illness?
Bipolar disorder is a
serious mental illness
that causes unusual shifts in mood, ranging from extreme highs (mania) to lows (depression).
How can you tell if someone is bipolar?
- feeling sad, hopeless or irritable most of the time.
- lacking energy.
- difficulty concentrating and remembering things.
- loss of interest in everyday activities.
- feelings of emptiness or worthlessness.
- feelings of guilt and despair.
- feeling pessimistic about everything.
- self-doubt.
Can a bipolar person truly love?
Absolutely. Can someone with bipolar disorder have a normal relationship? With work from both you and your partner,
yes
. When someone you love has bipolar disorder, their symptoms can be overwhelming at times.
Can bipolar go away?
Although the symptoms come and go, bipolar disorder usually
requires lifetime treatment and does not go away on its own
. Bipolar disorder can be an important factor in suicide, job loss, and family discord, but proper treatment leads to better outcomes.
Can you live with bipolar without medication?
In those instances, if one can consistently utilize healthy lifestyle management and good self-care, then it may be possible to
maintain mood stability without medication
. I have found that’s usually just not the case for many with bipolar disorder.
Does Bipolar affect memory?
People with bipolar disorder
often report problems with memory and cognition
. They have trouble with short- and long-term memory, think things through at subdued speeds, and have difficulty thinking outside that so-called box. These memory problems can pose considerable challenges for bipolar patients.
Can bipolar turn into schizophrenia?
People with bipolar disorder can also
experience psychotic symptoms during a manic or depressive episode
. These can include hallucinations or delusions. Because of this, people may mistake their symptoms of bipolar disorder for those of schizophrenia.
What is the life expectancy of a person with bipolar disorder?
The average reduction in life expectancy in people with bipolar disorder is
between nine and 20 years
, while it is 10 to 20 years for schizophrenia, between nine and 24 years for drug and alcohol abuse, and around seven to 11 years for recurrent depression.
What are 4 signs of bipolar disorder?
- Uncharacteristic periods of anger and aggression.
- Grandiosity and overconfidence.
- Easy tearfulness, frequent sadness.
- Needing little sleep to feel rested.
- Uncharacteristic impulsive behavior.
- Moodiness.
- Confusion and inattention.
Can bipolar people tell they are bipolar?
So
no, not everyone who has bipolar disorder knows they have it
. There are lots of reasons why someone with bipolar disorder might not realize it—or why they might deny having it even if they do.
