Have you ever been through intense highs and lows, leaving you fighting with unpredictable mood swings? Do you also find it challenging to differentiate the line between euphoria and debilitating sadness?
Well, if these questions sound familiar, you might be suffering from Manic depression. It consists of mania (intense highs and lows in energy, concentration, and activity levels) and depression. This blog post will cover every single thing about it in detail. We will share what it is, its causes, symptoms, and treatments.
This article will educate you about this illness and how to treat it. Stay with us till the end to get all your doubts cleared about this disease.
What Is Manic Depression?
Manic depression is a mental health condition in which you feel extreme mood swings. It includes episodes of mania and depression. Manic depression includes intense highs and feeling euphoric, excessively energetic, and engaging in impulsive behaviors. Depressive episodes make you feel sad, hopeless, and less interested or interested in activities.
Manic Depression Vs. Bipolar Disorder
The terms “manic depression” and “bipolar disorder” are the different names of the same mental health condition. Manic depression is an older term, while bipolar disorder is more modern. It is divided into several types, each with its distinct features. Let’s have a look at them.
Types Of Bipolar Disorder
There are three prominent types of bipolar disorder.
- Bipolar I disorder: It is the type in which you go through at least one manic episode with depressive episodes. This manic episode can be severe, and you may even need medical help.
- Bipolar II disorder: In bipolar II disorder, you feel repeated episodes of depression and hypomania (a less severe form of mania). Hypomania may not cause severe problems, but depressive episodes can still be a headache.
- Cyclothymia: The last type is cyclothymia. It is a mild type of bipolar disorder. You may feel repeated hypomania and mild depression. It is usually less dangerous but can still impact your daily life.
Causes Of Manic Depression
There are no defined causes of manic depression, but these risk factors can lead you to it. Understanding these factors is necessary for effective diagnosis and treatment. Let’s check them out in detail.
Genes
The first risk factor is your genes. These can also substantially increase your chances of manic depression. People whose parents have had bipolar disorder are at a higher risk of getting infected from it as compared to others. These genes are usually associated with neurotransmitter regulation, circadian rhythms, and mood stabilization.
Brain Structure Or Functioning
Your brain structure or functioning can also play a role in it. Alterations in brain structure and functioning in areas that are involved in emotional regulation and mood control can expose you to manic depression. Imbalance in neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels, can also increase your risk of getting affected.
Symptoms
Two different episodes occur during manic depression. One is manic, and the other one is depressive. Here are the symptoms of both of these phases.
Manic Symptoms
Following are the symptoms that you might feel during the manic phase.
- Euphoria or feeling very energetic.
- Hyperactivity or restlessness.
- Speaking rapidly without interruption and switching topics
- Feeling energized even with less sleep.
- Unrealistic belief in someone or something like its importance or power.
- Having risky behavior and not worrying about consequences.
- Getting easily distracted.
- Pursuing multiple goals simultaneously with intense focus.
Depressive Symptoms
These are the depressive symptoms one may feel while going through a low phase of bipolar disorder.
- Unjustified sadness
- Lack of energy and motivation
- Weight loss or gain
- Feeling guilt or self-blaming
- Memory problems and indecisiveness
- Insomnia or excessive sleeping
- Loss of pleasure in activities you loved to do.
- Thoughts of death or suicide.
- Feeling sad about your future.
Manic Depression Treatments
Managing manic depression treatment is done by combining therapeutic techniques with medications. Therapies play a vital role in treating this illness. Let’s check them out in detail.
Medications
Medications play a crucial role in the treatment of manic depression. Valproate and lithium are often prescribed to help manage manic and depressive episodes. These are mood stabilizers and are effective in dealing with suicidal thoughts. Antidepressants and antipsychotic medications are also used sometimes for this purpose.
Therapies
Different types of therapies are done alongside medications. Hand-in-hand use of these techniques boosts the impact of medicines. Here are a few standard therapies for manic depression treatment.
- Psychotherapy: The first and the most used therapy is psychotherapy. It is also known as talk therapy. It involves discussing thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with a mental health professional.
- Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is the second technique we will discuss. It uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain. It has proven to be very helpful in treating manic depression.
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is next on the list. It works by passing electrical currents through the brain for controlled seizures. It can be effective for patients with other medications or therapies that are not working.
Final Words
Manic depression or bipolar disorder is the reputation of manic and depressive episodes. In these phases, you feel hyperactive, energetic, happy, and suddenly sad, hopeless, sleepy, and weak.
If the symptoms sound familiar, consult any doctor as soon as possible because these episodes can be severe and even lead you to hospital. Moreover, treatment is also necessary because it affects your daily life and productivity.