Coping Strategies of Bipolar Mixed Episode

Sometimes, you get annoyed by things that don’t matter, while other times, you feel a boost of energy. These ups and downs in emotions can be linked to a condition known as bipolar mixed episodes, where your energy levels fluctuate during the day. It’s important to seek advice from a psychiatrist to help you navigate this and find effective ways to manage it.

Are you still uncertain about the reasons behind your depression? Keep reading this blog to discover more insights and coping strategies for bipolar specifically designed for bipolar mixed episodes. Let’s delve into this topic together and uncover the truths hidden within!

What is a Bipolar Mixed Episode?

A mixed episode, also known as a mixed state, is when you experience both highs and lows. You may have depression symptoms as well as mania or hypomania concurrently. For example, you may feel energized, reckless, angry, and lazy. You may also feel extremely agitated or irritable.

Furthermore, it refers to the presence of both high and low symptoms occurring concurrently or as part of a single episode in patients suffering from mania or depression. Most bipolar disorder patients experience mood swings between high and sad states over time.

Symptoms of Mixed Episode Bipolar Disorder

Mixed episodes are characterized by symptoms of mania and depression occurring concurrently or in fast succession, with no recovery in between.

• Mixed mania is characterized by impatience, high energy, rapid thoughts and speech, and excessive activity or agitation.
• Mixed-feature depression symptoms include sorrow, loss of interest, low energy, feelings of guilt and worthlessness, and suicidal ideation, similar to “regular” depression.

Causes of Mixed Episode Bipolar Disorder

The following can contribute to episodes of bipolar disorder:

1. Having a close relative with bipolar illness may raise the risk of having the condition.
2. Stressful events can cause signs of bipolar disorder, including manic episodes. Substance abuse and head injuries may also cause symptoms.
3. Evidence suggests that individuals with bipolar disorder may have unique brain regions compared to those without the disease. According to modern research, those who experience frequent manic episodes show weakening in some prefrontal brain areas

Bipolar Disorder and Relationships

Bipolar disorder can have an impact on relationships because of the mood swings that come with it. Partners, family, and friends may struggle to grasp or deal with the intense emotional highs (mania) and lows (depression) that someone with bipolar disorder goes through. During episodes, individuals might act impulsively, leading to conflicts, financial difficulties, or risky choices. In depressive phases, feelings of isolation and withdrawal can put a strain on relationships, making it challenging to maintain closeness with others.

Managing relationships when one partner has bipolar disorder requires effort and understanding.

• Communication is Essential. Engaging in conversations about the disorder can assist partners in grasping mood changes and finding ways to support one another.
• Knowledge and understanding of gaining insights into bipolar disorder can promote compassion and lessen misconceptions, making it easier to handle mood fluctuations.
• Support Network Seeking therapy or joining support groups can be beneficial for both individuals with bipolar disorder and their family members in overcoming obstacles and improving relationship dynamics.

Coping Strategies for Bipolar Mixed Episode

Coping with Bipolar II disorder involves a combination of lifestyle changes, therapy, and self-management strategies. Here are some effective coping strategies for bipolar disorder that may help:

1. Recognizing Your Triggers and Early Signs

The purpose of learning to understand your triggers is to predict how a situation will affect you. As a result, doing so reduces your chances of experiencing a significant mood episode such as mania or despair.

• Questions to ask yourself:
• Was I irritable a few days ago?
• Did I feel more tired than usual?
• Was it tough for me to focus?
• Did I sleep more or less hours than usual?

2. Monitor Your Feelings

Recognizing what triggers your mood episodes goes hand in hand with tracking your moods. Checking in with yourself regularly to see how you’re feeling is an excellent self-help method for bipolar disorder. It might help you identify red flags or patterns.

For example, if you know that irritability frequently precedes an episode of mania, you can take action when you notice yourself becoming irritable. However, you may pass up this opportunity if you are not generally mindful of your feelings.

3. Try To Make Social Relationships

Social relationships are very important to keep your mind calm with intrusive thoughts and manage the signs of depression. Talking with people about how you feel and what you’re going through can help relieve stress. Having someone to listen — even if they can’t do something to change how you feel — can make it easier to cope with bipolar disorder.

4. Limit the Addictive Things

It is critical to avoid foods and substances that harm both your physical and mental health. Limiting or eliminating addictive substances such as sugar, coffee, alcohol, or nicotine can help you maintain a stable mood and enhance your overall health. Instead, focus on healthy alternatives such as nutrient-dense foods and adequate fluids to promote a more balanced and peaceful mental state.

5. Stick With Your Medication Routine

Sticking to your medication schedule is crucial for keeping your mental health steady and feeling good overall. Missing doses or stopping meds without talking to your doctor first can cause setbacks or make symptoms worse. Many mental health issues need ongoing treatment, and sticking to your medication plan helps the meds work better to control your symptoms in the long run.

Bipolar Mixed Episode Rapid Cycling

It refers to the presence of manic and depressive symptoms happening at the same time. For example, an individual may experience high levels of energy, restlessness, and agitation (manic symptoms) while also feeling despair, sadness, or thoughts of self-harm (depressive symptoms). It presents challenges in coping with it due to the contradictory and overwhelming nature of the symptoms.

i-Rapid Cycling

It refers to a bipolar disorder pattern in which a person has at least four bouts of mania, hypomania, or depression in a single year. In some circumstances, people’s moods might vary significantly faster, even monthly or daily.

ii-Bipolar Mixed Episodes

Treating rapid cycling can be quite difficult due to the erratic mood swings. The approach usually includes using mood stabilizers, antipsychotic drugs, and, in some cases, antidepressants along with therapy to assist in managing the symptoms and enhancing coping mechanisms.

What Are the Risks Involved with Mixed Bipolar Episodes?

One of the most serious risks of bipolar disorder is suicide. The rate of suicide is 10 to 30 times greater among people with bipolar disorder. The risk of suicide is highest for people who experience depressive and mixed episodes. People who experience bipolar mixed episodes may also engage in impulsive and dangerous behaviors associated with mood episodes like:

These actions can have serious short and long-term consequences, such as:

• Job loss
• Incarceration
• Contracting STDs

Additionally, researchers in bipolar illness do not fully grasp what causes or triggers mixed episodes. Specific factors differ from person to person. Based on what we know, plausible triggers for a mixed episode in people with bipolar disorder could include:

• Experiencing a terrible or unpleasant incident.
• Taking depression medication.
• Lack of sleep might disrupt your circadian cycles.
• Changes in seasonal rhythms.

Bipolar Mixed Episode Treatment

Manic or depressive episodes with mixed features generally require treatment with medication. Unfortunately, such episodes are more difficult to control than an episode of pure mania or depression. The main drugs used to treat episodes with mixed features are mood stabilizers and antipsychotics.

1. Mood Stabilizers

While lithium is often regarded as a gold standard treatment for mania, it may be less successful when mania and depression coexist, as in a manic episode with mixed characteristics. Lithium has been used to treat bipolar disorder for almost sixty years. It can take weeks to operate fully; therefore, it is better suited to maintenance treatment rather than acute manic episodes.

2. Medication Management

Mixed bipolar disorder involves having symptoms of mania and depression at the same time. Choosing medications for bipolar disorder can be challenging due to the potential for severe side effects. The treatment choice should consider what has previously been effective and well tolerated for an individual patient. In cases where there is no history with medication or its effectiveness is uncertain, the decision is influenced by the patient’s medical background, including their past reactions to specific mood stabilizers and the intensity of their symptoms.

Dealing with these intricate symptoms usually calls for a customized strategy when it comes to medication. Some common medicines used for bipolar disorder include:

• Mood Stabilizers
• Antipsychotics
• Antidepressants

Let’s Recap

The bipolar mixed episode sometimes becomes so worse and may cause poor treatment response. However, it is not curable for bipolar disorder with mixed features, but you can get a certain kind of treatment to manage it. Mixed episodes are dangerous due to suicide risks of depression being there, along with the energy to carry out the act. The condition requires symptom management and supportive treatment in this regard. Above, we mentioned all the coping strategies for bipolar disorder that might be helpful for you. To get the very best bipolar disorder treatment, you can find our support for a psychiatrist in MAVA Behavioral Health through in-clinic visits or telehealth consultations. Reach out to us today!