Depression Archives - Lexington Addiction Center

Does Bipolar Get Worse with Age?

Written by Lexington Center on April 7, 2023. Posted in Co-Occurring Disorders, Depression, Mental Health.

Bipolar disorder is complex. Hearing this diagnosis can be overwhelming and there may be a ton of questions surrounding it. Does bipolar get worse with age? Does it mean something is broken? Something is wrong?

While it is complex, bipolar disorder is also treatable and does not mean that something is wrong, or broken in the person with this diagnosis. Understanding what bipolar is, and how age can affect its symptoms can be vital to grasp a full understanding of what this mental health condition entails.

What is Bipolar?

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition. It is characterized by severe mood swings ranging from extreme highs to extreme lows. During these high points (mania or hypomania) feelings of euphoria may be present. Someone may experience elevated energy levels, and even irritability, while the lows are on the opposite end of the spectrum.

When experiencing these shifts in mood, energy, sleep, judgment, and behaviors can be affected. Bipolar disorder has several types associated. Broken down into three main types, they can include mania or hypomania (less severe than mania), and depression.

The symptoms of the different types vary and can be uncontrollable as well as unpredictable. Some people may wonder if bipolar gets worse with age, and this is a valid question. Understanding the symptoms can help to clarify this.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

As previously stated, the symptoms of bipolar disorder vary. Both from person to person and between the different types of this disorder. Breaking down the different types of bipolar disorder will help to show a clearer view of them.

Bipolar I Disorder

According to the Mayo Clinic, Bipolar I disorder is characterized by at least one episode of mania followed by or preceded by hypomania or episodes of depression. There can be instances of psychosis during mania in Bipolar I.

Bipolar II Disorder

This is characterized by one hypomanic episode and one depressive episode, but no full blown mania has been experienced.

Cyclothymic Disorder

This means at least one year (in children and teenagers) or two years (in adults) where there have been many periods of hypomania and episodes of depression.

When it comes to what mania or hypomania is, these episodes are two different things. Manic episodes are more severe than hypomanic and can be more dangerous. However, both of these have the same symptoms.

Manic or hypomanic episodes consist of three or more of these symptoms:

Increased activity or agitation
Abnormally upbeat
Overly confident with overall well-being and self (euphoria)
Racing thoughts
Extreme talkativeness
Distracted/unfocused
Impaired decision making
Less need for sleep

Depressive episodes include five or more of the following symptoms:

Lack of interest in hobbies or life
Depressed mood
Restlessness
Lethargy
Fatigue
Insomnia or hypersomnia
Drastic and unexplained weight loss
Problems thinking clearly
Suicidal thoughts or attempts

Typically diagnosed in teenage years or early adulthood (20s), as time goes on the symptoms of bipolar can change and vary from person to person. But does bipolar get worse with age?

Does Bipolar Get Worse with Age?

Asking whether or not bipolar gets worse with age is a valid question. Like any untreated disease, bipolar can have some severe impacts on someone’s life as time progresses. Treating the disorder and managing its symptoms can be helpful in preventing some of the complications that may be experienced over time with bipolar.

Undergoing trauma therapy and utilizing medications can help keep the symptoms at bay and prevent relapse. Again, leaving this disorder untreated can cause the symptoms of bipolar to get worse with age. This is why it is crucial to have proper care once a diagnosis has been given.

How to Know if Bipolar is Getting Worse

A person who suffers from this disorder will know what their episodes look and feel like. This makes it easier to identify any changes in them. As bipolar gets worse with age, paying attention to the episodes and identifying any changes is part of knowing it is getting worse.

If there are changes, it is best to contact a mental health professional who can help to alleviate the symptoms before they become problematic. Asking friends and family who are close to look out for any changes can also help to identify if bipolar is getting worse with age. Seeking professional guidance as quickly as possible can help these symptoms from becoming unbearable.

Get Bipolar Treatment in Lexington, KY

Bipolar disorder can be debilitating to those who suffer with it. Leaving bipolar untreated can be even more debilitating, and cause the symptoms of the disorder to become unbearable. However, there is help for these symptoms, and ways to manage and make them subside.

At Lexington Addiction Center we offer help to those who struggle with bipolar disorder. Our program can help you find a way to manage symptoms and gain control of your life back. Contact us today and let our professionals help guide you through this phase of getting better.

how anxiety and depression can be treated

Can Depression and Anxiety Cause Memory Loss?

Written by Lexington Center on February 17, 2023. Posted in Anxiety, Depression, Mental Health.

Depression and anxiety can affect the body in many different ways. They both wreak havoc on the person’s mental state and physical wellbeing. But can depression and anxiety cause memory loss? If so, how? The way that depression and anxiety tend to affect the body can interrupt the formation of new memories. Understanding the facts about depression, anxiety, and memory formation can help someone to see how the two disorders tend to affect memories, as well as how they can be treated.

Understanding Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety is a mental health condition in which a person feels an intense feeling of fear, uneasiness, or dread. Symptoms of anxiety can include:

Nervousness
Sense of impending doom, panic, or danger
Sweating
Raised blood pressure
Hyperventilating
Difficulty sleeping
Difficulty concentrating

These symptoms and the intense bodily responses to the symptoms of anxiety can make it extremely hard to live life normally day to day. Those who suffer with anxiety tend to do things to avoid triggering their anxiety from flaring up, making socialization and daily living difficult.

Depression is a condition that can affect the way you feel, how you think and how you act. It can cause major feelings of sadness and loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable. The disruptions to life that depression can cause can have a huge impact on a person’s life. It can cause isolation, changes in behaviors, and if left untreated, depression can lead to far worse consequences. Fortunately, both anxiety and depression can be effectively treated.

How are Memories Formed?

When it comes to the formation of memories, there are generally 3 steps to creating them. The first step of memory formation is encoding. During this phase, meaning is attached to one of the five senses (touch, smell, hearing, sight, or taste).

The next step in memory formation is storage. This means the brain stores the memories in small portions and in different areas for recall later on.

The final step is called recall. This is when the brain pulls the memories back out. Those small chunks are pulled together from their storage locations, they then come together and form what is known as a memory. During this process, nerve pathways that were created when the memory was formed are activated. As an example, when you smell cooking in a restaurant it brings you back to grandma’s kitchen when you were a kid. Depression and anxiety can cause the loss of some of these memories due to the body’s response to these conditions.

The Body’s Natural Response to Anxiety and Depression

When you experience depression and anxiety, it throws the body into what is known as the “fight or flight” response. This means the body is trying to either stand and fight the real or perceived threat, or run from it. Signals are sent from the eyes and ears into the brain, and the emotional processing center of the brain then determines if it is a threat. Adrenaline is then pumped throughout the body, causing higher pulse rate, rapid breathing, and sensory changes. From there, if the perceived danger still exists, cortisol is released. This is a stress hormone, and once the danger has passed and the brain processes that it is gone, levels will diminish.

When the body goes into fight or flight due to anxiety and depression, it can disrupt the normal functionality of the brain. Depression and anxiety can cause memory loss during this response to real or perceived threats. The body is so focused on fending off danger that it is not processing new memories or focusing on anything other than fighting off the threats.

How are Anxiety and Depression Linked to Memory Loss

Can depression and anxiety cause memory loss? The short answer is yes. There have been many studies done on the subject matter, and there are many studies still in the works. However there have been some results showing that those who suffer from depression have been known to have short term memory loss. There are a few instances where the memory loss affects long term memories as well.

The link between depression and dementia has also been noted in medical journals. Anxiety can also impact how memories are formed. Because this condition is so taxing on the body, it can make it difficult to recall childhood memories. Untreated depression and anxiety can have a huge impact on memory loss.

Get Help For Anxiety and Depression in Lexington, KY

Anxiety and depression can cause major disruption to your everyday life, and can make it extremely difficult to function normally. Leaving these two conditions untreated can exacerbate the symptoms, and make the disruptions far more taxing on your quality of life. If you or a loved one are struggling with depression and anxiety, there is help.

At Lexington Addiction Center we provide a continuum of care that can help to address these mental health concerns and assist in beginning the healing process so you can return to a normal life. Contact us today and start realizing the benefits of this kind of help.