Extreme mood swings are the most prominent symptom of bipolar in women. In addition to the psychological and physical pain that a bipolar woman suffers from during bouts of depression and mania, she faces a difficult challenge at various stages of her life. For example, hormonal changes as a result of the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or childbirth can affect the symptoms of the disease, in addition to social pressures and emotional burdens that are associated with a woman’s role as a wife and mother. These are all things that may exacerbate the symptoms. Here, ma’am, we will review more details about bipolar disorder. Please read on.

أعراض ثنائي القطب عند النساء

As previously mentioned, bipolar disorder is a disorder that varies between mania or hypomania and depression, and symptoms include the following:

• الأرق.
• Speaking abnormally quickly.
• Distraction and inattention.
• Decrease in appetite.
• Extreme stress and anger.
• Significant increase in self-esteem.
• Spending money in large quantities.

Manic episode

Among the symptoms is entering into a manic episode, the symptoms of which are evident in the following:

• Speak quickly.
• Lack of sleep hours.
• Ease of nervous irritation.
• Distraction.
• Excessive desire for an intimate relationship and increased orgasm.
• Rush.

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Depressive episode

Entering into a bout of depression, the symptoms of which become clear as follows:

• الحزن الشديد.
• Despair for long periods of time, lasting up to two weeks.
• التحدث ببطء.
• Feeling heavy.
• اضطرابات النوم.
• Eat in large quantities.
• الصعوبة في التركيز.
• Always thinking about death.

Mixed seizure

It is also possible to enter into a mixed episode between mania and depression, and its symptoms are:

• الانفعال.
• الغضب الشديد.
• القلق.
• A mixture of high energy and low mood.

يمكنك قراءة ما هي طرق علاج ثنائي القطب؟ وكيفية التعايش معه

Types of bipolar disease

In fact, the types of bipolar illness depend on the severity of the illness. You will find bipolar I type, bipolar II type, the rapid cyclic type, and the mild type, as follows:

• The first type is characterized by severe mood attacks that vary between mania and depression, and the manic episodes are severe and last a long time.
• The second type has bouts of severe depression interspersed with periods of lighter mania.
• As for the rapid cyclic pattern, it is characterized by mood episodes alternating between mania and depression, and it can reach 4 episodes per year.
• Mild type: Both manic and depressive episodes are less severe and do not significantly affect daily functioning.

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Causes of bipolar in women

There are a number of reasons that lead to bipolar disorder in women, and these reasons are evident in the following points:

• Genetic factors, as genes belonging to first- or second-degree relatives of someone suffering from bipolar may be available, and thus the individual is at high risk of developing the disease.
• Brain cell damage, which leads to mood disorders and bipolar disorder.
• Disturbances in neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are known as chemical substances that are useful in regulating mood, and an imbalance of neurotransmitters in the brain is one of the causes of bipolar disorders in women.
• There are also problems in the mitochondria that lead to mental disorders, and thus disease.

Risk factors for developing bipolar disorder

You must know the factors that increase the risk of bipolar symptoms in women, which are:

• The disorder can develop between the ages of 12 and 25, and 50% of cases are usually diagnosed before the age of 25.
• Bipolar disorder is more common in women than in men, while type 1 disorder is equally common in both women and men.
• Thyroid hormones negatively affect brain function, and bipolar and thyroid disorders are linked.

Complications of bipolar disease

مرض bipolar It has a number of complications, such as entering the stage of suicidal thoughts with severe bouts of depression, and the patient may resort to taking drugs or alcohol thinking that it will alleviate the symptoms of his illness. Bipolar may also be associated with some health problems, such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease, and it can cause problems in personal and family relationships and at the functional level, in addition to affecting cognitive abilities such as memory, concentration, and perception, and psychological complications such as anxiety disorders, sleep disorders, and others.

How are bipolar symptoms in women diagnosed?

When visiting a specialist doctor, he relies on a number of important and necessary considerations and stages in diagnosing the symptoms of bipolar in women, starting with asking the patient about her medical and psychological history, as well as her family history, to search for any previous episodes, whether manic or depressive.

The patient's mood symptoms are evaluated to look for signs and symptoms of mania, such as speaking quickly or hyperactivity, and to look for symptoms of depression, with a number of necessary tests being performed, such as examining the thyroid gland to ensure that there are no hormonal imbalances, in addition to conducting psychological tests to evaluate the severity of the symptoms.

علاج مرض ثنائي القطب

Different treatment methods are available for treating bipolar disorder. The appropriate treatment plan is chosen by the specialist doctor based on a number of factors, the most important of which is the severity of the symptoms and the type and history of the disease. The treatment plans used include the following:

• Taking mood suppressants, antidepressants, and antipsychotics.
• Relying on cognitive-behavioral psychotherapy to change negative behavior patterns as well as negative thinking, and light therapy to treat seasonal depressive episodes.
• Relying on some different methods, such as regular physical exercise, maintaining a sleep regime, and regular healthy eating.

How to prevent bipolar disease

In order to be able to prevent the disease, you must recognize the primary symptoms of bipolar in women, such as mood changes and sleep disturbances, and practice activities that in turn reduce stress and anxiety, such as yoga, and be careful to maintain a healthy daily pattern, whether sleeping, eating, or exercising, while developing the social support network around you so make it strong enough. In addition to all of this, you must undergo periodic medical examinations for early detection of the symptoms of bipolar in women.

Are hormones related to the disease?

Hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause all necessarily affect the symptoms of bipolar disease in women, as the decrease in estrogen and progesterone leads to bouts of depression or mania, and the symptoms of bipolar in women may increase during the different hormonal stages between menstruation, pregnancy, and postpartum.

Frequently asked questions

We know, ma'am, that your mixed feelings as a result of bipolar symptoms in women make questions increase in your mind, which is worrying you as you want to get answers to all of these questions, and we know very well that you need to calm your mind and rest from this annoying disorder, and that is why we explain to you the answers to some of these questions:

كيف اعرف اني اعاني من اضطراب ثنائي القطب؟

If you find yourself experiencing some signs and symptoms such as severe mood swings, changes in activity and energy, fatigue and lethargy, sleep disturbances, rapid thinking with accelerated speech, decreased concentration and attention, changes in appetite and weight, along with suicidal thoughts, then you may suffer from bipolar disorder and need counseling and diagnosis.

How does bipolar disease begin?

Symptoms of the disease appear slowly and develop gradually over the years. Symptoms begin with mild depression with mania, and with time more severe mood swings. The disorder most often begins in early youth or adolescence.

How do I deal with someone suffering from bipolar?

If you know a female who suffers from symptoms of bipolar disorder in women, you should try to understand the nature of the disease and its symptoms, anticipate mood changes, be sure to support the patient, be patient and not criticize her in any way, and help her receive appropriate treatment from a specialist doctor.

How long does a bipolar episode last?

The duration of episodes of bipolar disorder may vary from one individual to another. In the case of manic episodes, they may last from a week to approximately 4 months, and depressive episodes may last from 2 weeks to 9 months. There are periods between mania and depression, during which the mood is relatively normal.

The patient who suffers from bipolar symptoms in women, as well as the male patient, is in constant need of support and patience, in addition to treatment, so be sure to visit Al Mousa Specialist Hospital Which provides the patient with psychological and therapeutic support after diagnosis with a staff of experienced and competent doctors. 

Sources and references

Signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder – medicalnewstoday

Bipolar Disorder in Women – healthline