Why do i have Mania or Bipolar Disorder?
Thoughts on Bipolar Disorder Treatment from a Nashville Therapist
The answer to this question is not easy (and I know you’re tired of hearing that). Bipolar happens due to a mix of genetics, environmental factors, social factors, biological facts, and more. It’s really difficult to pin it down to one or two things. Let’s learn a little more about Bipolar, then return to the question.
Bipolar impacts around 2.4% of people. That’s over 2 people out of a hundred! Imagine the last time you were at a concert with over a hundred people- it’s possible a few people had Bipolar Disorder.
Around 30% of people will have additional mania or depressive episodes.
Bipolar consists of oscillations between extreme mood states. These moods can either be depression and mania or just mania.
Most people experience episodes of depression beginning in early adulthood. Some have their first manic episode around age 25, although some do not have an episode of mania until middle adulthood.
Sometimes mania can include psychosis, but not always.
In retrospect, some people experience episodes of “hypomania” before full blown mania. Hypomania includes symptoms of mania that are less intense- people are still able to function in everyday life, so they rarely see a doctor for it.
Risk factors include previous depression, a family member with Bipolar or other mental health diagnoses, and changes in hormones.
So What?
Bipolar symptoms can present at various times in life and they can look different for everyone. This makes it difficult to know “why” it happens.
Chances are, you experienced a big stressor (going to college, break up, etc.), then your myriad of risk factors kicked in to spark a manic episode.
Processing the episode in therapy can give you a better idea of which risk factors impacted you.
Treatment
A lot of people end up in the psychiatric hospital. The average hospital stay lasts 1-2 weeks. Treatment includes medication management to stabilize mood and induce sleep. For some, ECT is required to bring mood and psychosis back to baseline.
Ongoing medications and therapy can reduce your risk for another episode.
Sometimes people have trouble with cognition after a manic episode, so focusing on recovery is really important.
The prognosis for Bipolar Disorder can be good for individuals who adhere to treatment!
The Role of Therapy
Sometimes people lose friends and relationships following an episode of mania- therapy can help rebuild those relationships and/or help you build new ones.
Mania often lands people in the psychiatric hospital, especially if the mania includes psychosis. The hospital can be an extremely distressing experience, so processing this is essential in improving emotion regulation to prevent future episodes.
I hear a lot of people feel afraid to be happy following a manic episode. Happiness doesn’t equate to mania, so having an experienced professional help you decipher between the two can be extremely helpful!
In terms of every day life, routine and good sleep are extremely important to maintain stability. Therapy can help you build those habits
Evidenced-based therapy modalities for Bipolar include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Interpersonal Social Rhythm Therapy (ISRT).
I really wish we knew exactly why you have Bipolar Disorder. It can be a really debilitating and scary experience. You are not the only one who has been manic and there are many mental health professionals who can help. You’ve got this!
I am a licensed mental health therapist in Nashville, TN.