Navigating the ups and downs of young adulthood can be tough enough, but for some, the challenges go beyond the usual stress and anxiety.
Bipolar disorder, a mental health condition that affects mood, energy, and daily life, often emerges during these formative years. Understanding bipolar disorder is crucial for young adults, as it can help them make sense of their emotions, seek help, and take control of their mental well-being.
What is bipolar?
Before any diagnosis, one needs to understand what bipolar disorder is. According to research, millions of people are living with bipolar, which experts explain as a mental health condition that causes dramatic shifts in a person’s mood, such as energy, and their ability to think clearly.
The mental condition is still highly stigmatised in today’s society, even though it is one of the most common mental health conditions out there. The stigmatisation results in a rapid spread of misinformation about the condition.
Also see: 10 Daily Habits That Will Improve Your Mental Health Naturally
Dr Julia Lethole, a psychiatrist at Mediclinic Muelmed Pretoria, explains more about bipolar disorder.
“The hallmark of the illness is that patients experience depressive episodes and manic episodes, not necessarily in a predictable cycle. Some may also experience mixed episodes with symptoms of both types of episodes manifesting at the same time.
As a society, we need to be able to identify the depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder, from the low moods, loss of interest in activities, fatigue, to the difficulty of thinking or concentrating.”
Dr Lethole further explained the condition: “being in a manic phase does not mean the person with bipolar disorder is happy; in fact, a person with bipolar disorder who’s experiencing a manic phase can be at risk. Having way too much energy may cause the person to act out of control, saying or doing things that they may later regret. This could be anything from making a rash comment to engaging in high-risk behaviour like using drugs or recklessly spending money.”
Also see: Why focusing on your mental health is a powerful step
Although this condition can present itself in anyone, these are some of the common signs among teens and young adults:
- Signs of intense happiness or silliness
- Having a very short temper or seeming extremely irritable
- Talking very fast or having racing thoughts
- They can inflate a sense of ability, knowledge, and power
- Doing reckless things that show poor judgment
- A sudden feeling of sadness or hopelessness
Upon noticing these signs, do not hesitate to get a professional to determine whether they meet the criteria for bipolar disorder.
Also see: Why laughter is beneficial for your mental health
Feature Image: Gettys
Source: Mediclinic
Be the first to know – Join our WhatsApp channel for content worth tapping into. Click here to join!
