Bipolar disorder is one of the most commonly diagnosed mental disorders, and although it affects millions of Americans, many people do not fully understand how it is detected or classified. According to WebMD, “Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that is characterized by extreme changes in mood, from mania to depression.” Although the cause of bipolar disorder is still unclear, doctors have found that there is a genetic aspect to the condition. To further understand the many aspects of bipolar disorder, there are some terms that are helpful to understand.

Bipolar disorder is broken down into different episodes: manic, depressive, hypomanic, and mixed.

Manic Episode: Mania is classified as having an extremely elevated mood. People will have a surge of energy and will be living in a euphoric state. Sometimes people may feel out of control, become aggressive and irritable, and become easily distracted. This is referred to as the “high” of bipolar disorder.

Depressive Episode: The depressive aspect of bipolar disorder is associated with feelings of sadness, guilt, isolation, and loneliness. Sufferers may sleep more than usual, lose their appetite, and lose interest in things that usually excite them. Some people lose the ability to function completely. This is referred to as the “low” of bipolar disorder.

Hypomanic Episode: Hypomania is described as being a mild to moderate state of mania. Many of the symptoms are the same, yet someone in a hypomanic episode is still fully functioning. They still still a sense of euphoria, are easily distracted, and have trouble sleeping.

Mixed Episode: A mixed episode is when a person experiences both mania and depression at the same time. A mixed episode is often confusing for someone with bipolar disorder because they feel sad and lonely, yet also euphoric and full of energy. This is the most dangerous time for people with bipolar disorder and is often associated with drug use and suicide attempts.

Types of Bipolar Disorder:

Bipolar I: This is classified as having one or more manic episode and usually a depressive or hypomanic episode as well.

Bipolar II: This is classified as one having a cycle of “low” and “high” episodes over a period of time. In bipolar II, a patient never reached a manic state, and will have hypomanic episodes as their “high.” In between these episodes, bipolar II patients are able to live normally.

Cyclothymia: Cyclothymia is a mild form of bipolar disorder that ranges from mild forms of depression to hypomanic episodes. Symptoms are a lot less severe than those of bipolar patients.

If you believe that you or someone you know has symptoms of depression, or manic symptoms, you can look to Solace Counseling for bipolar disorder treatment in Dallas.Want to know more? Connect with Solace Counseling on Facebook and Twitter.