What's more, many people with bipolar disorder report memory loss and or difficulty remembering things. These individuals may have trouble with short and long-term memory, struggle to think things through at a quick speed, and have difficulty thinking outside of the so-called box.
Aside from severe mood swings, many with a bipolar mood disorder report that they experience a kind of “brain fog”. Thus, oscillating between extreme highs (manic episodes) and then deep despair (depressive periods) can be made more difficult due to fuzzy and imprecise thought patterns.
The risk of developing dementia is much higher among people who've had bipolar disorder, according to several studies. A 2020 analysis determined that people with bipolar disorder are about three times more likely to develop dementia, while another expansive analysis also found a significantly increased risk.
Bipolar disorder can also make it difficult to concentrate. When you're in the midst of a manic phase, you might find your mind racing and have a hard time controlling your thoughts. You may even talk faster than usual.
Research shows bipolar disorder may damage the brain over time. Experts think it's because you slowly lose amino acids. They help build the proteins that make up the insulation around your neurons.
MRIs and CT scans can provide detailed images of the brain and its structures. But currently, doctors don't use them to diagnose bipolar disorder. Detecting bipolar disorder is typically done through a diagnostic interview with a mental health professional.
Left untreated, bipolar disorder can result in serious problems that affect every area of your life, such as: Problems related to drug and alcohol use. Suicide or suicide attempts. Legal or financial problems.
Racing thoughts are often one of the first symptoms to develop when someone with bipolar disorder is entering a hypomanic or manic episode. 4 It can be—but is not always—a debilitating experience. Some people describe it as having excessive thoughts that move quickly, but with a sense of fluidity and pleasantness.
A 2020 study suggests that nearly 23% of those with bipolar disorder could be considered high functioning. If you have high functioning bipolar disorder (HFBD), you might be able to manage your bipolar disorder symptoms and complete your daily responsibilities and functions.
A stressful circumstance or situation often triggers the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Examples of stressful triggers include: the breakdown of a relationship. physical, sexual or emotional abuse.
Although there is no official classification for end stage bipolar disorder, mild structural changes in the brain that lead to cognitive dysfunction can severely reduce someone's quality of life, especially toward the end of life.
Bipolar may worsen with age or over time if this condition is left untreated. As time goes on, a person may experience episodes that are more severe and more frequent than when symptoms first appeared.
“Untreated bipolar disorder can worsen with age, with both the frequency of mood episodes and their duration,” says Thomas Scary, MD, MA, staff psychiatrist, Rittenhouse Psychiatric Associates in Philadelphia. “This is true even with treatment, but to a lesser extent.”
People with bipolar disorder often report problems with memory and cognition. They have trouble with short- and long-term memory, think things through at subdued speeds, and have difficulty thinking outside that so-called box. These memory problems can pose considerable challenges for bipolar patients.
#1 Take a Walk. While scientists have found a notable link between intense exercise—short bouts of interval training—and memory improvement, there's further research that even light workouts can increase the connectivity between parts of the brain responsible for memory formation and storage.
Bipolar disorder affects men and women equally, as well as all races, ethnic groups, and socioeconomic classes. Although men and women appear to be equally affected by bipolar disorder, rapid cycling is seen more often in women. Women also tend to experience more depressive and mixed state episodes than do men.
What is the 'mask'? It is almost like a different persona. You leave your comfort zone (home), and you become hyper vigilant about where you are. You try to become someone you are not. You try to hide your illness, so others don't think you have it.
Agitation is often seen in bipolar patients during acute manic states, when increased energy levels and reduced need for sleep lead patients to collide with the limits of others. Agitation also occurs during mixed and depressive states, which are characterized by fluctuating energy levels and periods of irritability.
Drugs with a definite propensity to cause manic symptoms include levodopa, corticosteroids and anabolic-androgenic steroids. Antidepressants of the tricyclic and monoamine oxidase inhibitor classes can induce mania in patients with pre-existing bipolar affective disorder.
They include: A persistent, intense feeling of nervousness: This can include worrying, anxiety, and panic attacks. A person may also avoid taking part in activities. These symptoms persist during manic and depressive episodes.
We all have changes in our mood, but in bipolar disorder these changes can feel very distressing and have a big impact on your life. You may feel that your high and low moods are extreme, and that swings in your mood are overwhelming. And you may feel and behave very differently, depending on your mood.
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that causes unusual shifts in mood, ranging from extreme highs (mania) to lows (depression).
Bipolar disorder is frequently inherited, with genetic factors accounting for approximately 80% of the cause of the condition. Bipolar disorder is the most likely psychiatric disorder to be passed down from family. If one parent has bipolar disorder, there's a 10% chance that their child will develop the illness.
If You Have Bipolar Disorder and Don't Take Medication
You may experience more severe symptoms: If you don't take medication for bipolar disorder, you may experience more severe symptoms. This can lead to a greater risk of hospitalization or suicide.