High Functioning Bipolar Disorder: What Does It Look Like?

The Basics of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, which was formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings with emotional highs and lows. Individuals who suffer from bipolar disorder are likely to shift back and forth between episodes of mania and depression, which results in strings of intense energy followed by physical and emotional crashes. 

When a person with bipolar disorder is having a manic episode, they feel very energized awake. They may be more productive or feel more motivated than usual during these periods. When someone has a depressive episode, on the other hand, they are likely to feel empty and have trouble finding joy in things they used to love. 

This condition is very different for everyone who has it. Some people can have bipolar and continue on with their daily lives & routines, others feel consumed by their disorder. A person who does not frequently show signs of their bipolar disorder is known as “high functioning.”

What Does It Mean to Be High Functioning?

Someone who has high functioning bipolar disorder (or HFBD) is usually able to manage their symptoms well. Just because a person is high functioning does not mean that their symptoms are less intense; it just means that they are able to cope with them effectively. In the case of bipolar disorder, the term “high functioning” does not define the severity of a disorder, but how well someone manages the emotional highs and lows that come with the condition. 

Signs Of High Functioning Bipolar Disorder

Do you think that you or someone you know might have HFBD? While cases of high functioning bipolar disorder can be harder to diagnose than low functioning ones, it is still possible. Someone who struggles with high functioning bipolar disorder still has intense emotional episodes, but is usually able to eventually reach a neutral middle ground. Depressive episodes might also be shorter for individuals who have high functioning cases of bipolar disorder.

If Someone You Love Has A Bipolar Disorder…

Like many other diseases, bipolar disorder will not get better on its own. If it goes untreated, bipolar disorder can get worse and take over a person’s life. To prevent this from happening, it is important to seek a diagnosis and receive treatment as soon as possible. If you or somebody you love has any degree of bipolar disorder, see a doctor or psychologist about the depression and mania. After talking with you and/or your loved one, the specialist should be able to reach a diagnosis and create an individual treatment plan. 

There are many treatment options available to help individuals with bipolar disorder. Pharmaceutical intervention is the most popular; antidepressants, sleep aids, antipsychotic medication, and sedative aids could all help with symptoms of bipolar disorder. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other types of therapy are also very effective in treating bipolar. 

Once someone receives treatment for their bipolar disorder, they can move on to live successful and healthy lives. If you or your loved one is suffering from this condition, our team of mental health treatment specialists is happy to help. Not only are we able to give you professional advice about any condition you are dealing with, but we can offer comprehensive medical and emotional care. Give us a call at (215) 714-6027 or send us an email at contact@eliumhealth.com to talk to an Elium Health representative today. 

Sources

https://www.healthline.com/health/could-it-be-bipolar-signs-to-look-for

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/bipolar/what-does-high-functioning-bipolar-disorder-look-like/ 

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bipolar-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20355955