The most severe type of bipolar is bipolar I disorder. It is marked by mood swings between extreme highs and lows and is one of the most extreme forms of mental illness, potentially caused by a chemical imbalance, although there isn’t any conclusive proof that this is the case. The most dangerous symptom of bipolar I is suicide or attempted suicide.
Psychosis and paranoid delusions are only found in the bipolar I and are not fairly common once individuals hit extreme ends of the mood spectrum. It can have a very serious affect on life at work and persons suffering from it have a hard time holding down a job for an extended period of time Other forms of bipolar cause mild mood swings, but bipolar one causes major manic and as well as depressive episodes. If an individual is admitted to the hospital for a manic episode is it likely they are suffering from bipolar I.
Characteristics of mania include:
·Needing little to no sleep.
·Dressing extravagantly, spending money recklessly on drugs, gambling, or other unhealthy activities.
·Having increased sexual desires, called hypersexuality (nymphomania / satyriasis) and engaging in risky or unhealthy sexual behaviors.
·Experiencing hallucinations or delusions
·Feeling full of life and energy.
Typically episodes of both mania and depression will last around six months, causing an average of two to four cycles a year.
Characteristics of major depression include:
·Feeling gloomy, good-for-nothing, or powerless
·Sleeping much more than usual or is normal.
·Inability to arrive at simple conclusions, blurred judgement
·Sleep pattern changes
·Inappropriate guilt
·Thoughts of death or suicide
·Chronic Pain
·Insomnia
·Sluggishness
·Lack of Energy
·Lack of involvement in favorite activities.
If a loved one you know experiences these symptoms, it is crucial to make sure they receive treatment. If bipolar I isn’t treated, the risk of suicide death is 15%, with the rate of attempted suicide much higher. Don’t forget that the third leading cause of death from 15-24 years is suicide.
While there is no scientific test for bipolar I disorder, a trained psychiatrists (not a psychologist) can detect bipolar symptoms from experience, and a particularly perceptive family member can detect the illness if they watch for the signs and remain objective. Just remember, knowledge is a very useless defense against bipolar disorder.