Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that affects around 7 million adults in the United States. It is important to know how to get diagnosed with bipolar disorder and also to receive the correct diagnosis because the wrong treatment can lead to severe consequences. However, it is a complex disorder that is sometimes misdiagnosed as depression, anxiety, or borderline personality disorder. If you suspect you or a loved one has bipolar disorder, here are a few considerations for the process of diagnosis.
Understanding Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder. There are several subtypes of bipolar disorder, including Bipolar Disorder type I, Bipolar Disorder type II, and Cyclothymia. Bipolar is characterized by two (potentially three) distinct mood states that fluctuate unpredictably. Some people diagnosed with bipolar, though not all, will have more depressive episodes during fall and winter and more manic or hypomanic episodes during spring and summer.
Even though mood swings are unpredictable in nature, external and internal circumstances can trigger them. These include grief, breakups, stress from moving or unusual stress at work, changes in sleep schedule, and other disruptive circumstances. People with bipolar disorder should steer clear from using substances as they can trigger manic episodes and/or psychosis.
Episodes in Bipolar Disorder
Manic Episodes
They are typical of Bipolar Disorder type I, though hypomanic episodes, more typical of Bipolar Disorder type II, can escalate into manic episodes. They last up to a week and consist of frantic action, rapid thoughts and speech, and an elevated mood.
The individual will have delusions of grandiosity that can be highly disconnected from reality. They will perceive themselves as invisible or as being able to do things beyond their capacity. They will need little sleep and wake up feeling rested after just a few hours. Manic episodes, in some cases, lead to incarceration, hospitalization, accidents, impulsive purchases, and other behaviors such as taking drugs (which makes the manic episode worse).
Hypomanic Episodes
Hypomanic episodes are similar to manic episodes but are not as severe. They are typical of Bipolar Disorder type II. They last five days as opposed to seven. The individual in a hypomanic episode does get more sleep than the individual in a manic episode.
Patients in hypomanic episodes can also channel their frantic energy into any goal-oriented activity. Instead of doing things like drinking or using drugs, which can be impulsive and self-destructive, they can study, work, or do household chores for hours.
Depressive Episodes
These episodes are characterized by lacking motivation and vitality. The individual may struggle to get out of bed and complete their duties or do things they usually enjoy. In some cases, individuals may experience suicidality, whether passive or active.
They may perceive themselves as worthless and neglect self-care, hygiene, and responsibilities. These symptoms resemble major depressive disorder, but doctors and therapists should not treat it in the same way. This is so because taking only an antidepressant, while effective for some people with depression, can elicit a manic or hypomanic episode if the patient has bipolar disorder. Finding the best depression treatment centers in Tennessee can help people figure out the right diagnosis.
Mixed Episodes
These episodes combine characteristics of mania and depression without being entirely one or the other. With the assistance of the professional mental health treatment program in Chattanooga, people suffering from bipolar or similar disorders can seek assistance and get adequate treatment.
Bipolar Disorder and Psychosis
Some individuals with bipolar will also experience psychosis that blends with manic or depressive episodes. The psychosis and paranoia will match the nature of the episode.
Psychosis can be treated through a combination of psychotherapy and medication, including a combination of antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilizers. Not all patients with bipolar disorder will experience psychosis at all times or at all. Psychosis is a regular occurrence in bipolar disorder but is not a diagnostic criterion. There are useful treatment programs, such as outpatient mental health in Chattanooga, which can help you get a handle on psychosis without living in a residential facility.
When to Seek Professional Help for Bipolar Disorder
Being emotionally regulated while also having bipolar disorder takes a lot of discipline, as well as a strong support network and a team of professionals. The symptoms can quickly go from mild to severe, and it is always best to act when it is still early. As the symptoms of both mania and depression progress, one may require hospitalization, more medication, participating in an intensive outpatient program, or any combination of these.
Seek help for bipolar disorder if your loved ones are concerned about your excessive activity and lack of sleep or if you are having suicidal ideations or struggling to function in your daily life.
How to Get Diagnosed with Bipolar: A Step-by-Step Process
If you suspect you have bipolar disorder but do not have a diagnosis yet, getting one is the first step towards getting better. Gather all relevant documents and patient history and get ready to contact the best mental health center for a diagnosis.
Initial Consultation with Healthcare Providers
The initial consultation is generally with a primary care physician or a psychiatrist at a mental health center. During this consultation, your doctor will ask you about the symptoms troubling you, your personal and family history, changes in energy levels, your general habits, including diet and sleep patterns, and any comorbid disorders you may already know about.
Finding a Specialist with Experience in Bipolar Disorder
If your primary care doctor has a strong suspicion that you could have bipolar, you will get a referral to either a mental health center or a bipolar specialist.
Detailed Clinical Interview & Comprehensive Evaluation Process
At this stage of the process, your doctor will ask you to elaborate on your personal and family history over at least two additional consultations. In some cases, they will ask you to get blood or urine tests to rule out other diseases that may present similarly to bipolar, such as Substance Use Disorder or thyroid problems.
Your doctor may also consider dual diagnosis screening, as sometimes bipolar disorder does not tell the whole story. The doctor will ask you to fill out questionnaires, keep track of your mood and emotions through self-monitoring tools, complete tests to evaluate how your mind works, and other testing tools. In some cases, with your consent, your psychiatrist will request to talk to family members and close friends about your behavioral patterns to get a better picture of your mental health condition.
Diagnosis
During the diagnosis itself, a mental health specialist will tell you what your diagnosis is. They will answer questions you may have about the diagnosis and tell you more or less what to expect from now on.
At this stage of the process, most people experience mixed feelings. Some examples of mixed feelings you may have at this point are relief and satisfaction, fear, sadness, anger, and frustration. This is why it is important to have a top-of-the-line mental health provider to support you. Find the best mental health counseling in Tennessee and start your treatment as soon as possible.
Treatment Plan
After you have received your diagnosis, you will also receive a treatment plan. There is no single course of treatment for all patients with bipolar disorder. They have been known to respond well to different combinations of medication, psychotherapy, and other types of therapy. Some patients with bipolar only take mood stabilizers, whereas others may take a combination of mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, anti-depressants, and anti-anxiety medication. Others respond well to DBT, CBT, and/or trauma-informed or somatic therapies. In more severe cases, inpatient mental health facilities in Chattanooga can be the solution, as the patients receive mental health care 24/7.
Follow-up and Ongoing Management
Once you have received your diagnosis and are following your treatment plan, you will still have to attend recurrent consultations with therapists. People with bipolar disorder need to keep good habits and routines, monitor their sleep schedule and quality of sleep, and refrain from taking illegal substances.
Treatment Options Following Diagnosis
Mental health professionals generally treat bipolar disorder through a combination of medication management and psychotherapy. It can be complemented with practices such as yoga and mindfulness as well. Bipolar disorder is generally considered a lifelong disorder, but with adequate treatment, some people can still have fulfilling lives. Utilizing the best Tennessee mental health services is the right path for people who struggle with bipolar disorder.
Medication Management
Doctors generally prescribe a combination of the following:
- Mood stabilizers
- Antidepressants
- Antipsychotics, if the patient has psychosis or paranoia
- Medications to manage anxiety and insomnia, if applicable
Medication can stabilize you and get you out of critical condition. It can also help you stay emotionally regulated and have some stability to complete your daily tasks. However, psychotherapy is required to address some of the problems causing triggers to your bipolar disorder at the root.
CBT
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, can help you identify patterns of thinking and behavior that lead you to spiral or to more frequent, more intense episodes. You will learn your triggers and any problematic or self-destructive patterns of behavior you may have. Then, CBT helps you address these patterns and change them. Bipolar disorder treatment in Chattanooga generally employs CBT when treating bipolar disorder, among many other treatment options.
DBT
DBT, or Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, helps people who may already be aware of their patterns of behavior emotionally regulate and act less impulsively. It is generally a combination of group and individual therapy. During group therapy, people with similar struggles will receive lessons on emotional regulation techniques.
Family Therapy
The aim of family therapy is to support the family members of the person with the diagnosis. They will learn about their mental health condition or conditions and talk about their stress. Bipolar disorder, especially if it goes undiagnosed or unmanaged for too long, can take a toll on the family members and close friends of people with bipolar disorder.
Red Light Therapy
Red Light Therapy employs LED lights at different frequencies to improve brain function. It does so by speeding up serotonin production. This can help mitigate the symptoms of depressive episodes.
Yoga & Mindfulness
Yoga and mindfulness can help maintain emotional regulation. Over time, yoga and mindfulness practice can help you understand your emotions better than you did before. Self-regulation is an essential skill for someone with bipolar disorder, as it can help them catch the onset of manic and depressive episodes and act accordingly. Mindfulness techniques can foster a feeling of calmness and help the individual act less impulsively.
The Importance of Seeking Assistance and Getting the Correct Diagnosis
Even though bipolar disorder can be challenging to diagnose, the first step towards leading a successful life as a person with bipolar is to get diagnosed correctly. An accurate diagnosis ensures you take the right medication and gives you a better perspective as to what sort of psychotherapy could be beneficial to you. Knowing the name of your mental health condition is also the first step to getting educated as to what is going on with your brain and starting to have better habits and routines. If you feel you or your loved one might be suffering from bipolar disorder, consult a mental health crisis hotline in Tennessee. An experienced team of mental health professionals will give you the guidelines on how to proceed further and find the right treatment.
