Signs and symptoms of bipolar hypomania that are often overlooked

Bipolar disorder or bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterized by changes in mood that tend to be extreme. Yes, you can suddenly feel very happy or sad for no apparent reason. When a person with bipolar disorder begins to feel happy and energized, this means they are in a hypomanic phase. Already know about hypomania? If not, let's find out more about this bipolar symptom through the following review.

Rarely do you realize that hypomania is a symptom of bipolar disorder

According to the American Psychiatric Association, hypomania is a bipolar symptom in the form of mood swings that are less extreme, aka milder, than mania. When in the hypomanic phase, a person will feel more energetic and confident, but not too much.

Experts still don't know the exact cause of hypomania. However, there are several things that can increase a person's risk of developing hypomania, including:

• Season change (seasonal affective disorder / SAD).
• Depression.
• Genetic. If a family member has hypomania, then you are at risk of experiencing the same thing in the future.
• Excessive use of drugs, for example amphetamines.
• Drug side effects, for example steroids and antidepressants.

Signs and symptoms of hypomania

This bipolar symptom is difficult to predict. The reason is, hypomania looks like ordinary happiness like any other normal person.

However, if you examine more deeply, the feeling of happiness due to hypomania is almost like a manic episode. The difference is, his happiness is not too explosive or excessive.

A person can be said to experience symptoms of bipolar phase mania if they experience at least the following 3 symptoms:

• Mood is better than usual.
• Self-esteem increases.
• Don't really need sleep or rest. For example, you feel you have had enough rest, even though you only slept 3 hours.
• Talk more.
• Restlessness and irritability, also known as psychomotor agitation.
• It's easy to lose focus, even because of things that are not important.
• Doing things that tend to be negative, for example shopping for things that are not important, spending money on gambling or free sex, and so on.

When these symptoms serve a purpose, hypomania can be a good thing. Most importantly, people who are in the hypomanic phase are able to think about their life goals rationally and concisely, so that their plans can work out as expected.

Conversely, the symptoms of bipolar hypomania can also be bad if the patient cannot control it properly. For example, spending large amounts of money can cause patients to fall into poverty, free sex can increase the risk of getting venereal diseases, and so on.

How to distinguish happiness due to hypomania or not

It should be noted that when you are in a better mood and are more active than usual, this does not necessarily mean that you have bipolar hypomania symptoms, huh. Although the symptoms are similar, the difference can be seen in how long the symptoms last.

Bipolar symptoms in the form of hypomania usually last at least 4 consecutive days. Feelings of happiness, enthusiasm, and confidence are felt most of the day and almost every day. This is distinctly different if you have "ordinary" happiness that goes away as the euphoria diminishes.

Another way to tell the difference is to look at his personality. If previously someone tended to be unproductive and lazy to socialize, then he suddenly turned excited and happy, then this could be a symptom of bipolar hypomania. These changes during the hypomanic phase are very easily observed by people around the patient, be it family, friends, or partners.

If you experience symptoms of bipolar disorder, such as mania, hypomania, or depression in a very fast time, see a doctor or psychologist immediately. Your doctor may give you an antipsychotic or antidepressant medication to relieve hypomania.

In addition, healthy lifestyle changes can also help control your mood. The trick is to eat a healthy and nutritionally balanced diet, regular exercise, and get enough sleep every day. That way, your feelings will be much better and more stable in the future.