#bipolar spectrum

[spiritwoodsystem]

Bipolar II IRDlabs test

(all credit to IRDlabs for the copy and pasted explanantion and test)

Explanation of Elements:

Grandiosity involves an exaggerated and unrealistic perception of self-importance and abilities observed during manic or hypomanic episodes. People may display an inflated belief in their extraordinary talents, intelligence, or accomplishments, surpassing objective reality. This elevated self-esteem results in behaviors and expressions reflecting an overwhelming confidence in their capabilities, often accompanied by grandiose claims regarding potential success or distinctive qualities.

Elevated mood signifies a heightened and enduring emotional state marked by euphoria, increased energy, and heightened optimism observed during manic or hypomanic episodes. Individuals may feel an intense sense of well-being, surpassing conventional norms. This elevated mood is commonly associated with a boost in confidence, enthusiasm, and a rapid influx of ideas.

Increased Energy refers to the experience of a notable surge in both physical and mental energy that surpasses typical levels. This heightened energy is frequently a crucial element contributing to observable shifts in behavior. Individuals may involve themselves in a flurry of activities, exhibit signs of restlessness, and sense an invigorating boost. Such heightened energy can result in hyperactivity, an accelerated pace of speech, and a compelling drive to achieve tasks or pursue goals.

Flight of ideas describes a swift and uninterrupted stream of thoughts, often interlinked, expressed rapidly, and in a manner that can be challenging for others to track. This accelerated thought process reflects the heightened mental energy and increased creativity prevalent in manic states. Individuals undergoing a flight of ideas may transition rapidly from one topic to another, establishing connections between seemingly unrelated concepts. They may feel an urgent need to convey their thoughts, contributing to a sense of urgency in communication.

Distractibility, observed as a cognitive symptom in bipolar disorder during manic or hypomanic episodes, involves an elevated challenge in sustaining focus or concentration on a specific task or subject due to heightened mental activity and racing thoughts. Those dealing with distractibility may discover their attention easily swayed by external stimuli or quickly transitioning from one idea to the next. This symptom can hinder the capability to finish tasks, comprehend conversations, or participate in activities demanding prolonged concentration.

Impulsivity is characterized by a proclivity to act on urges or desires without giving much thought to potential negative outcomes. In these instances, individuals may partake in impulsive behaviors that deviate from their typical habits or values. Impulsivity can take various forms, including reckless spending, engaging in risky sexual behavior, substance abuse, or making impetuous and poorly thought-out decisions.

Depression refers to episodes of intense and persistent low mood, incorporating symptoms akin to depressive disorder. Individuals experience pervasive sadness, diminished interest or pleasure in activities, changes in weight and appetite, sleep disturbances, psychomotor agitation or retardation, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, difficulty concentrating, and, in severe cases, suicidal thoughts.

Impaired functioning refers to difficulties in various aspects of life, including work performance, strained relationships, financial repercussions from impulsive spending, legal problems arising from risky behaviors, disrupted sleep, neglect of health, academic challenges for students, and safety concerns linked to impulsive and potentially hazardous activities. Identifying these impairments is crucial for understanding and addressing the multifaceted impact of mental health conditions like bipolar disorder on an individual's daily life and overall well-being.

[spiritwoodsystem]

Bipolar I IRDlabs test

(all credit to IRDlabs for copy and pasted explanation and test)

Explanation of Elements:

Grandiosity refers to an inflated and unrealistic sense of self-importance and capabilities during manic or hypomanic episodes. Individuals may exhibit an exaggerated belief in their exceptional talents, intelligence, or achievements, surpassing what is objectively true. This heightened self-esteem leads to behaviors and expressions that convey an overwhelming confidence in their abilities and an inclination toward grandiose claims about their potential success or unique qualities.

Elevated Mood refers to an intense and sustained emotional state of euphoria, heightened energy, and increased optimism during manic or hypomanic episodes. Individuals may experience a profound sense of well-being, often exceeding what is considered normal. This elevated mood is typically accompanied by a surge in confidence, enthusiasm, and a rapid flow of ideas.

Irritable Mood refers to a pervasive state of heightened irritability, impatience, and a quick temper during manic or hypomanic episodes. Unlike the euphoric or elevated mood that some individuals experience, others may predominantly manifest irritability. Individuals in this state may find themselves easily agitated, becoming angered by minor frustrations or perceived slights. They may exhibit increased restlessness, impatience with delays, and have a reduced tolerance for everyday stressors.

Increased Energy refers to experiencing a surge of physical and mental energy that goes beyond normal levels. This heightened energy is often one of the key factors contributing to the observable changes in behavior. Individuals may engage in a flurry of activities, demonstrate restlessness, and feel a sense of invigoration. This increased energy can lead to hyperactivity, a rapid pace of speech, and an intense drive to accomplish tasks or pursue goals.

Flight of Ideas refers to a rapid and continuous flow of thoughts that are often interconnected, with the individual expressing them quickly and in a way that may be difficult for others to follow. This rapid thought process is a manifestation of the increased mental energy and heightened creativity that characterize manic states. Individuals experiencing a flight of ideas may jump from topic to topic, making associations between unrelated concepts, and may feel a sense of urgency to communicate their thoughts.

Distractibility refers to a cognitive symptom often seen in individuals during manic or hypomanic episodes of bipolar disorder. It refers to an increased difficulty in maintaining focus or concentration on a particular task or topic due to heightened levels of mental activity and racing thoughts. Individuals experiencing distractibility may find their attention easily diverted by external stimuli or may shift rapidly from one idea to another. This symptom can interfere with the ability to complete tasks, follow conversations, or engage in activities that require sustained concentration.

Impulsivity refers to a tendency to act on urges or desires with little consideration for potential negative consequences. During these episodes, individuals may engage in impulsive behaviors that go against their usual habits or values. Impulsivity can manifest in various ways, such as reckless spending, risky sexual behavior, substance abuse, or making hasty and ill-considered decisions.

Lability refers to the rapid and unpredictable shifting of moods between extremes, including manic or hypomanic states and depressive episodes. Individuals with bipolar disorder often experience emotional lability, where their mood can change swiftly and dramatically. This can manifest as periods of intense euphoria and elevated mood, followed by deep and prolonged sadness or depression.

Impaired functioning pertains to challenges in occupational performance, strained interpersonal relationships, financial consequences due to impulsive spending, legal issues arising from risky behaviors, disrupted sleep patterns, health neglect, academic challenges for students, and safety concerns associated with impulsive and potentially dangerous activities. Recognizing impaired functioning is crucial for diagnosing bipolar disorder and underscores the importance of timely intervention.

[spiritwoodsystem]

Bipolar IRDlabs test

(all credit to IRDlabs for copy and pasted explanation and test)

Explanation of Facets:

Elevated Energy: Individuals on the bipolar spectrum often experience high energy levels during their manic or hypomanic phases. In such states, they engage in many activities and schedule more undertakings than can be realistically accomplished. Many become so restless that it is difficult for them to relax or sleep at night.

Elevated Mood: During manic episodes, individuals on the bipolar spectrum may feel extremely happy, invulnerable, and as if they are on top of the world. Bipolar patients sometimes compare this state to the rush of a drug, feeling high, euphoric, and energized. Emotional elation is also usually accompanied by grandiosity and high self-esteem.

Depressive Episodes: A central symptom concerning bipolar and related disorders is the prevalence of depressive episodes characterized by feelings of sadness or emptiness, accompanied by diminished interest in almost all daily activities, insomnia or hypersomnia, and the loss of energy.

Hyperactivity: Elevated energy and elevated mood tend to lead to hyperactivity in individuals on the bipolar spectrum. People with hyperactivity symptoms usually experience increased somatic movements and a shortened attention span.

Alcohol/Drug Use: Individuals with bipolar and related disorders may turn to alcohol or drugs to ease their discomfort. During impulsive and elevated states, they may also binge drink or abuse drugs to bolster the high. For these reasons, bipolar disorder patients tend to have high rates of comorbid substance abuse disorders.

Anxiety: The majority of people with bipolar conditions are also diagnosed with one or more anxiety disorders. Anxiety may be manifested as constant worrying, having trouble sleeping, irritability, and restlessness. Especially during depressive episodes, bipolar people may avoid social gatherings, be easily triggered by life’s problems, and be overly alert to (non-existent) danger.

Irritability: Individuals with bipolar and related disorders often struggle with major annoyance or irritability for no apparent reason. What others might consider a cause for minor irritation may be enough to work the bipolar person into a full-blown state of anger.

Impulsivity: Mania is often associated with the inclination to engage in spontaneous and risky activities such as foolish business investments, sexual indiscretions, and unrestrained gambling, donations, or shopping sprees. During a manic phase, people may feel grandiose and often do not consider the negative long-term consequences of their actions.

Racing Thoughts: A flight of ideas is one of the common features of manic or hypomanic episodes. When beset by racing thoughts, a person’s mind is racing without them necessarily being able to recognize that their thoughts are out of control. The array of ideas darting through their minds is often so intense that others cannot keep up.

Pressured Speech: During manic or hypomanic phases, individuals often feel an inner pressure to keep talking in order to match their racing thoughts. People with pressured speech often do not engage in a two-way conversation but are likely to talk over others and jump around in conversations in accordance with their own associations.

[g0tosleep99]

why no one told me it would be so damn hard to maintain a healthy relationship with my partner having cyclothymia, i've been avoiding everyone for days, even him, we haven't spoken or anything and i think he's mad at me but i always think everyone´s mad at me so idk, i feel so guilty rn damnnn

[ventboxniaxi]

i deserve to be abused

[dyspunktional-leviathan]

I don't want to track my bipolar anymore, I'm scared that writing it down can trigger something, this has never happened before but a direct mood diary has triggered mood swings so I had to quit it

I do want to track my phases. I don't want to open my notes app and go to the note where I've been tracking for several years and scroll down to the present and write it down. And I'm scared to just say on social media too again bc scared to trigger swings.

[fka-jtic]

the way that bipolar disorder is used to villainize and dehumanize 💀 actually scary

[fka-jtic]

hypomania feels like (a continuous list):

razor-focus, in energy & thought & action

heightened emotion. sometimes this looks like heightened, moment-to-moment emotional reactions (most commonly discussed being ‘agitation, irritability’, which is def one of many); sometimes it looks like releasing energy after a long day of hyper-focus. like crying about something you knew subconsciously was on your mind, but you were too focused elsewhere to process in the moment. instead of consciously being aware of the thought/feeling/thing, you process the thing that has been suppressed only when all the stimulus stops. (this could be understood as a microcosm for how depression is the often subsequent state to hypomania or mania.)

change in sleep patterns (not just less sleep ‘needed’, imo)

more crying. for example, for me, it is a way to release the pressure. hypomania can feel like you are a pressure cooker; and youre blissfully unaware, staring into the sun, until you very much ARE aware of the pressure; or the sun is so blindingly beautiful that you cry.

deceptive. in my experience, it has taken me a long time to recognize hypomania as it is happening or starting to happen. (part of that journey has been blogging on tumblr to keep track of symptoms & triggers)

painful. headaches, tension, physical responses to stress.

unwillingness or inability to deregulate/ deescalate heightened emotional response or hyper-focus

less inhibition. decreased in-the-moment critical thinking (commonly described as ‘impulsivity’); which can make you more vulnerable (whether or not it is safe/ appropriate to be so) and less careful with your words, in my case. 

not prioritizing your needs. this can look like, for me, putting basic needs on the back-burner. for example, i’ve either created a situation where there is no time to eat or sleep; or i literally am not concerned with basic human functioning to the point where my brain doesn’t even produce the thought “eat”. this is something that is less of an issue for me now *brag* *brag* *brag* because i’ve practiced deescalating my energy, and reorienting my brain to recognize i need food and not eating will only make everything worse and you are never too busy and nothing is ever so important that you can’t make time to eat.

less in-touch with your limits, needs, and just less in-touch with yourself in general.

increased ambition. creating pressure and urgency. this can look like creating goals for yourself banking on unfaltering, consistent high performance; it can also look like saying ‘yes’ to too many things. all of this only escalates hypomania.

increased need for stimulus