It was the shaved head seen around the world that launched a thousand questions asking whether or not Britney Spears was suffering from bipolar disorder. Although, it’s not been made official and her estate refuses to comment on speculation, there are many people who have seen someone they love with Bipolar Disorder behave in the same manner.

According to tabloid accounts, Britney Spears walked into a hair salon, demanded that the hair dresser shave her hair off—after the dresser refused, Spears grabbed the clippers and began shaving off her own hair. After shaving her head she left the scene and began a physical tirade of slamming a table umbrella against the SUV of a paparazzi that was snapping photos of the incident.

Many who are accustomed to Bipolar Disorder think Britney Spears was on a manic high and not able to slow down and think through the impulsive decision that would mark the start of a very sad, very public and very dark chapter in her fabled life.

And this is how it is for millions of others who suffer from Bipolar Disorder. It can be crippling, lonely and painful not only for the person suffering from the wild mood swings, but the family as well, as they often feel powerless to stop a loved one from causing themselves harm.

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Simply put, Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder that causes a person to experience wild swings in their mental state ranging from a severe depression to an euphoric or upsetting manic high. Sometimes events or stress can trigger a mood swing, sometimes they happen for no obvious reason at all.

According to researchers there are four basic types of bipolar disorders (i.e. bipolar I, bipolar II, cyclothymic, generalized bipolar) all of them have the same symptoms, but will vary in the how they manifest, their intensity and duration of cycles.
Within each of the types are some sets of behaviors, called episodes that make up the bipolar experience:

Mania - This is a sudden feeling of happiness (can also be irritability). People in this state cannot logically think, they are also impatient, impulsive and full of energy. Mania can cause people to do things they wouldn’t normally do like go on lavish shopping sprees, do drugs, etc…

Depression - This is a sudden loss of interest in life, accompanying feelings of sadness and low to no energy. These feelings can be so intense that they too can cause people to hurt themselves, like contemplate or act on thoughts of suicide.

Mixed - This is a combination of both the manic and depressive behaviors that can occur at the same time. Many think of it like a light switch being flicked on and off.

Types Explained

Bipolar I Disorder: This is considered by many to be the classic and most extreme form of the disorder having experienced at least one extreme manic high, often coupled with a debilitating depression. These two experiences are usually so profoundly different and cause the person to act like two different people that this is why the term “bipolar” is used.
Bipolar II Disorder: It’s like the first, but with milder versions of the manic high (also called hypomania) and depressive lows.

Cyclothymic Bipolar: It’s an even milder form of Bipolar II, where the person swings between a mild high and a mild low. It can also develop into a stronger version of Bipolar I or II.

Generalized Bipolar: Indicates that a person has the classic bipolarity of mood swings, but they don’t follow a cycle or predictable intensity.

Breakthroughs in Treatment Options

Advances in research have to lead to a wide variety of treatment options designed to treat all aspects of the disorder, long gone are the days when lithium was the only option available.

Medications:
Now more than ever are a wide variety of medicines that can pinpoint a particular episode that manifests in a patient’s bipolarity. This is why it’s so important to fully understand the specific type of bipolar someone has so that the treatment can be tailored.

Antipsychotics - These are used to arrest the manic symptoms of the disorder and have a wide-ranging positive effect. When someone has severe manic swings they can develop a psychosis or high level of anxiety. These drugs can effectively treat those symptoms.

Antidepressants - These are used, as the name suggests, to help treat the symptoms of a depression common in most types of Bipolar Disorder.

Mood Stabilizers - Are usually used in conjunction with either antipsychotics and antidepressants, so that if one episode is arrested, the person does not swing to an opposite episode.

Patient Therapy - Is considered essential to the recovery of someone diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It’s a lifelong disease that evolves and changes as the person ages. As such, having a therapist who can help the patient understand their own moods and how to manage them can amplify the benefits of the medication and allow the patient to begin building a productive life.

Group Therapy - Can be lifesaving for those with the most extreme forms of Bipolar Disorder. Being in a recovery type of environment with others who are experiencing similar symptoms can foster a sense of support and empathy, especially during depressive episodes or manic episodes that cause profound social anxiety.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) - Has made a dynamic comeback. Gone are the barbaric methods of the 1970’s, and in their place are the newest, most sophisticated forms of treatment that are proving to have extraordinary results. ECT therapy can pinpoint parts of the brain circuitry that are responsible for the bipolarity, and can go inside the brain, using electricity, to rewire that circuitry—without turning the person into a zombie.

Of course, there is no magic bullet when treating Bipolar Disorder. For many, treatment will at best be a trial-and-error approach to finding the right combination of medications and patient therapy. But, the good news is that the options that do exist can produce that effective combination for many. It’s completely possible now for someone diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, with treatment, to have a “normal” life.