Bipolar Symptoms In Women
Bipolar disorder is a type of ailment wherein a person shows extreme temper changes that ranged from euphoric to self-worthlessness; ecstatic to hopelessness; and high to depressive mood swings. Bipolar symptoms in women characterized by frequent mood swings and rapidly changing behaviors may differ with the symptoms noticed in men due to individual hormonal differences.
Not everyone deal with problems and pressures in the same way. Men and women at that handle problems differently from each other. Although bipolar disorder affects both sexes, the disorder commonly affects women and bipolar symptoms in women which are different from that seen in men are misdiagnosed as hormonal imbalance. Other differently noticed sign between the men and women is: women start the ailment with depressive mode while men start with the manic mode.
Distinguishing bipolar symptoms in women
Most women with bipolar 2 disorder will more often experience mild hypo-manic attacks and more of the depressive ones. The common bipolar symptoms in women include that of having very high self-esteem, desire to talk to anybody during manic spells; hyperactivity and desire to discuss matters with everyone; and extreme feeling of worthlessness and hopelessness. Women having bipolar 2 disorder usually prefer being alone, prefer to stay in bed and eat too much which they do not usually do. Thus, a woman with bipolar 2 disorder usually gains excess weight over time due to over eating caused by unhealthy feelings and emotions transmitted to the human brain by neurotransmitters.
Why bipolar symptoms in women are misdiagnosed
Hormonal imbalance as a result of menstrual cycle and pregnancy in women worsen the symptoms of the bipolar illness. Most women experience frequent mood swings during periods when hormones fluctuate. Thus, the bipolar symptoms in women are more prevalent and may appear extremely worse in menstrual cycle and periods of pregnancy or after childbirth or the most commonly termed as post partum period. The symptoms in women may vary from being extremely happy and in good spirits in a moment but very hopeless right after. Others experience longer periods of manic attacks while some experience frequent behavioral shifts normally.
Men and women shows different signs of bipolar disorder symptoms bipolar symptoms in women are easily noticed than in men. This is because women encounter rapid cycling or shifting of moods from hypomania and depression attacks due to hormone changes. The women experiencing bipolar disorder illness needs emotional support which must be given to her as she may have tendencies of committing suicide that may be very hard to control. The health providers should be advised on the extreme behaviors so that proper medications are given to avoid further harmful effects.
However, since mood changes are believed to be associated with hormonal changes bipolar symptoms in women are not normally noticed as such but assumed as simple mood swings and thus left untreated. However, the frequent change in behavior hinders a woman’s ability to skip a day without experiencing significant attacks and thus, should be given medical attention so as not to make it worse.
Learn more about bipolar symptoms in women by watching the following video below: