Bipolar disorder, impacting approximately 40 million individuals globally, manifests in its severe form as bipolar psychosis. It is characterized by intense mood fluctuations and delusions.
One may experience a detachment from reality, which significantly impairs their daily functioning.
Timely treatment can help patients manage bipolar psychosis symptoms and improve their quality of life.
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes extreme and unusual mood episodes.
Individuals with bipolar psychosis may experience significant changes in their behavior, energy, and activity levels. The precise symptoms of this condition may vary among individuals.
However, some common symptoms include the following.
- Mania or hypomania. Mania is an intense state characterized by increased energy and elevated mood. During an episode, a person may feel restless, irritable, or excessively euphoric. For instance, individuals might impulsively spend on extravagant purchases or chase unrealistic business ventures with high enthusiasm. Some people also display harmful and aggressive behaviors. Hypomania, on the other hand, is a milder form of mania. Symptoms are similar to those of mania but less severe and do not cause significant impairment.
- Depressive symptoms. During this episode, a person may experience sadness, restlessness, and feelings of worthlessness. They may struggle to complete simple day-to-day tasks and lack interest in activities they previously enjoyed.
- Psychosis. An intense depressive or manic episode can manifest in the form of psychosis. A person may struggle to distinguish their world of imagination from reality.
What Is a Psychotic Episode?
A psychotic episode may occur in patients with major depression, schizophrenia, delusional disorder, and bipolar disorder. Individuals experiencing bipolar psychosis may encounter severe disturbances, such as seeing or hearing things that aren’t there. This disrupts their perception and behavior and often necessitates immediate medical attention.
The symptoms of a psychotic episode may include:
- Delusions
- Hallucinations
- Disorganized thoughts
- Unpredictable or agitated behavior
- Paranoia
The precise symptoms may vary depending on the patient’s unique condition. Besides, someone who undergoes a psychotic episode may show some early indicators. These include:
- Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
- Suspiciousness
- Social withdrawal
- Sudden decline in work performance
- Neglected personal hygiene
What is Bipolar Psychosis?
Bipolar psychosis involves severe breaks from reality and manifests as delusions or hallucinations.
Individuals experiencing this condition lose touch with reality during manic or depressive episodes. They may experience heightened euphoria, increased energy, and impulsivity.
During a manic episode, an individual might believe they have extraordinary abilities.
In a depressive episode, they may have delusions of guilt or worthlessness. For instance, they may believe they are responsible for all the world’s problems.
This can lead to risky behaviors that might deepen despair and affect a person’s work, relationships, and self-care.
Bipolar Psychosis in Children & Teens
Diagnosing bipolar disorder and psychosis in children and teens can be tricky. It’s often hard to tell if symptoms are part of normal growth or related to other conditions like ADHD.
Besides, some teenagers often experience mood swings and stress due to hormonal changes.
Likewise, a traumatic episode might well be responsible for emotional and behavioral disturbances.
Besides, some children and teens may have pre-existing mental health disorders. For example, conditions like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or anxiety disorders can also manifest as psychotic symptoms or mood swings.
Types of Bipolar Psychosis
Now that you know what is bipolar psychosis, it’s time to explore its types. Two primary types of psychosis include mood congruent and mood incongruent.
- Mood Congruent Psychosis. Mood congruent psychosis refers to psychotic symptoms that align with the individual’s mood or current bipolar disorder episode. For instance, during a depressive episode, someone with BP may experience delusions or hallucinations that reflect their feelings of guilt or insufficiency. These symptoms mirror the negative mood state — a characteristic of depression. Likewise, during a manic episode, individuals may have delusions of heightened self-importance that are congruent with their inflated self-esteem.
- Mood Incongruent Psychosis. In this type of psychosis, the symptoms contrast with the individual’s current mood or BP episode. For instance, during a depressive episode, someone may experience symptoms that aren’t generally associated with depression. This form of psychosis includes disturbing experiences and is more severe than the former type. In fact, research regards mood incongruent psychosis as indicative of bipolar disorder severity. Put simply, this type indicates a more complex and challenging form of bipolar disorder.
Bipolar Psychosis Symptoms
Contrary to common belief, psychosis follows a slow and progressive course rather than a sudden disruption of reality. Bipolar psychosis symptoms include but aren’t limited to the following.
Hallucinations
A person experiencing bipolar psychosis may perceive things that aren’t present. This affects their senses of sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste. As a result, they might hear voices speaking to them, see visions that others cannot see, or smell things that people around them cannot.
These hallucinations can be quite distressing and often contribute to confusion.
Delusions
Delusions are false beliefs that persist despite evidence to the contrary. In bipolar psychosis, these delusions can take various forms. For instance, a person may experience feelings of grandiosity or hold paranoid beliefs about being controlled by external forces.
This symptom can significantly impact one’s behavior and decision-making. As such, it may provoke erratic or dangerous actions.
Jumbled Thoughts and Speech
Bipolar psychosis can also disrupt the coherence of thought processes and speech patterns. Individuals may struggle to organize their thoughts or express themselves. This, in turn, creates communication barriers.
Fear
Psychosis in bipolar disorder can be accompanied by intense feelings of fear. Individuals may experience overwhelming anxiety or dread without a clear cause. For example, they may become convinced they’re being watched or followed. This leads to increased alertness and avoidant behaviors.
Poor Self Awareness
People experiencing bipolar psychosis may lack insight into their condition. For instance, despite obvious changes in behavior or perception, they may be unable to recognize anything is wrong.
This lack of awareness can often lead to delays in seeking help, which may worsen the illness.
Racing Thoughts
This symptom is characterized by a constant stream of rapid, disjointed ideas. Patients may feel overwhelmed by the sheer volume and speed of their thoughts. This makes it difficult for them to concentrate, which may exacerbate feelings of agitation.
Cognitive Impairment
People with bipolar psychosis may find it hard to focus, remember things, or make decisions. For example, they might struggle to follow a conversation or forget important tasks they used to handle easily.
Emotional Numbness
During severe episodes, individuals might feel emotionally numb or detached from reality. It’s like they’re watching life from a distance where emotions seem muted or absent. They may not feel joy during happy moments or sadness during sad events.
Sleep Disturbances
Bipolar psychosis often disrupts sleep patterns. Some might find it difficult to fall or stay asleep, referred to as insomnia. Others may experience excessive sleepiness without feeling rested.
For instance, someone might stay up all night with high energy levels during a manic phase. However, during a depressive phase, they may sleep for most of the day, feeling exhausted.
Physical Symptoms
Severe episodes of mania or depression may bring physical changes. These might include fluctuations in energy levels. Besides, some might struggle with appetite changes, such as eating too much or less than usual.
Physical restlessness is another common physical symptom.
Takeaway
Experiencing even a single episode of psychosis can be unsettling. However, there’s hope for recovery through proper treatment. With the right support, individuals can learn to manage symptoms and maintain stability.
Bipolar disorder and psychosis may not have definite cures, but they are certainly manageable.
If you’re supporting a friend or loved one with BP psychosis, effective communication can help alleviate the symptoms. By empathizing with their experiences, we can support them in achieving stability and well-being.
FAQs
Q1. How Long Does Bipolar Psychosis Last?
The precise duration of bipolar psychosis can vary depending on individual circumstances. Generally, it lasts from a few days to several weeks. However, some individuals may experience it for months.
Q2. How to Talk to Someone In Bipolar Psychosis?
When talking to someone with bipolar psychosis, it’s important to approach them calmly and empathetically. Consider using a gentle tone and simple, clear language to communicate. Make sure you actively listen to their experiences without judgment.
Q3. What Is the Best Description of Bipolar Psychosis?
Bipolar psychosis is when someone with bipolar disorder has episodes where they lose touch with reality. They may see or hear things that aren’t there, believe things that aren’t true, or behave unusually. Certain treatments help manage these episodes and improve the quality of life.
