Understand the spectrum of bipolar symptoms in Men
Are you a man suffering from anger issues? There is a possibility you might be suffering from bipolar disorder. Anger and manic episodes are closely linked. Males are more vulnerable to developing bipolar disorder as compared to females. Therefore, the signs of bipolar disorder in men must be recognized early, and proper treatment must be taken.
This article is a perfect guide to understanding the symptoms of bipolar disorder in men, its causes, its impact on your life, and what are the possible ways to manage bipolar disorder in men.
What is Bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a severe mental health illness that can severely affect your mental well-being. Unlike depression, it results in the rapid cycling of manic or hypomanic and depressive episodes. Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder linked with disruptions in mood. The most common signs of bipolar disorder in men are manic or hypomanic episodes and depressive episodes.
Is Bipolar more common in men than women?
Bipolar disorder is seen to be common in both genders. However, recent studies show males have a greater likelihood of developing bipolar I. While bipolar II is most commonly diagnosed in women. Moreover, gender differences are present in the development of bipolar disorder symptoms, and the degree of impairment of affected individuals functioning is still considered to be severe.
Learn More: Is Anxiety a disability: Top facts to know
What are the symptoms of bipolar in Men?
Intense emotional states in men and women indicate bipolar disorder. In addition, males and females show signs of bipolar disorder in different ways. Below are some signs of bipolar disorder in men:
- Euphoria
- Rage
- Substance abuse
- Intense sadness
- Lack of focus
- Anxiety
- Self-injurious thoughts
- Hypersomnia
- Disturbed eating patterns
What are the causes of Bipolar symptoms in Men?
There is no single cause of bipolar symptoms in men, but bipolar symptoms in men can develop due to the following causes:
Genes:
Bipolar is a hereditary mental health illness. Recent researches show that there is a strong link between genes and the development of bipolar disorder in men. If a person has a parent or sibling suffering from bipolar episodes, there is a higher probability that they will develop bipolar disorder.
Neuroanatomy:
The prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala cells play a vital role in the onset of symptoms of bipolar disorder in men. Moreover, if there are any minor irregularities in the structure of these regions, there are higher chances of mood disruptions.
Neurotransmitter Dysregulation:
A person is susceptible to developing bipolar disorder if there is a disruption in any neurotransmitters. In addition, imbalances in dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine levels contribute to triggering the onset of bipolar disorder.
Immune System:
Bipolar disorder can develop due to the disruption in the levels of immune system proteins known as cytokines and interleukins.
Prenatal Factors:
One of the major leading causes of bipolar disorder is exposure to fetal infections. Additionally, fetal infections can increase the level of dopamine and thus result in frequent manic episodes in men with bipolar.
Ecological factors:
Environment plays an essential role in developing bipolar symptoms in men, such as childhood abuse, loss of a job, natural disasters, loss of loved ones, and work stress.
How Bipolar Disorder Is Different In Men Vs. Women
Men and women combating bipolar disorder show unique signs, but bipolar disorder causes difficulties regardless of gender. Evidence shows that males develop disorders at a younger age than women. On the other hand, females tend to produce bipolar disorder during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause.
Differences in bipolar disorder in men versus women include:
Onset:
There is a difference in the onset age of bipolar disorder in both genders. Typically, males experience bipolar signs earlier than females. Males tend to develop bipolar disorder at the age of 18-25 years, while women exhibit the signs of bipolar a little later.
Episodes:
The prevalence and nature of mood episodes are different in males and females with bipolar disorder. Males show more frequent manic episodes, including elevated mood, increased energy, and aggressive and unhealthy behaviors. In contrast, women are seen to experience depressive, mixed mania, and rapid cycling episodes.
Symptom presentation:
Males exhibit bipolar II, portraying hypomanic episodes often with lesser severity than mania. However, the sufferer shows increased energy and impulsiveness. The main difference in bipolar II lies in the severity of depressive episodes, as women tend to experience constant feelings of sadness and low energy levels.
Comorbidity:
The ratio of comorbidities differs in both women and men. Additionally, males with bipolar disorder show substance abuse behaviors such as alcohol or drug dependency. The behavior of substance abuse increases as it alleviates the bipolar symptoms in men. On the contrary, bipolar women who have bipolar disorder show substantial comorbidity with anxiety and eating disorders.
Hormonal changes:
Hormonal fluctuations play an essential role in the development of bipolar disorder in males. In women, the onset is based on the different productive stages of the menstrual cycle, such as pregnancy or menopause. in addition, it gives rise to mood swings and exacerbates existing bipolar signs. Moreover, elevated levels of testosterone can cause the development of mania episodes.
How do bipolar symptoms in men impact their day-to-day activities?
Bipolar disorder can impact various aspects of your life. Some of the common effects are:
Difficulty in relationship:
Ups and downs are commonly seen in different relationships. However, life becomes tricky when you are living with a person with bipolar disorder. Due to the unpredictable nature of bipolar disorder, it becomes difficult to communicate in a hypomania episode, while depression leads to isolation.
Work and productivity:
Some of the significant bipolar signs in men are a lack of focus, poor time management, loss of emotional control, and anxiety. All these signs play a vital role in work culture. Moreover, your productivity at the workplace depends on these factors. Therefore, people who have bipolar disorder find it challenging to be fully functional at work.
Financial toll:
In the hypomanic state of bipolar disorder, a sufferer shows signs of grandiosity and depicts certain behaviors, such as excessive buying of things, gambling, and unnecessary spending of money, which leads to financial stress for the sufferer and family.
Learn More: How effective is group therapy for depression?
What are the treatment options to overcome Bipolar symptoms in Men?
Bipolar disorder is usually treated with a combination of different treatment approaches based on the unique mental needs of each patient. The most commonly used types of mental health treatments are as follows:
Medications:
Psychiatric medications used to overcome bipolar symptoms are formulated to prevent manic and depressive episodes. Some of the most frequently recommended medications are anti-anxiety medicines, antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT):
Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on altering unfavorable thought patterns and associated negative behaviors into favorable ones. In such a way, you will be able to gain insight into your mental health condition, and it becomes easier for you to identify your mood swings and negative thinking patterns. Additionally, mental health providers help you to learn different coping strategies to manage the symptoms of bipolar disorder and prevent relapse.
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT):
In some bipolar disorder cases, psychotherapy and medication are ineffective. Therefore, different yet effective methods need to be implemented. Electroconvulsive therapy works wonders in such a situation. It passes a controlled electric current in the brain to trigger a short seizure that leads to improvement in signs of bipolar disorder in males.
Group therapy:
Participating in bipolar support and therapy groups for men decreases the feelings of being lonely and demotivated as it helps a sufferer learn about effective coping mechanisms from others.
Lifestyle Changes:
Following a healthy routine, such as healthy sleeping and eating patterns, can noticeably lower the occurrence of bipolar signs in men. Moreover, staying away from alcohol and substance abuse to prevent relapse or deterioration of existing signs of bipolar.
Final Thoughts!
Bipolar disorder is a severe mental health issue that can affect your mood negatively. Episodes of mania or depression characterize it. The prevalence rate differs in males and females. However, males are seen to develop the signs at an early age compared to females. Bipolar males also have a substantial comorbidity with substance abuse. There can be many causes leading to the onset of bipolar symptoms in men, including genes, hormonal fluctuations, brain anatomy, and the immune system. However, if you are suffering from bipolar signs, then you do not need to be worried, as Brainpower Wellness Institute, being a top mental health platform, provides you with the most effective mental health treatment options for bipolar disorder. We have a team of trained and proficient professionals to deliver you with the most effective treatment methods to overcome signs of bipolar. Now is an ideal time for you to contact us to experience long-lost peace due to bipolar disorder.
