Signs of Relapsed Bipolar Disorder, Don't Take It Lightly

YOGYAKARTA - Bipolar disorder or known as "manic-depression" is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings, which can last a lifetime and are difficult to cure completely. Sufferers can experience a relapse at any time, so understanding the characteristics of bipolar relapse is important so that it can be treated immediately.

Bipolar consists of two main phases: the manic phase and the depressive phase. In the manic phase, sufferers often appear very excited, talk quickly, have excessive energy, and appear full of enthusiasm. Conversely, in the depressive phase, sufferers will experience feelings of sadness, fatigue, loss of interest in usual activities, and experience decreased energy.

These two phases can occur repeatedly throughout the life of a bipolar sufferer. To add references, you can read: Recognizing the Characteristics of Bipolar Disorder, a Mental Disorder of Extreme Emotional Changes

Regarding triggers for bipolar relapse, some things that can trigger a bipolar episode again are not taking medication regularly or missing meetings with a psychiatrist. In addition, other factors that also affect bipolar relapse are major life changes, lack of quality sleep, and daily life stress. Here are some common triggers for bipolar relapse, referring to information from Healthgrades:

1. A major stressful life change, such as moving or losing a job.
2. An event that causes excessive happiness, such as getting married or having a child.
3. A change in daily routine, such as an irregular sleep or eating schedule.
4. Not getting enough rest or sleep.
5. Excessive stress in daily life.
6. High levels of use of substances such as caffeine and tobacco.
7. Alcohol or drug abuse.

By understanding these triggers, bipolar sufferers are expected to be more careful and try to avoid or minimize exposure to these factors.

After knowing some of the triggers for relapse, here are the characteristics of bipolar relapse that need to be watched out for by both sufferers and those around them. These characteristics are divided into signs of the manic phase and the depressive phase.

Characteristics of Relapsed Bipolar in Manic Phase

When in a manic phase, the signs of relapsed bipolar relapse are often more easily recognized by those around you. Some of the signs that may appear are:

• Difficulty sleeping, but still feeling energetic.
• Excessive energy, appearing very active.
• Talking too much and jumping from topic to topic.
• Racing thoughts and difficulty focusing.
• Making big plans that are sometimes unrealistic.
• Being easily irritated or angry, especially when small things upset you.
• Sudden increase in interest in sexual activity.
• Poor decision making, including engaging in high-risk behavior.

Characteristics of Relapsed Bipolar in Depressive Phase

In the depressive phase, symptoms are more felt by the sufferer themselves than they are seen from the outside. Signs of bipolar relapse in this phase include:

• Loss of interest in everyday activities that used to be enjoyable.
• Reduced social interactions with friends or family.
• Difficulty concentrating on routine activities.
• Excessive fatigue or lack of energy to function.
• Increased anxiety or worry for no apparent reason.
• Persistent feelings of sadness or emptiness.
• Physical pain or aches that have no obvious medical cause.
• Neglecting self-care or daily responsibilities, such as personal hygiene.

These signs of bipolar relapse show how important it is for bipolar sufferers and those around them to be able to recognize these signs early on. Because relapses that are not treated immediately can worsen the condition and make the recovery process more difficult. Social support and treatment in the form of therapy and medication are needed to help sufferers control this condition so they can live a more stable life.

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