Bipolar Disorder Causes And Symptoms

Causes of Bipolar Personality Disorder

What are the sharp and unconditioned mood swings? Is it really that a person who adores all living creatures living on the planet in the morning and hates them with fierce hatred in the evening is an impulsive and eccentric person? Sometimes this happens, but most often people who have sharp and unreasonable mood swings suffer from bipolar personality disorder.

Bipolar disorder and manic-depressive psychosis is the name of the same disease that negatively affects the quality of everyday life, exhausts both morally and physically, significantly spoils relationships with people around and can lead a person to suicide.

In the morning you sing, dance and sincerely enjoy your existence? At the height of the working day, for some reason, you shout at employees or colleagues, as they begin to annoy you and distract you from work? In the evening do you feel like a squeezed lemon? Are you suddenly experiencing severe depression? If you answered yes to these questions, then you need to think about whether you are a victim of manic-depressive psychosis.

What is a bipolar personality disorder in simple words? What are the causes of the onset and development of this disease? What are the signs of bipolar disorder in men and women? What are the types of bipolar disorder? Can I diagnose myself with bipolar disorder at home? This article discusses these important issues and breaks down bipolar personality disorder.

Bipolar Disorder: What Is It In Simple Words?

Bipolar personality disorder (manic-depressive psychosis, bipolar affective disorder) is a mental disorder that is characterized by abrupt and unreasonable mood swings.

Bipolar personality disorder should not be confused with a split personality (dissociative identity disorder). In bipolar disorder, a person experiences emotional changes. With a split personality, several completely different, but being part of the same person personalities alternate their activity.

In a person suffering from bipolar disorder, there is a constant alternation of euphoria and depression, and the manic state is replaced by a depressive state. The worldview of such a person is constantly “rushing around” between two opposite extremes: an extreme maximum on the verge of ecstasy (“How wonderful life is!”, “I enjoy every moment I have lived!”, “I can turn mountains and swim across all the seas!”, “How nice it is to just exist and breathe!”) Is replaced by an equally extreme minimum on the verge of self-destruction (“Everything is just awful!”, “How to live further?”, “Why live if nothing good happens in life anymore?”, “My life is sheer disappointment! ”,“ All people sooner or later They’ll die very soon, so I’ll just commit suicide! ”,“ I hate myself and all other people! ”).

Extreme highs or periods of mania occur during manic episodes, and extreme minimums or periods of depression occur during depressive episodes.

During a manic episode, a person suffering from bipolar disorder behaves extravagantly and performs actions that are not typical for her: a person can take out a large loan and lose all the money in a casino, for no reason to break off relations with a soul mate or quarrel with relatives, be rude to the boss and quit from work, do not sleep for several nights in a row, etc.

If during this period of time the bipolar will deal with alcohol, narcotic or toxic substances, gambling or partners who do not disdain casual sexual relations, then he will not be able to “slow down” and stop at the right time. All this can have quite serious negative consequences for his health.

Traditionally, the depressive period following the manic episode “forces” the victim of bipolar personality disorder to carefully and thoroughly think over all the actions and actions that she performed during the extreme maximum. The bipolar, which until recently was courageous and blissed to the fullest, begins to feel a sense of despair and complete hopelessness.

Sitting in bed and without leaving the apartment for days, the victim of manic-depressive disorder engages in self-flagellation and feels himself to be the last and worthless person who has no moral right to defile the Earth with his presence. Although the bipolar is aware that such a sharp and unreasonable change of mood is not the norm, he cannot do anything with himself.

Usually, bipolar personality disorder first appears in young people up to thirty-thirty-two years old. Statistics show that about 3 – 5% of all people living on the planet are victims of this insidious mental illness in one form or another.

Causes of Bipolar Personality Disorder

Since many people in certain periods of their lives are characterized by sharp mood swings, there is no sense in considering such jumps to be something out of the ordinary and unusual. That is why it is quite difficult to diagnose manic-depressive psychosis.

Although scientists and doctors cope with this task more and more successfully every year, they have not yet been able to establish and accurately describe the absolute causes of the occurrence of bipolar disorder. Therefore, we will consider only those reasons whose accuracy is confirmed by the results of various scientific tests and experiments.

Genetic predisposition

One of the main reasons for the development of bipolar disorder in a person can rightfully be called genetics. If one of your relatives has suffered or is suffering from this disorder or attention deficit disorder, then you are in an increased risk zone. At any time, this disease may occur in you.

The results of the study of the twins indicate that if one of the twins suffers from bipolar personality disorder, then the probability of the development of this disorder in the other twin is 40 – 70%.

Imbalance of chemicals

An imbalance in chemicals can also cause bipolar disorder. Most often, the “culprits” are neurotransmitter hormones such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine.

It has not been scientifically proven that there is a connection between bipolar disorder and malfunctions of the endocrine system, but it is already known for certain that during menstruation in women the symptoms of manic-depressive psychosis are more pronounced.

Psychological trauma

A stressful situation or psychological trauma is one of the most common causes of the development of manic-depressive psychosis in people. Money problems, problems at work, divorce or breakdown, problems with the opposite sex, death of a loved one, the violence of an emotional, physical or sexual nature, etc. can provoke the occurrence of this mental disorder.

Personality features

The development of bipolar disorder is also due to personality traits. Some experts argue that victims of manic-depressive psychosis are often people with a pedantic or melancholy personality type. In some women, bipolar disorder develops with postpartum depression.

Psychasthenia

People with psychasthenia can also become bipolar. Psycho-asthenia is a mental disorder characterized by systematic anxious doubts, basal anxiety with a weak level of repression, depersonalization with a weak level of sensuality, reflective analyticity, a conflict between a sense of inferiority and vulnerable vanity.

Premonitory state

Premorbid is another cause of the onset and development of bipolar personality disorder. A person in a premorbid state is on the verge of health and disease since the adaptive and protective forces of his body are overstrained or sharply weakened.

Medicines

The provocation of manic-depressive psychosis can also take certain medications or drugs. They negatively affect not only the functioning of the body as a whole but also become the cause of the development of bipolar disorder in the individuals who host them.

Such drugs include the following substances: amphetamine, cocaine and other sympathomimetics, alcohol, tricyclics and some other antidepressants.

Signs of bipolar disorder in men and women

During mania – Signs of Bipolar Disorder

A period of mania or an extreme maximum lasts about 7 to 9 days. During this period of time, the bipolar is in a stably expansive, elevated or irritable mood. He feels a constant surge of energy and very often, showing increased targeted activity and ignoring potential dangers, takes part in certain risky and not always decent events: makes bets in the casino, gets involved in fights, visits places with a dubious reputation, leads an erratic sex life etc. The victim of bipolar disorder so enjoys spending time in such a way that she forgets about her main activities (study, work, etc.).

Signs of bipolar disorder during mania include increased libido, delusions of grandeur, playfulness, increased self-esteem, emotional elevation, reduced need for rest and sleep, increased talkativeness, increased business activity, distraction, a flight of thoughts or ideas, involvement in excessive and possessing a rather high risk of negative and destructive effects of activities.

Very often, victims of manic-depressive psychosis during an extreme maximum are enthusiastic. They talk continuously and very quickly, dress brightly and pretentiously, show imperious character traits, constantly jump from one topic to another and are easily distracted.

During depression

The period of depression or extreme minimum lasts about 10 to 16 days. During this period, bipolar men and women are in a depressed and apathetic mood. They cease to enjoy life and lose any interest in it. The level of their performance is significantly reduced.

Victims of manic-depressive psychosis in a state of depression very quickly and quite noticeably lose or gain weight. In weight-losing bipolar people, a significant decrease in appetite is observed, and in people who are gaining weight with bipolar personality disorder, their appetite is significantly increased.

During a depression period, people with bipolar personality disorder often experience inhibition or psychomotor agitation, they feel a loss of energy or tremendous fatigue, they have hypersomnia or insomnia associated with the inability to maintain sleep. Increased talkativeness gives way to laconicism. Bipolar responds to questions slowly and very quietly.

The victims of bipolar disorder feel useless, they feel a sense of unreasonable or excessive guilt for their actions and deeds committed during the period of extreme maximum.

They become indecisive and slow, their ability to think and focus is significantly reduced. Every now and then thoughts of suicide or death arise in the head of bipolar people. Most of them constantly “chew” this mental chewing gum, and some begin to develop specific suicidal plans.

Types of Bipolar Disorder

There are several types of bipolar personality disorder: type 1 bipolar disorder and type 2 bipolar disorder. Each type has its own characteristics.

Type 1 bipolar personality disorder

Type 1 bipolar disorder is characterized by pronounced manic periods. After each extreme maximum, the bipolar has a severe depression. In the first type of bipolar disorder in a person, psychosomatic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions are very often observed.

Some individuals suffering from bipolar disorder of the first type are characterized by a quick cyclic phase change – a very fast alternation of manic and depressive periods. Within 12 months, such people experience several (4−8) extreme highs or extreme lows.

Some victims of manic-depressive psychosis can experience all the symptoms of a mania period and a depression period in just 24 hours!

Type 2 bipolar personality disorder

People suffering from bipolar disorder of the second type experience not quite full-fledged mania, but their shorter and less pronounced versions. Such not always significant episodes of extreme maximum give way to protracted and prolonged depressions.

The change of a short and not too pronounced period of mania to a period of prolonged and severe depression is called cyclothymia. The essence of this phenomenon is that although these mood swings do not have such great strength as with type 1 bipolar disorder, they nevertheless clearly go beyond the scope of fluctuations characteristic of normal people.

What is cyclothymia expressed in? The persistent instability of the mood of the victim of bipolar disorder, which negatively affects the quality of her daily life. Cyclothymia prevents a person from building relationships with people around him, developing spiritually, moving up the career ladder, getting to know the opposite sex, etc.

Cyclothymia is very often observed in those people whose relative or relatives suffer from type 1 bipolar personality disorder. Many of the second type of bipolar people eventually become victims of the first type of bipolar disorder.

Female victims are more often victims of bipolar disorder of this type.

How to diagnose bipolar disorder at home?

Although only a qualified specialist can make the correct diagnosis, the initial diagnosis can be carried out independently at home. We offer you a list of questions, the answers to which will help you determine if you suffer from a bipolar personality disorder.

Questions for diagnosing bipolar disorder during mania

Do you experience constant and continuous feelings of euphoria and happiness for several hours or for longer periods of time?
Do you have a reduced need for rest and sleep?
Do you feel invulnerable?
Do you feel tremendous power?
Do you consider yourself equal to god?
Do you have time to formulate your thoughts during a conversation?
Does your interlocutor understand your speech?
Do you prefer correspondence rather than live communication, because interlocutors very often do not understand what you are trying to tell them?
Are you an impulsive person who first does something, and only then thinks about it?
Can you sit still for several minutes?
Do you feel causeless anxiety?
Do you experience causeless nervousness?
Are you easily distracted?
Can you quickly switch from one case to another?
Do you often have problems with overall productivity?
Do you have one hundred percent confidence in your abilities and abilities?
Do you think that most of the people around you do not have the level of speed and intelligence that you possess?
Do you like taking risks?
Do you behave relaxed in a company of complete strangers to you?
Is it easy for you to agree to an unprotected intimate relationship with an unfamiliar partner or several partners at the same time?
Do you often make purchases that you cannot afford?
Are you intolerant of other people?
Can you take part in spontaneous races on the streets of the city?
Can you take out a loan and spend money on gambling?
Do you suffer from alcohol or drug addiction?

Questions for diagnosing bipolar disorder during depression

Do you experience continuous and constant feelings of absolute hopelessness and causeless sadness for several hours or for longer periods of time?
Are you locked in yourself?
Do you experience an overwhelming sense of guilt?
Do you find it difficult to “get out” of your own shell and start an easy conversation with one or another interlocutor?
Do you have periods when you do not want to contact anyone?
Do you stop communication with family and friends?
Do you feel worthless worthlessness?
Have you lost a lively interest in those people, animals, holidays, objects and things that previously pleased you and gave you a lot of positive emotions?
Do you experience a feeling of constant lack of sleep, which also arises when you continuously sleep for more than 7-10 hours?
Has your appetite decreased sharply or increased sharply?
Do you control what and how much you eat?
Did the food you used to taste bad and disgust you?
Do you experience energy shortages and total fatigue over extended periods of time?
Is it difficult for you to concentrate your attention on a specific business?
Do you have memory problems?
Is it hard for you to make important decisions yourself?
Do you think that your life has lost all meaning? If so, how often?
Are you thinking of committing suicide?

If you answered yes to most of the questions (85 – 100%) , then this may indicate that you are a victim of manic-depressive psychosis: at certain periods of time, you first show obvious signs of an extreme maximum, and then – obvious signs of an extreme minimum .

If you cannot clearly and precisely determine which phase you are in, as the symptoms of mania and depression appear simultaneously, then this may indicate that you are in a state of mixed mood, which refers to the obvious signs of bipolar disorder.

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