Bipolar disorder is a condition that affects your moods, which can swing from one extreme to another. If you experience periods of time when you feel very happy or overactive and then feel very low and depressed you may be affected by bipolar disorder. These feelings can last for a few days or sometimes weeks.
Bipolar disorder is fairly common. Bipolar disorder commonly affects people between 18-24, but can affect all ages.
People with bipolar disorder do not experience symptoms all the time. For certain periods of time you can feel well, then at other times you may experience extreme mood swings.
Some symptoms of bipolar disorder include:
If you have some or even all of these symptoms it does not mean you have bi-polar disorder, but if you are worried you should talk to someone you trust as they can support you with getting help.
If you go to your GP they can help to work out if you have bipolar disorder and talk to you about how you are feeling even if you do not have the disorder
Sometimes a GP might advise that you are referred to CAMHS, the child and adolescent mental health service. This will give you the chance to speak to a specialist doctor who will be able to help you with how you are feeling and managing the condition.
There are several options for treating bipolar that can help someone with bipolar disorder live life as normally as possible.
The following treatment options are available:
It’s thought using a combination of different treatment methods is the best way to control bipolar disorder.
For more information on bipolar visit Young Minds or find out how you can get support from our services.
Coronavirus (COVID-19): We are not allowing visitors to any of our hospital or inpatient sites in order to protect our patients and staff who care for them from the spread of COVID-19 (coronavirus). This is with effect from Monday 23 March 2020 until further notice.
