As for the stigma around bipolar and parenting, it is unnecessary. Mothers and fathers diagnosed with bipolar disorder can still be great parents. What people don't understand is that bipolar disorder is a medical illness just like cancer or diabetes, and it requires medication to treat the symptoms of the illness.
A 2019 study also found no difference in pregnancy outcomes between women with bipolar disorder and those without. Still, a 2016 review of studies found that women with bipolar disorder had worse pregnancy outcomes than those without bipolar disorder.
Genetic factors and bipolar disorder
If one parent has bipolar disorder, there's a 10% chance that their child will develop the illness. If both parents have bipolar disorder, the likelihood of their child developing bipolar disorder rises to 40%.
Most women with bipolar disorder have a healthy pregnancy and baby, but there are some risks to be aware of. You may become unwell during your pregnancy, but the risk is higher after you give birth. Women with bipolar disorder are more likely to get: postnatal depression.
Having bipolar disorder does not mean that you are incapable of being a loving, supportive, and kind mother. But it does mean that you need to proactively prioritize physical and mental wellbeing. All moms must be unbalanced to one extent or another.
Bipolar disorder, however, can worsen during pregnancy. Pregnant women or new mothers with bipolar disorder have seven times the risk of hospital admissions compared to pregnant women who do not have bipolar disorder.
Bipolar disorder often runs in families, and research suggests this is mostly explained by heredity—people with certain genes are more likely to develop bipolar disorder than others. Many genes are involved, and no one gene can cause the disorder. But genes are not the only factor.
For some women though, giving birth will trigger their first bipolar episode. A person with bipolar disorder will experience extreme highs (mania) and lows (depression), which can continue for weeks and, in some cases, months. It is an uncommon disorder and there is usually a family history.
When people have low moods, they may be sad and cry a lot. They might also feel impatient and irritable and get more angry than usual. A parent in a low mood might not want to do things with the family like playing, talking or driving them places. They may get tired more easily and spend a lot of time in bed.
The bipolar parent may spend all their savings during a manic episode, creating constant financial instability for the family. Or they may stop going to work during depressive episodes, resulting in the parent continuously being let go from positions.
Long-term studies show that both major depression (unipolar and bipolar) and mania are most common in early adulthood and less common in older age. The prevalence of mania tends to decrease with age even more than depression. Mood symptoms in general decline with age, and the balance does shift more to depression.
The authors found that the pooled life expectancy for patients with bipolar disorder, after removal of 1 outlier study, was 67.4 years (95% CI 65.2-69.7), with no evidence of publication bias. Life expectancy was significantly shorter in men (64.6) compared to women (70.5).
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.
With proper treatment, along with support and self-care, people with bipolar disorder can live healthy, fulfilling lives.
Defects in mitochondrial DNA sequences may contribute to a predisposition to such complex diseases as diabetes and bipolar disorder. Therefore, if all bipolar disorder patients have mitochondrial predisposition genes, then the transition of bipolar disorder from the mother's side would be higher.
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.
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.
Both the ADA and SSA consider bipolar disorder a disability. That qualifies you to get extra protection and benefits under the law. To start the process, talk with your doctor. You will need documents to prove to the government that bipolar disorder affects your ability to work.
Absolutely. Parents with bipolar disorder can still be “good” parents. Someone with bipolar disorder has the same capacity to love and make mistakes as any other person. Mind.org details an account of a mom with bipolar disorder who internalizes how the condition affects her kids.
Childhood trauma
Some experts believe that experiencing a lot of emotional distress as a child can cause bipolar disorder to develop. This could be because childhood trauma and distress can have a big effect on your ability to manage your emotions. This can include experiences like: Neglect.
Be patient, attentive to their speech and behavior, and supportive in their care. But in some cases, it's not always possible to help a person through a manic or depressive episode and you'll need to get expert help. Call the person's doctor right away if you're concerned about how the episode is escalating.
Compared to the general population, women with postpartum bipolar disorder have a 25% to 50% increased risk for psychosis. They're also particularly vulnerable to severe postpartum mood worsening.
Women with BD-I or SA-BD who experience mania/psychosis in pregnancy are at a significantly elevated risk for an illness episode during the postpartum period compared to remaining well. Overall, as many as one in five women with bipolar disorder experience postpartum psychosis.
The Genomind Pharmacogenetic (PGx) test looks at 24 genes related to mental health treatment and can be used to help determine medication options to manage bipolar disorder.
Previously called manic depression or manic-depressive illness, bipolar disorder (BD) is a serious mental health condition that leads to shifts in mood. It consists of depressive states as well as episodes of mania. During manic episodes, people feel as if they are on a “high” and have extreme amounts of energy.