The first step in dealing with bipolar disorder, which can be stressful, is to understand it. The World Health Organization says that 46 million people around the world have bipolar disorder. This illness causes extreme mood swings from being euphoric to being depressed, which makes daily life difficult. About 83% of people with bipolar disorder have severe problems with their abilities. Untreated bipolar disorder can lead to extreme mood swings; these mood swings can get worse, which can hurt your relationships, cost you your job, and make you 15 times more likely to commit suicide.
People with bipolar illness can live happy entire lives if they get the right help. Studies show that 70% of people who get the proper treatment see their symptoms improve. This blog will talk about the different kinds of bipolar disorder and the consequences of untreated bipolar disorder.
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health disorder condition marked by significant mood swings between manic or hypomanic episodes (high energy, impulsive behavior) and depressive episodes (low energy, sadness, or hopelessness). These mood shifts can last days, weeks, or even months, affecting not only mood but also energy levels, cognitive function, and the ability to perform daily tasks.
Consequences of Untreated Bipolar Disorder
Untreated bipolar disorder can have terrible effects. Episodes of mania and depression often get worse and are more complicated to handle. People who are depressed experience crippling lows, and people who are manic can make bad choices, which keeps them stuck in an emotional cycle.
These mood swings can mess up relationships, work, and everyday life. When people close to you don’t understand mood swings, it can lead to arguments, mistakes, and strained relationships. Bipolar disease can make it hard to do your job or even put your career at risk if you don’t get it treated.
Untreated bipolar disorder can lead to drug abuse, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts. People who are having a hard time may turn to drugs or drinks to help them deal. This can make them addicted without help, which can make their problems worse and put their health and lives at risk. Untreated bipolar disorder makes mental health very bad, which can lead to suicidal thoughts.
20 Surprising Physical Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
People with bipolar illness often have extreme mood swings (mania) and depression. A lot of people are surprised to learn that bipolar disorder can also have physical signs. These symptoms are often missed or given the wrong name, which leads to a late diagnosis or inadequate care.Â
We will talk about 20 strange physical signs of bipolar illness and how they can be connected to episodes that aren’t treated or under control.
1. Chronic Fatigue
Bipolar people feel tired most of the time and not only during the phases of depression most of the time. This exhaustion can make mundane tasks seem exceedingly difficult and cause substantial interference in daily business.
2. Gastrointestinal Issues
Stomach pains, nausea, diarrhea, or constipation are some examples of physical symptoms that are associated with bipolar disorder. Stress, as well as mood swings, has been proven to affect the body in a way that could have negative impacts on the gut.
3. Changes in Appetite
People who have bipolar disorder may experience fluctuations in their weight due to alteration of their eating habits. Some patients may develop binge eating during episodes of depression, whereas they may experience complete anorexia toward food during episodes of mania.
4. Frequent Headaches
Chronic headaches, including migraines, are common in people with bipolar disorder. Stress, irregular sleep patterns, and the strain of mood fluctuations can all contribute to these painful episodes.
5. Muscle Tension and Pain
Untreated bipolar disorder exhibits symptoms including muscle aches and tension. Mood swings, stress, and anxiety disorder lead to muscle tension in the body, especially in the neck, shoulders, and back regions.
6. Weight Fluctuations
According to the research, changes in appetite and energy level lead to massive weight changes. Such changes might aggravate bipolar disorder if its treatment is prolonged.
7. Chronic Pain
There is also a high chance that people with bipolar disorder may suffer from unexplained body aches and chronic pain with no known physiological origin. Neuropathic pain can occur in different places in the body, usually the joints or muscles.
8. Heart Palpitations
It is a known fact that anxiety or mania leads to palpitations, which gives the feeling of a racing heart. This symptom is misjudged to be a cardiovascular one rather than a symptom related to a mental disorder.Â
9. Shortness of Breath
Overbreathing or shortness of breath is experienced in a manic or anxious state. The fact that during the stress response, the respiratory rate rises makes it difficult for the body to breathe correctly.Â
10. Sleep Disturbances
Insomnia is a well-known symptom of mania, while hypersomnia (excessive sleep) can occur during depressive episodes. However, even outside of these extremes, people with bipolar disorder may struggle with irregular sleep patterns.
11. Dizziness
Mood swings can sometimes trigger dizziness or light-headedness, mainly when stress levels are high. The physical toll of rapid mood shifts can affect balance and coordination.
12. Dry Mouth
Some drugs taken to manage bipolar disorder lead to dryness of the mouth, but usually, it is an effect of anxiety or dehydration during a cycle of mania.
13. Nausea and Vomiting
Panic, which is an extreme variation of mood or more severe anxiety or depressive episodes, may cause nausea or vomiting. It is typically confused with a stomach virus or food poisoning disease.
14. Clumsiness or Poor Coordination
 Some bipolar people may have some problems with their motor coordination or balance; they might trip often or be clumsy, particularly during manic episodes, when the person’s mind is racing, and he cannot focus on what his body is doing.
15. Skin Problems
Stress and hormonal changes that are associated with bipolar disorder may cause skin disorders such as acne or psoriasis. Bipolar can also take its toll on the immune system, causing these problems to become exacerbated.
16. Joint Pain
Bipolar disorder leaves the body inflamed, and this leads to joint pains and any discomfort associated with it. This symptom is usually mistaken for arthritis, and it primarily affects women.
17. Vision Problems
This is majorly evident in the course of episodes of mania, but one can sometimes develop a problem with farsightedness or light sensitivity. Sensory overload is familiar with mania, and the discomfort arising from this condition is that bright lights may feel too bright.
18. Restless Leg Syndrome
Bipolar disorder is associated with restless leg syndrome, which makes the patient feel uneasy; they have to move their legs or feel a crawling sensation in the limbs. Untreated bipolar disorder makes these symptoms get worse, making you more uncomfortable and making it harder to handle both illnesses.
19. Excessive Sweating
Such conditions as sweating, especially at night, are characterized by maniacal or anxious states. This results in overactivity of the sweat glands since the body is working harder and feels stressed.Â
20. Tingling Sensations
Some of the symptoms that are related to bipolar disorder include tingling and numbness in one’s hands and feet. This feeling, described as a tingling or ‘pins and needles’ sensation, can result from increased stress.Â
This shows that doctors need to be aware of a wide range of bipolar disorder signs, including physical ones, to treat their patients properly. So, finding minor signs that people often miss can help with diagnosis and improve quality of life.
Final Words!
Untreated Bipolar disorder can lead to severe mood swings, relationship issues, job insecurity, drug abuse, and self-harm. If not treated, the illness can make daily life and mental health worse and get worse over time. Early diagnosis and medication can make the lives of people with bipolar disorder a lot better.
If you or someone you know is depressed for a long time, has significant mood swings, or has trouble working, especially if these symptoms indicate untreated bipolar disorder, you should get professional help right away. Managing symptoms and making life changes can help people feel more stable.
Talk to a psychiatrist about how to treat bipolar illness and get a quick diagnosis. Bright Point gives you personalized help and direction. Contact us right away. Getting help early can make a big difference in mental health and security. Get in touch!
