Explaining Bipolar Disorder: Why We Need ‘Compassion & Empathy’

(If you feel suicidal or know someone in distress, please reach out to them with kindness and call these numbers of local emergency services, helplines, and mental health NGOs.)

In the pandemic, everyone is feeling low and there is a global conversation about mental healthcare. Once that door cracks open, we are beginning to see growing empathy and a wider understanding of all sorts of mental illnesses.

Understanding What it Means to Have Bipolar Disorder

Sadaf Vidha, a therapist and researcher from Mumbai told FIT, “Bipolar disorder is basically a mood disorder with two phases - mania /hypomania and depression.”

Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings: from great emotional highs like mania or even hypomania to lows like depression.

“Mania is elevated moods and lots of energy and depression is the crash that comes after the mania phase.”

Sadaf Vidha, therapist and researcher

According to MayoClinic, these swings can happen many times a year or rarely and they tend to affect your overall health, sleeping and eating patterns, clear cognitive responses, attitude, energy levels and more.

While it is a lifelong condition, it can be treated through therapy and medication and a personalised treatment plan.

“Treatment options include medications, especially mood stabilizers and therapy.”

Sadaf Vidha, therapist and researcher

Like most mental health disorders, this too occurs on a spectrum. In India, the prevalence ranges from 0.51 per thousand population to 20.78 per thousand population.

• Bipolar I disorder: At least one manic episode along with a hypomanic or major depressive one.

• Bipolar II disorder: One major depressive episode and at least one hypomanic episode, but never a manic one. Individuals with this condition tend to have longer depressive periods says Mayo Clinic.

• Cyclothymic disorder: This includes at least two years, maybe as a child or teenager, with many instances of hypomania or symptoms of the same, along with depressive symptoms.

• Other types: Often bipolar or related disorders can be triggered by certain alcohol or drugs or from a medical condition like strokes or multiple sclerosis.

It’s not known what exactly causes this disorder, but it is linked to genetic predisposition, witnessing severe trauma or periods of high stress. Kardashian mentions the intersectionality of mental health, saying that black men like Kanye are further stigmatised if they have a mental illness, and this, in turn, worsens their condition.

Bipolar disorder is shrouded in many myths and misconceptions and this can be harmful especially for minorities. This also prevents them from seeking help or finding accessible healthcare options.

Identifying the Symptoms

The symptoms of bipolar disorder are different for different people, and they can even change over time. Most people are diagnosed in their late teens or early 20s.

However, according to Healthline, there is gender difference to the disorder, and most women are diagnosed later in their 20s or 30s. They may also have milder episodes of mania but more depressive ones. Social conditioning often plays a role in how these disorders manifest. Women also relapse more due to various hormonal fluctuations throughout their life.

Mania is more severe than hypomania, and can cause psychosis or a break from reality, thus causing more serious disruptions in the individual's life. They both have similar symptoms though, which are:

• Increased energy and activity

• Abnormally excitable or jumpy

• Euphoria or an exaggerated feeling of happiness

• Mind racing

• Excessively talkative

• Distracted

• Risky behaviour (indulging in excess risks be it in sexual risks or excess shopping sprees)

On the other hand, the symptoms of a depressive episode are:

• Hopelessness, listlessness, depression

• Irritability or anger, especially in children

• Lethargy

• Weight changes - significant weight gain or loss due to erratic eating habits

• A loss of interest in anything (or in almost anything)

• Erratic sleeping patterns - sleeping too much or insomnia

• Suicidal thoughts

• Lack of concentration, distracted and absent-mindedness

• Low self-esteem and excessive feelings of worthlessness

Often these symptoms are especially hard to identify in teenagers and children going through normal hormonal changes. Besides, a lot of us have regular ups and downs but you may want to get checked for the disorder if you have excessive and extreme mood swings that hamper your ability to function.

This disorder often induces other health problems like eating disorders, anxiety, alcohol or drug issues and physical health issues like heart diseases.

Getting help from a medical professional is the best way to control the situation.

Sadaf adds that working with the families and clients sleep, eating, working and general schedule helps too.

“The earlier the detection and management, the better.”

Sadaf Vidha, therapist and researcher

Need for ‘Compassion and Empathy’

Mental health is not divorced from our social realities, and often trauma or intense outbursts can trigger an episode as well. Rumour-mongering on a mental health condition often adds to the stigma associated with it as it others the person with the disorder.

Celebrities with mental health disorders can open up the conversation, but they are real people who need to be respected and supported too.