Do I Have Bipolar Disorder?
You’ve started to wonder if you’re normal. Your emotional highs may make you excited and cause you to lose sleep. However, when you get down, you’re feeling lower than words can express and feel hopeless and worthless. If you recognize the characteristics in this scenario, you may have a chemical imbalance in your brain causing bipolar disorder.
If you’re questioning whether or not you have a mental health issue, it’s never a bad idea to consult a psychiatrist. At Harmony Bay Wellness near Voorhees, NJ, we can screen you for bipolar disorder. Once you have that answer, you can determine the best course of action with your psychiatrist, which can include check-ins with a therapist on a regular basis, as well as medication to help stabilize your moods.
WHAT IS BIPOLAR DISORDER?
Experts say that bipolar disorder is a mental illness. If you have this disorder, you may see that you have extreme changes in mood. Sometimes, you’re on top of the world. Medical experts call this period mania, meaning that you’re very happy and energetic for long periods. After a manic episode, you may quickly shift to an extreme low, and you become depressed. At times, you may experience a mixture of mania and depression.
Bipolar disorder affects those who have it to varying degrees. Some people can lead relatively normal lives with minimal therapy or medication, while others will rely on medication for the rest of their lives to keep their moods under control.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I’M BIPOLAR?
Only a medical professional can give you an answer regarding whether or not you have bipolar disorder, but there are several specific signs that you can look out for to determine if seeing a psychiatrist could be beneficial.
During your manic episodes, you’re overly happy for days or weeks on end. When this is the case, you don’t feel like you need much sleep. You’re also very restless and impulsive. Moreover, you tend to be overconfident in yourself, and you take extreme risks, such as gambling with your savings or using drugs or drinking more frequently than usual. Furthermore, you’re easily distracted, and your thoughts race, with your speech getting more rapid and excited in tone.
The flip side of a manic episode is a depressive episode. A depressive episode occurs when you feel hopeless or sad for two weeks or more. You probably withdraw from your friends or loved ones. Additionally, you probably don’t want to take part in your hobbies. Depressive episodes also lead to extreme changes in your eating and sleeping habits that are very different from your manic episodes. You may also have trouble concentrating, making decisions, or remembering things.
A significant danger with bipolar disorder is that during your depressive episodes, you may contemplate or attempt suicide. If you’re struggling with thoughts of suicide, you need to tell a trusted friend or family member. Ask them to call 911 and remove any objects that you could use to harm yourself.
THERAPY IS AVAILABLE
If you need therapy for bipolar disorder and live in greater South Jersey, help is available at Harmony Bay. For many people, therapy options may include medication or behavioral therapy.
If you use drugs or alcohol, this can exasperate your condition. It is essential for you to get therapy for both bipolar disorder and your substance dependency. If you don’t, the untreated disease can get worse, and ultimately lead to a relapse. At Harmony Bay, we offer dual diagnosis treatment, where we treat both problems at the same time. In addition to bipolar disorder, we also treat:
If you’re still wondering whether or not you have bipolar disorder, don’t hesitate. Call Harmony Bay today at [Direct]. Our therapists and psychiatric services in Voorhees, NJ, can get you the help you or a loved one needs. A satisfying and full life is available when you seek therapy and get your symptoms under control.