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.
Negative thinking is often a symptom of depression and bipolar disorder. These illnesses can make it more difficult to see things in a positive light.
You may experience symptoms of depression, plus mania or hypomania at the same time. For example, you may feel very energised and impulsive, while feeling upset or tearful. Or you may feel very agitated or irritable. You may also experience highs and lows very quickly after the other, within the same day or hour.
Cognitive profile of bipolar patients
Among the different cognitive domains, bipolar patients exhibit psychomotor retardation and impaired declarative memory, executive function, and, to a lesser extent, visual memory and attention when compared with healthy controls.
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.
Obsessive-compulsive symptoms are common in patients with bipolar disorders. This comorbid condition complicates the clinical treatment of the two disorders, so identifying these individuals is important.
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 person may also experience difficulties with their thinking and memory because of the disorder. Poor memory and difficulty concentrating can, for some individuals with bipolar disorder, make it very difficult to carry out the daily tasks of life, including work and school.
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.
People with bipolar disorder have fewer social interactions and smaller social networks than healthy comparison subjects (5, 6) and are less likely to achieve social milestones such as marriage or equivalent relationships than the population as a whole (7).
70,000 Thoughts Per Day - International Bipolar Foundation.
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.
Delusions can be a symptom of both manic and depressive episodes in people with bipolar disorder. These false beliefs can be very distressing to anyone who experiences them. If you're concerned about delusions in yourself or a loved one, seek help from your primary care provider, a psychologist, or a psychiatrist.
Disorganized thinking
This is common among people with schizophrenia, but people with bipolar disorder may seem to have disorganized thoughts during episodes of mania. They may struggle to concentrate on a single idea or task at a time.
Some symptoms of bipolar disorder aren't always discussed, like confusion and an inability to make decisions.
During a manic episode, people with bipolar disorder can have what's called a bipolar blackout. During a blackout, the individual is not aware of their surroundings or actions and has trouble remembering them afterward. This can make interacting with someone in a blackout very frustrating, but it doesn't have to be.
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a mental health condition associated with shifts in mood and energy levels and other symptoms. A person with BD may experience episodes of mania or elevated mood, depressive episodes, or “mixed” episodes with manic and depressive symptoms.
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.
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.
Fatigue can come during both mania and depression. It's more than being sleepy. It's feeling so tired that you can't do your normal things. You might feel like you can't function or make it through your day.
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.
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.
Conclusions. Stress is linked to changes in mood symptoms among bipolar adolescents, although correlations between life events and symptoms vary with age. Chronic stress in family, romantic, and peer relationships are important targets for psychosocial intervention.
Abstract. Depression in bipolar disorder has long been thought to be a state characterized by mental inactivity. However, recent research demonstrates that patients with bipolar disorder engage in rumination, a form of self-focused repetitive cognitive activity, in depressed as well as in manic states.