Recognizing Bipolar Disorder Symptoms in Females

Are you too moody sometimes? Emotionally unstable? This is normal. We can all feel this way. With everything going on in our private and professional lives, it would be surprising if we never went through any mood changes.

However, if extreme moods last long, for weeks, and if they are intense – you might have bipolar disorder. Due to hormonal changes, women may experience these mood swings more often. That makes diagnosing bipolar disorder in women more challenging.

Still, these symptoms will not just go away. This condition requires a professional diagnosis and treatment. We will help you understand bipolar disorder symptoms in females and show you how expert help can improve your life.

What Is Bipolar Disorder?

The best way to understand bipolar disorder is to break it down into its two main parts:

1. Emotional highs
2. Emotional lows

Emotional highs, also called mania or hypomania, are episodes when you feel over-the-top happy and energetic. But you may also be quite irritable.

In contrast, during a low or depressive episode, you feel hopeless, tired, or deeply sad.

Types of Bipolar Disorder

Types of bipolar disorder include:

• Bipolar I disorder: Manic episodes last at least seven days. They might be so severe that you need hospital care. Then, depressive episodes typically last two weeks minimum.
• Bipolar II disorder: This type involves a pattern of depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes, which are less severe than manic episodes.
• Cyclothymic disorder (Cyclothymia): This type involves periods of hypomanic symptoms and periods of depressive symptoms lasting for at least two years (one year in children and adolescents). However, the symptoms do not meet the diagnostic requirements for a hypomanic episode and a depressive episode.

What Are the Bipolar Disorder Symptoms in Females?

There are many different symptoms of bipolar disorder in females. They can be:

1. Emotional
2. Behavioral
3. Cognitive
4. Physical

Emotional Symptoms

During a manic/hypomanic episode, you might feel unusually euphoric or overly optimistic but also irritated or agitated. Sometimes, you can feel so happy that it does not fit the situation you are in.

A depressive episode brings about a different set of bipolar disorder symptoms in females. You may feel empty and sad at all times. You may have a feeling you have no worth. You can’t seem to enjoy activities you enjoyed before, and you lose interest in your hobbies.

Behavioral Symptoms

During your high, you talk more than usual. Interestingly, you feel pressure to keep talking. You start acting impulsively, spend a lot of money, and engage in many activities. You take up things and begin projects, but you often don’t finish them.

When that episode ends, you isolate yourself. This is among the most common symptoms of bipolar disorder in females. You exclude yourself from social activities during your depressive episode. You can’t even perform simple daily tasks. You fail to finish your work in the office, do your class assignments, or even do simple chores. At the same time, you either have insomnia or sleep too much.

Cognitive Symptoms

Racing thoughts are common bipolar disorder symptoms in females. It often means you will jump from one idea to another quickly. Unfortunately, you might not be able to focus clearly and get distracted easily. Those happen during the manic episodes.

During the depressive episodes, symptoms of bipolar disorder in females include difficulty remembering things and trouble making decisions. You just cannot concentrate, and it gets tough to make a decision. You look at life pessimistically and don’t feel hopeful about what’s coming in the future.

Physical Symptoms

Finally, there are physical bipolar disorder symptoms in females. Manic/hypomanic ones are restlessness and very high levels of energy. Simply put, you can’t sit still. You don’t need to sleep, and you don’t get tired either. Also, you start eating more than usual.

But once the manic episode ends, you start experiencing the lows. You feel fatigued and sluggish during your depressive episode. Also, you get headaches or muscle aches without a clear cause.

Unique Challenges in Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder in Females

There are challenges in diagnosing bipolar disorder in females. The most common are hormonal changes and co-occurring conditions specific to women.

Hormonal Changes and Bipolar Symptoms

Hormonal changes can significantly affect the manifestation of bipolar disorder symptoms in females. Key times when these changes occur include:

• Menstrual cycle – Many women report that their bipolar symptoms worsen during the premenstrual phase (PMS) or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
• Pregnancy – Pregnancy brings about significant hormonal changes that can exacerbate bipolar symptoms. Some women may experience heightened mania or depression during pregnancy.
• Postpartum period – If you have bipolar disorder, you are at a higher risk of developing postpartum depression or experiencing a postpartum manic episode.
• Menopause – During menopause, fluctuating hormone levels can trigger or worsen mood swings.

Co-occurring Conditions

After giving birth, some women may develop postpartum anxiety. This condition can cause excessive worry about the baby’s health and safety. Postpartum anxiety symptoms include:

• Restlessness
• Constant fear
• Difficulty sleeping

These can overlap with bipolar disorder symptoms in females, such as mood swings and irritability.

A study found that one-third of women with bipolar disorder had manic episodes related to childbirth. This condition is characterized by feelings of deep sadness, hopelessness, and a lack of interest in activities they once enjoyed. Postpartum depression can also lead to severe fatigue and difficulty bonding with the baby. Since these symptoms can resemble those of a depressive episode in bipolar disorder, it can be difficult to distinguish between the two conditions.

Thyroid problems are more common in females and can affect mood. Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) can cause depressive symptoms, while hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) can lead to manic-like symptoms.

Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, and performance anxiety, frequently occur alongside bipolar disorder. Anxiety can worsen both manic and depressive episodes, which then makes the diagnosis and treatment difficult.

Differentiating Bipolar Disorder from Other Conditions

There are some bipolar disorder symptoms in females that we see in other conditions, such as borderline personality disorder and depression. However, there are some clear differences that help us differentiate them.

Bipolar Disorder vs. Borderline Personality Disorder

Among the most common symptoms of bipolar disorders in females are mood swings. Women with borderline personality disorder experience them, too. However, there are some differences between BDP vs bipolar disorder when it comes to mood swings.

When it comes to bipolar disorder, they involve distinct episodes of mania/hypomania and depression. Each lasts from a few days to a few weeks. These episodes are often cyclical and can be separated by periods of stable mood.

On the other hand, mood swings in BPD are more rapid and can change within hours or days. They are often triggered by interpersonal stressors and are more short-lived.

Impulse control is another factor. Impulsive behaviors are among bipolar disorder symptoms in females, but they are typically associated with manic or hypomanic episodes and are not constant. People with BPD experience self-harming and risky activities. They are more persistent and linked to a chronic pattern of instability in relationships and self-image.

How do these conditions affect relationships? Bipolar disorder affects people to some degree, but it does not harm relationships in the way we see in cases of BPD. Intense and unstable patterns characteristic of BDP include swinging between idealization and devaluation of others, which has a great influence on relationships.

Bipolar Disorder vs. Depression

Depressive episodes include symptoms very similar to depression. This is why it is hard to differentiate and compare bipolar vs depression disorder in some cases. However, there are some clear differences.

To begin with, people with bipolar disorder have their highs, episodes where they have manic/hypomanic symptoms. Depressed people only go through symptoms involved in depressive episodes, with no history of manic or hypomanic episodes.

In bipolar disorder, patterns of symptoms and signs are more extreme and cyclic. There are clear periods, and we can tell between episodes. But symptoms and signs of depression in women are more consistent. For example, we see persistent low mood without the distinct highs seen in bipolar disorder.

Treating bipolar disorder and depression is done in the same way. Treatment for bipolar disorders includes mood stabilizers or antipsychotic medications to manage both manic and depressive episodes. Antidepressants alone can sometimes trigger manic episodes in individuals with bipolar disorder. Treatment for depression, on the other hand, focuses on antidepressants and psychotherapy. There is no risk of triggering mania because there is no underlying manic component.

Do More Women Suffer from BP Compared to Men?

Both men and women have similar lifetime rates of bipolar disorder. The national co-morbidity survey, an American Epidemiological study involving 8098 respondents, found lifetime prevalence rates of BD in men (0.42%) and women (0.47%). However, there are some differences between how the genders experience bipolar disorder. For example, women have more depressive episodes than men.

Also, a study of 360 people with bipolar disorder found that women tend to develop the illness later than men, about 3.2 years later. It’s also more common for women to get bipolar disorder in their 50s compared to men.

When you realize you are experiencing the symptoms of bipolar disorder, you need to take action. Seek professional help and do it as soon as possible.

Seeking Help and Treatment Options for Bipolar Disorder

Do you recognize any of the bipolar disorder symptoms in females? Not sure how to approach it? The first thing you need to do is seek help from a mental health center in Washington. Look for facilities in your area and find a center that suits you the best. Do not wait. Early intervention can make a lot of difference.

Treatment Options for BP

Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition, but with the right treatment, individuals can lead healthy and fulfilling lives. Treatment typically includes a combination of medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes. Here are the main options:

1. Medication
2. Therapy
3. Lifestyle changes

Medication

Medication is often the first line of treatment for bipolar disorder. It helps stabilize mood swings and manage other symptoms of bipolar disorder in females. Common medications include:

• Mood stabilizers: These help control manic or hypomanic episodes. Examples include lithium and anticonvulsants like valproate and lamotrigine.
• Antipsychotics: These can be used to manage mania and severe depression. Examples include olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone.
• Antidepressants: These are sometimes used to treat depressive episodes but are usually combined with a mood stabilizer to prevent triggering manic episodes.
• Antidepressant-antipsychotic combination: Some medications combine an antidepressant and an antipsychotic, such as fluoxetine and olanzapine (Symbyax).

Therapy

Therapy is an essential part of treatment, providing support and strategies for managing the disorder. Common therapeutic approaches include:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT): CBT helps individuals understand and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to their symptoms.
• Psychoeducation: This involves learning about bipolar disorder, its treatment, and how to recognize early signs of mood swings to manage them effectively.
• Family therapy: Involving family members in therapy can help improve communication, reduce stress, and support the individual with bipolar disorder.

Lifestyle Changes

In addition to medication and therapy, certain lifestyle changes can help manage bipolar disorder. Here are some recommendations:

• Regular exercise: Physical activity can help reduce stress and improve mood.
• Healthy diet: Eating a balanced diet can support overall health and well-being.
• Sleep hygiene: Maintaining a regular sleep schedule is crucial, as irregular sleep patterns can trigger mood episodes.
• Stress management: Techniques such as mindfulness, meditation, and yoga can help manage stress and prevent mood swings.
• Avoiding Alcohol and Drugs: Substance abuse can worsen bipolar symptoms and interfere with treatment.

Support Networks

There are people who have experienced what you are going through now. They know what symptoms of bipolar disorder in females are like. These people are the ones who can help you the most.

You will share feelings and thoughts with them, and you will have someone who understands you. They will guide you, give you advice, and be your emotional support

Get Help and Learn How to Manage Your Bipolar Disorder

Some bipolar disorder symptoms in females are very strong. They will affect your relationships, work, and your daily life. They make it hard to maintain stable connections and enjoy everyday activities. They make you exhausted and feel out of control. This can make you unable to cope with challenges. To change this, you need professional help. With proper diagnosis and treatment, you can manage your condition successfully. You will be more in control, you will connect better with your loved ones, and you will live a happier life.