Shining a Light on Bipolar | Employee Wellness | Health

Mar 5, 2025 | Employer, Kaelo Health

Shining a light on bipolar

Shining a Light on Bipolar

UNDERSTANDING THE HIGHS & LOWS ON THIS WORLD BIPOLAR DAY.

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings. These include emotional highs, also known as mania or hypomania and lows, also known as depression.

According to Psychiatrist at Mediclinic Muelmed, Dr Julia Lethole the mental illness impacts about 2-3% of South Africans.

Although studies say it’s not known exactly what causes bipolar disorder, it may have a genetic component because it’s more common to those who have a family history of bipolar disorder or major depression. When one becomes depressed, they may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities.

When one’s mood shifts to mania or hypomania, individuals may feel very excited and euphoric, full of energy or unusually irritable. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, activity, judgement, behaviour and the ability to think clearly.

There are different types of bipolar disorder:

Bipolar I:
Characterised by manic episodes lasting at least 7 days or by manic symptoms that are so severe they require immediate hospital care. Depressive episodes lasting at least 2 weeks also occur.

Bipolar II::
Defined by a pattern of depressive episodes and hypomanic episodes, but without the full-blown manic episodes typical of Bipolar I.

Cyclothymic Disorder (Cyclothymia): Periods of hypomanic symptoms as well as periods of depressive symptoms lasting for at least two years where the symptoms don’t meet the diagnostic requirements for a hypomanic episode and a depressive episode.
People very often confuse bipolar disorder (BD) with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Both are mental health illnesses however, the major difference is cycles. People with bipolar disorder often have periods of true symptom-free wellness lasting weeks, months, or years. On the other hand, people diagnosed with BPD typically have more persistent day-to-day emotional symptoms that can impact everyday life.
Bipolar Triggers
Bipolar vs Depression

If you or your loved one is living with bipolar disorder and you would like
to know more about the mental health illness and how to better cope better,
reach out to our asknelson counsellors as they are happy
to assist you navigate through the mental disorder.

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