Bipolar disorder is a biologically based condition with symptoms appearing most frequently in early adulthood. However, like many conditions, bipolar disorder is strongly affected by psychosocial factors such as environmental and family stressors.\u00a0Bipolar disorder is characterized by unusually intense periods of emotions. These intense periods of emotions are referred to as mood episodes. Mood episodes in bipolar disorder can occur at either end of spectrum with mania on one end and\u00a0depression<\/a>\u00a0on the other. A manic episode is characterized by elevated mood, increased psychomotor activity and ephemeral ideas.\u00a0On the other hand, major depressive periods are characterized by the opposite type of behaviour and low energy levels. The varying degrees and intensities of mania and\u00a0depression<\/a> have resulted in the classification of different types of bipolar disorders.<\/p>\n Although never formally diagnosed, Vincent van Gogh was thought to have suffered from episodes of mania and\u00a0depression<\/a>\u00a0during his adult life. Today, many believe he struggled with bipolar disorder.<\/strong><\/p>\n Bipolar I<\/strong>\u00a0is characterized by episodes of mania that last at least one week and major depressive episodes that last a minimum of two weeks. These episodes are so severe in nature that they require hospitalization.\u00a0Bipolar II<\/strong>\u00a0differs from bipolar I because mania is present to a lesser degree. In fact, hypomanic episodes are characteristic of people diagnosed with this type of bipolar disorder. Hypomanic episodes are manic episodes experienced to a much lesser degree. Individuals diagnosed with this type of disorder can partake in day-to-day activities and do not require hospitalization.\u00a0Cyclothymia<\/strong> is defined by several episodes that resemble hypomanic and depressive episodes that last for at least a two-year period. However, these episodes do not meet the exact diagnostic criteria required to classify them as hypomanic or depressive episodes. Cyclothymia is often triggered by changes in seasons, surfacing more commonly in spring in fall.<\/p>\n __CONFIG_colors_palette__{“active_palette”:0,”config”:{“colors”:{“36c04”:{“name”:”Main Accent”,”parent”:-1},”3a8fd”:{“name”:”Accent Light”,”parent”:”36c04″,”lock”:{“saturation”:1,”lightness”:1}}},”gradients”:[]},”palettes”:[{“name”:”Default”,”value”:{“colors”:{“36c04”:{“val”:”var(–tcb-skin-color-0)”},”3a8fd”:{“val”:”rgb(240, 240, 240)”,”hsl_parent_dependency”:{“h”:144,”l”:0.94,”s”:0}}},”gradients”:[]},”original”:{“colors”:{“36c04”:{“val”:”rgb(255, 204, 102)”,”hsl”:{“h”:40,”s”:1,”l”:0.7}},”3a8fd”:{“val”:”rgb(241, 241, 241)”,”hsl_parent_dependency”:{“h”:0,”s”:0,”l”:0.94}}},”gradients”:[]}}]}__CONFIG_colors_palette__<\/p>\n We are currently accepting new clients for online video or phone appointments.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/psyvitaliti.ca\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2021\/03\/bipolar-disorder-437-888-3110.jpg\" "\\"bipolar-disorder-437-888-3110\\"")
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