The Many Faces of Bipolar Disorder Book Abstract

You know what it means to feel overwhelmed with inspiration. And you know what it means to feel terribly sad. And you probably know how it feels to have either of these emotions consume you suddenly and completely -- be it during a time of great happiness and creativity or during a time of deep loss.









Bipolar Disorder Facts



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Affects men and women in equal numbers

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Median age of onset: 25

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Women suffer more depressive and mixed-mood episodes than menBut what if those emotions consumed you all of the time, without warning, and without reason -- so much so that you had trouble focusing, concentrating, making decisions, working, and living a “normal” life? Life would get pretty exhausting.

Imagining that scenario gives you a small window into what it can be like to have Bipolar disorder.

One Illness, Many Faces
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that can come in many forms. And it can spiral into a completely disabling disease if left untreated. Clinical depression takes mood in just one direction (down). But you can think of bipolar disorder as a mood roller coaster. It’s a combination of extreme highs and terrible lows, happening sometimes in cycles, sometimes all at once. The mood peaks are called mania, a state that causes a big burst of energy, elation, little need for sleep, and other “high” feelings. The lows correspond with depression, low energy, extreme pessimism, and other negative emotions.

Bipolar disorder doesn’t take just one form -- there are different types. The type you have is defined by the extent of your highs and lows as well as how long they last and how much (or how little) they impair your function.

Bipolar Disorder I: The most serious form of bipolar illness, it causes a radical mood roller coaster, with extreme mania or mixed episodes as well as at least one single event of major depression. In extreme cases, it can cause a complete loss of touch with reality (psychosis) and may include hallucinations and delusions. Hospitalization may be needed. About 1% of the population suffers from bipolar disorder I.
Bipolar Disorder II: The low feelings of bipolar disorder II can dip just as low as they do with bipolar disorder I, but the highs are not as high. The more subtle highs are called “hypomania.” And unlike bipolar disorder I, psychosis is not a feature of bipolar disorder II. Bipolar disorder II affects about 1.1% of the population.
Cyclothymia and Other Bipolar Disorders: The mildest form of bipolar disorder is cyclothymia. It consists of more shallow lows than bipolar I or II. Instead, it’s a persistent alternation of hypomania and low-grade depression (dysthymia). Other types of bipolar disorder that don’t fit neatly into any established categories -- for example, a person with recurring episodes of hypomania but no major depression or dysthymia -- are deemed a bipolar disorder not otherwise specified (NOS). About 2.6% of the population suffers from cyclothymia or bipolar disorder NOS. Difficult Diagnosis
Altogether, about 4% of the population suffers from some form of bipolar disorder, a percentage much greater than researchers once thought. And, unfortunately, many people with bipolar illness remain undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. People with bipolar disorder spend an average of 8 to 10 years seeing multiple healthcare professionals before getting the proper diagnosis and treatment. Learn more about getting accurately diagnosed.


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