Do You Have Bipolar Tendency or “Just” Mood Swing?

Published on February 18, 2016

dssdsdI’ve heard so many people talked about this. When someone has mood swing, she or he would asked me, “Am I have bipolar?”, “I felt ups and downs mood so I must be have bipolar, isn’t it?”, “Lately, I can’t control my emotion anymore and it ruin my life, do I have bipolar?”

Well, yes, in some point, bipolar looks like mood-swing but not the simple mood-swing. It has characteristics and phase you should understand. So, actually in Psychology or Psychiatric work, it’s not easy to say if someone fulfilled all symptoms of bipolar or not.

So, put it simply, what is bipolar disorder?

It’s one of mood disorders classified and not something we could just ignore because affects mood, thoughts, and behavior in daily life functions. In the worst case, someone with bipolar could did suicide or hurted themselves (but doesn’t mean all of bipolar people would be like this).

What are the symptoms?

The combination of mood episode determine bipolar types of a person. Actually, there are 7 types of bipolar and related disorders based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-5) but just bipolar type I and II which we would talk about here. Other bipolar and related disorders are cyclothymic, substance/medication-induced bipolar and related disorder, bipolar and related disorder due to another medical condition, other specified bipolar and related disorder, and unspecified bipolar and related disorder. This is the general symptoms of mood episode :

Manic Episode

Hipomanic Episode

Depression Episode

Elevated, expansive, or irritable mood lasting at least 1 week and present most of the day

Elevated, expansive, or irritable mood lasting at least 4 consecutive days and present most of the day

There are significant distress or impairment in daily important functions

At least 3-4 symptoms below are present :

1. Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity

2. Decreased need for sleep

3. More talkative than usual

4. Racing thoughts or flight ideas

5. Distractibility

6. Increase in goal directed activity

7.Excessive involvement in activities with high potential for painful consequences

At least 3-4 symptoms below are present :

1. Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity

2. Decreased need for sleep

3. More talkative than usual

4. Racing thoughts or flight ideas

5. Distractibility

6. Increase in goal directed activity

7.Excessive involvement in activities with high potential for painful consequences

At least 5 symptoms below are present  during 2 week period and most of the day (one of them must be depressed mood or lost interest/pleasure) :

1. Depressed mood

2. Loss interest or pleasure in all or almost all activities and observable by others

3. Significant weight loss or gain more than 5% body weight in a month, decrease/increase appetite

4. Insomnia or hypersomnia

5. Psychomotor agitation or retardation

6. Fatigue or loss energy

7. Feeling worthlessness or excessive guilt

8. Diminished ability to think or concentrate

9. Recurrent thoughts of death

Impairment in social or occupational functions severely

Associated with an unequivocal change in functioning which not usual characteristic of the person

Not attributable to physiological effects, substances, or medical condition.

 

Change in functioning are observable by others but not severe enough to cause impairment

 

 Bipolar Type I vs Bipolar Type II

Source : Amyhuxtable.com

Note :  There is different point of view between the infographic and DSM-5 about depression duration of bipolar type I. I suggest you using DSM-5 criteria because of it credibility.

Tips for people or relatives with bipolar

So, what I want to say is bipolar disorder not same with normal mood-swing. When you encounter ups and down mood doesn't mean that is bipolar disorder. Manic and depression episode must be fulfilled in some duration of time for Bipolar type I. Also, hypomanic and depression episode must be fulfilled for Bipolar type II, please look at the symptom column for detail (based on DSM-5 which used by professional).

The common treatment for Bipolar are medications, psychotherapy, and social support for the person. Sometimes, someone with bipolar as well experienced hallucination. Don't worry, it is not the end of your life and doesn't mean you are crazy. This is the sign that you need professional helping immediately. As I know, for now Bipolar still can't be cured but CAN BE well treated and controlled so you can doing activities with no different with others. 

For more information or question, please put your comment below or contact me personally. :)

Regards,

 

Pricillia P., S.Psi, M.Psi, Psi

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References :

American Psychiatric Association : Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder 5th edition. Arlington, VA, American Psychiatric Association, 2013.

www.Amyhuxtable.com

www.glbrain.com


Category(s):Bipolar, Depression, Mood Swings / Bipolar

Written by:

pricil

pricil belongs to Dr. Mintohardjo Navy Hospital in Indonesia