Understanding How a Person With Bipolar Thinks
Gaining insights into how a person with bipolar thinks and feels can help you better understand the challenges they are facing and the motivations behind some of their actions.
To learn more about mental health options at New Mind Wellness, call us today or verify your insurance online. We’re excited to help you start your personal recovery journey.
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
The first step in learning how a person with bipolar thinks is to understand what bipolar disorder is and what types of symptoms it can cause.
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that is characterized by extreme swings in mood, thought patterns, energy levels, and related characteristics. People who have bipolar disorder may experience one or more of the following:
- Manic episodes: These are periods of elevated mood, confidence, and motivation. To qualify as a manic episodes as defined in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a person must experience these types of symptoms most of the day, most days, for at least a week.
- Hypomanic episodes: These are similar to manic episodes, but they only need to last for four consecutive days to meet the DSM-5 criteria.
- Major depressive episodes: These are times of pervasive sadness, lack of energy and motivation, diminished self-confidence, and recurrent thoughts of death. By definition, a major depressive episode will last for at least two weeks.
Though we often think of bipolar disorder as a single condition, it is actually a category that contains three distinct types:
- Bipolar I disorder: People with this version will have manic episodes. They may also have major depressive episodes, but those are not a requirement for this diagnosis.
- Bipolar II disorder: To meet the criteria for this version, a person must have at least one hypomanic episode and at least one major depressive episode.
- Cyclothymic disorder: Someone with cyclothymic disorder will experience periods of both hypomanic and major depressive symptoms, but neither symptom type will persist long enough to qualify as a full episode.
How Does a Person With Bipolar Disorder Think?
Before we pursue this topic further, we need to address a fundamental flaw in the question, “how does a person with bipolar think?”
People with bipolar disorder are not a monolith. This means that they don’t all think, feel, or act the same way. Individuals with mental illnesses should never be defined solely by their disorder or viewed as the sum of their symptoms.
Is it possible to identify traits or characteristics that are shared by many people who have bipolar disorder? Yes, it is. But let’s never lose sight of the fact that a person with bipolar disorder is, first and foremost, a person.
They have unique strengths and talents, hopes and fears, capabilities and shortcomings. While the disorder they are living with affects them, it doesn’t encapsulate all that they are or can be.
This doesn’t mean that we can’t answer the question of how does a person with bipolar think. But it reminds us that we should explore this question not in an attempt to stereotype everyone with this condition, but instead as a means of developing greater empathy and understanding.
During Manic or Hypomanic Episodes
When a person with bipolar disorder is in the midst of a manic or hypomanic episode – or experiencing short-term hypomanic symptoms if they have cyclothymic disorder – their thought processes may be impacted in ways such as:
- Their self-confidence may soar, which can cause them to believe that they can accomplish much more than their actual training, experience, and skill level will allow.
- They may lose the capacity to adequately judge risk. This, combined with their elevated self-esteem, can lead them to make poor business or financial decisions.
- They may have difficulty managing their urges or desires. This can manifest as impulsive behaviors in areas that can expose them to considerable harm, such as spending sprees, excessive gambling, reckless driving, unsafe sex, and substance abuse.
- They may have racing thoughts that rapidly jump from one topic to another. Acting on these thoughts can lead them to launch multiple projects or take on extra work that will be impossible for them to complete accurately and on time.
During Major Depressive Episodes
When someone with bipolar disorder is experiencing depressive symptoms or going through a major depressive episode, their cognitive functioning may change in ways such as:
- They may have extreme difficulty focusing and concentrating, as well as remembering what they’ve read, seen, or heard. This can have a detrimental impact on their performance in school or at work.
- They may lack the motivation to meet their responsibilities or even get out of bed. This altered way of thinking can lead to missing school or work, failing to pay bills or show up for appointments, and neglecting their health, appearance, and hygiene.
- They may believe that they are incapable of achieving – or unworthy of enjoying – success and happiness. This can cause them to turn down opportunities or stop pursuing goals that are important to them.
- They may become overwhelmed by thoughts of death and dying, which can put them at risk for self-harm and suicide.
Important note: If you suspect that someone in your life is in imminent danger of attempting to end their own life, don’t ignore your concerns. Call 911 or contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The lifeline is staffed 24/7 by trained individuals who can assess your circumstances and connect you with appropriate resources in your area.
Find Help for Bipolar Disorder in Philadelphia
Untreated bipolar disorder can have a devastating impact on the lives of people who have the condition, as well as on those who love and depend on them. But when a person with bipolar disorder receives proper care, they can regain control of their thoughts and behaviors.
If you or someone that you care about has been struggling with bipolar disorder, New Mind Wellness Center is here to help. We offer customized treatment at the partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient levels.
Our team can work with you or your loved one to assess the full scope of your needs, then develop the personalized treatment plan that will put you (or them) on the path toward a much healthier and more satisfying future.
To learn more or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our admissions page or call us today.
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