What is bipolar mean

If you have bipolar disorder, you may also have another health condition that needs to be treated along with bipolar disorder. Some conditions can worsen bipolar disorder symptoms or make treatment less successful.

Examples include:. There's no sure way to prevent bipolar disorder. However, getting treatment at the earliest sign of a mental health disorder can help prevent bipolar disorder or other mental health conditions from worsening.

If you've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, some strategies can help prevent minor symptoms from becoming full-blown episodes of mania or depression:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.

This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview 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.

Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Reilly-Harrington NA et al. Journal of Affective Disorders. Bipolar and related disorders. Arlington, Va. Accessed Dec. Bipolar disorder. National Institute of Mental Health. Bipolar disorder in children and teens. National Alliance on Mental Illness. Rochester, Minn. Suppes T, et al. Bipolar disorder in adults: Clinical features. Axelson D, et al. Recommended medications may include:. Cognitive behavioral therapy is a type of talk therapy.

You and a therapist talk about ways to manage your bipolar disorder. They will help you understand your thinking patterns.

They can also help you come up with positive coping strategies. You can connect to a mental health care professional in your area using the Healthline FindCare tool. Psychoeducation is a kind of counseling that helps you and your loved ones understand the disorder.

Knowing more about bipolar disorder will help you and others in your life manage it. Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy IPSRT focuses on regulating daily habits, such as sleeping, eating, and exercising. Balancing these everyday basics can help you manage your disorder. Other lifestyle changes can also help relieve depressive symptoms caused by bipolar disorder.

Check out these seven ways to help manage a depressive episode. Some natural remedies may be helpful for bipolar disorder. The following herbs and supplements may help stabilize your mood and relieve symptoms of bipolar disorder:. Several other minerals and vitamins may also reduce symptoms of bipolar disorder.

Bipolar disorder affects about 60 million people around the world. One of the best things you can do is to educate yourself and those around you. There are many resources available. You can also find additional resources at the site for the National Institute of Mental Health. If you think a friend, relative, or loved one may have bipolar disorder, your support and understanding is crucial. And read how to help someone living with bipolar disorder.

People who are experiencing a depressive episode may have suicidal thoughts. You should always take any talk of suicide seriously. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, get help from a crisis or suicide prevention hotline. Try the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at When it comes to managing a relationship while you live with bipolar disorder, honesty is the best policy. Bipolar disorder can have an impact on any relationship in your life, perhaps especially on a romantic relationship.

Consider sharing these facts to help your partner better understand the condition:. One of the best ways to support and make a relationship successful is to stick with your treatment. Treatment helps you reduce symptoms and scale back the severity of your changes in mood. With these aspects of the disorder under control, you can focus more on your relationship.

Your partner can also learn ways to promote a healthy relationship. Check out this guide to maintaining healthy relationships while coping with bipolar disorder, which has tips for both you and your partner.

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness. Treatment can help you manage your changes in mood and cope with your symptoms. To get the most out of treatment, you may want to create a care team to help you. In addition to your primary doctor, you may want to find a psychiatrist and psychologist. You may also want to seek out a supportive community. Finding treatments that work for you requires perseverance.

Likewise, you need to have patience with yourself as you learn to manage bipolar disorder and anticipate your changes in mood. While living with bipolar disorder can be a real challenge, it can help to maintain a sense of humor about life.

For a chuckle, check out this list of 25 things only someone with bipolar disorder would understand. Bipolar 1 disorder and bipolar 2 disorder cause your feelings to hit unusual highs and lows. After the episode is over, they may be shocked at their behaviour. But at the time, they may believe other people are being negative or unhelpful.

The extreme nature of the condition means staying in a job may be difficult and relationships may become strained. There's also an increased risk of suicide. During episodes of mania and depression, someone with bipolar disorder may experience strange sensations, such as seeing, hearing or smelling things that are not there hallucinations. If you need more advice or information you can contact our Advice and Information Service. Contact us Contact us. You can experience episodes of: mania, and depression.

Bipolar disorder used to be called manic depression. What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder? Such as: spending a lot of money, having casual sex with different people, using drugs or alcohol, gambling, or making unwise decisions. Hypomania Hypomania is like mania but you will have milder symptoms. Psychosis Sometimes you can have psychotic symptoms during a severe episode of mania or depression. Symptoms of psychosis can be: hallucinations.

This means that you may hear, see, or feel things that are not there, and delusions. Other people will usually find your beliefs unusual.

You can find more information about: Depression by clicking here. Psychosis by clicking here. What is bipolar disorder I disorder? What is bipolar II disorder? What is bipolar I or II disorder with mixed features? What is bipolar I or II disorder with rapid cycling?

What is bipolar I or II with seasonal pattern? What is cyclothymia? What causes bipolar disorder? Brain chemical imbalance Different chemicals in your brain affect your mood and behaviour.

Environmental factors Stressful life events can trigger symptoms of bipolar disorder. Getting help How do I get help if I think I have bipolar disorder? The usual first step to getting help is to speak to your GP. Your GP may arrange an appointment with a psychiatrist if you have: depression, and ever felt very excited or not in control of your mood or behaviour for at least 4 days in a row.

Treatment and management What is the treatment for mania, hypomania and depression? What medications are recommended? Mood stabilisers are usually used to manage mania, hypomania and depressive symptoms. The mood stabilisers we talk about in this factsheet are: Lithium Certain antipsychotic medication Certain anticonvulsive medication Certain benzodiazepine medication Mania and hypomania You should be offered a mood stabiliser to help manage your mania or hypomania.

If you are taking antidepressants your doctor may advise you to withdraw from taking them. Your doctor should think about giving you benzodiazepine medication short term. You may be offered the following medication: Fluoxetine with Olanzapine Quetiapine Olanzapine or Lamotrigine Fluoxetine is an antidepressant.

Lamotrigine is an anticonvulsant medication. Your doctor can prescribe the above medication alongside: Lithium, and Sodium valproate. You can find more information about: Mood stabilisers by clicking here. Antipsychotics by clicking here. Antidepressants by clicking here. Benzodiazepines by clicking here. Medication — choice and managing problems by clicking here.

What psychological treatments are recommended? If you have an episode of depression you should be offered medication and a high intensity talking therapy, such as: cognitive behavioural therapy CBT , or interpersonal therapy. What are the long-term treatments for bipolar disorder? What medication options are there? If lithium doesn't work well enough or causes you problems, you may be offered: Valproate, Olanzapine, or Quetiapine.

These checks will include: measuring your weight, blood and urine tests, checking your liver and heart, and checking your pulse and blood pressure.

Is there any other support? Your mental health team should give you advice about exercise and healthy eating. What is the Care Programme Approach? CPA aims to support your mental health recovery by helping you to understand your: strengths, goals, support needs, and difficulties. You can find more information about: Care Programme Approach by clicking here.

Planning your care. Advance statements and advance decisions by clicking here. Mood stabilisers by clicking here. Choice and managing problems by clicking here. Talking therapies by clicking here. There is more information about these options below. How can I speak to my doctor about my treatment options?

What is advocacy? You can search online to search for a local advocacy service. How can I complain? You can find out more about: Medication. Second opinions by clicking here. Advocacy by clicking here. Complaining about the NHS or social services by clicking here. What can I do to manage my symptoms? What lifestyle changes can I make? Making small lifestyle changes can improve your wellbeing and can help your recovery.

What are support groups? What are recovery colleges? Risks What risks and complications can bipolar disorder cause? What about suicide and self-harm? What about financial risk? What about physical health risk?

What about alcohol and drugs risk? If you want advice or help with alcohol or drug use contact your GP.

What about driving risk? You can find out more about: Suicidal thoughts — how to cope by clicking here. Self-harm by clicking here.