Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings with significant emotional highs and lows. Both ends of the spectrum cause severe symptoms that can be difficult to manage.

It is a chronic mental health condition that does not have a cure, but the management of symptoms is possible.

Various symptoms of bipolar disorder can affect each person differently. Some may experience symptoms frequently, while others may only have some symptoms once or twice a year.

Symptoms
The main symptom associated with bipolar disorder is chronic mood swings. During periods of extremely high or mania, the person may feel invincible leading to the engagement of risky behaviors. In episodes of extreme lows or depression, the individual may feel an overwhelming sense of despair or disinterest.

Other symptoms associated with bipolar disorder are often a result of the influence of the mood swings. How you feel, react, and relate to others as well as your attitude and temperament may often be affected as a result of your bipolar disorder.

Symptoms can also become aggravated by co-occurring conditions such as substance abuse or other health conditions as substance abuse, depression, or other mental health conditions.

Anger and Bipolar Disorder
As mentioned above, bipolar disorder can affect your mood, attitude, and feelings. One common emotion felt in patients with bipolar disorder is anger or irritability, though more common in manic episodes these feelings can occur in depressive periods as well.

It is important to note that anger is not a symptom of bipolar disorder, but rather a result of frequent bouts of emotion from your condition.

Though anger can be a normal healthy reaction to certain situations in life, uncontrollable anger or anger that prevents you from interacting with others or being productive is a problem. This includes persistent feelings of irritability, brooding, lashing out for no apparent reason, or explosions of rage that can be signs of your condition affecting your daily life.

Treatment
If you have bipolar disorder and find that your emotions may alienate you from others, please seek professional help as bipolar disorder is a serious mental health condition that is often considered chronic. Treatment is necessary to improve symptoms and stabilize your moods so that you can regain control of your life.

Though there is no cure, the condition is treatable. Treatment focuses on learning how to manage mood swings and symptoms. Gaining a better understanding of your triggers will help you to respond better to your own emotions. Other forms of treatment include medication, individual or group counseling, behavioral therapies, and lifestyle changes.

For more information about bipolar disorder and anger or our services, please contact our office.