Houston, TX – SUN Behavioral Health Houston, a local rehab facility, published a blog post that shed light on how long bipolar episodes last. Bipolar episodes are made up of “highs,” known as manic episodes, and “lows,” known as depressive episodes. The timeline differs from person to person and is impacted by several factors. These factors can include recent stressors, family history, trauma, treatment history, or substance use.

“Your symptoms must last for a minimum timeframe to qualify for a specific diagnosis. There is not a maximum length of time, and the duration depends on the individual. In many cases, mania will occur before depression, but this is not always the case. Some people experience depressive episodes first. If you have mixed-type bipolar, you’ll experience both depressive and manic symptoms at the same time,” the blog post states.

Manic symptoms must last at least one week to qualify as a manic episode, but they can last for much longer. A manic episode is a state of high energy where there is a decreased need for sleep, fast speech, racing thoughts, and risky and impulsive behaviors. These symptoms are not enjoyable and cause serious dysfunction in a person’s family, work, and other daily activities. Hypomanic episodes are less severe than manic episodes. These last at least 4 days and do not disrupt daily life as much. With proper treatment, manic episodes can be shortened or eliminated. When it goes untreated, it can last for weeks to months. In some cases, it might last as long as a year.

Depressive episodes, on average, last longer than manic episodes. These often last for several months but must last at least 2 weeks. The average length of time for a depressive episode is a little over 5 months. If left untreated, it might last several years. Depression symptoms often leave someone feeling lethargic and not motivated to complete tasks. They might feel worthless or like there is no hope that their life will improve. Sometimes, they might experience thoughts of self-harm or suicide, which require attending crisis care as soon as possible.

Bipolar cycles are when someone cycles through the different stages of mania and depression. Someone might go from mania or hypomania to depression and eventually back again. There are 3 main types of bipolar disorder, which dictate what this looks like: bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymic disorder. Bipolar I and II, will often experience more extended lengths of time between stages, which cyclothymic disorder involves more rapid cycling of mild symptoms. Rapid cycling refers to experiencing four bipolar episodes in one year. Ultra rapid cycling is when someone cycles through symptoms within 24 hours. Neither of these is permanent and can occur at any point. They do not recur for everyone.

“Bipolar cycles feel like swinging from one extreme to the next. You go from feeling practically invincible, like you could take on the world with lots of energy, to feeling like there is no hope and nothing will ever be okay again. It can be a real rollercoaster of emotions and can make life more difficult to manage. When you are in the throes of the bipolar cycle, you feel like you are not yourself and your decisions are not your own. As you come out of a depressive episode, you find yourself having to catch up on things you didn’t have the energy for. Alternatively, you could make decisions during a manic episode that you wouldn’t have made otherwise, like quitting your job or fighting with a romantic partner,” the blog post states.

SUN Behavioral Health Houston solves unmet needs for adolescents and adults in the community. They offer no-cost care assessments that allow potential patients and their doctors to work with their team to determine what treatment options would provide the best opportunity for their condition. They also offer 24/7 crisis care, where their compassionate team is ready no matter the time of day, weekend, or holiday to help those experiencing a mental health crisis.

To learn more, visit their website or call them at 713-796-2273. SUN Behavioral Health solves unmet needs.

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For more information about SUN Behavioral Houston, contact the company here:

SUN Behavioral Houston
Tobey Bogardus
713-715-4297
info@sunbehavioral.com
7601 Fannin Street
Houston, TX 77054