what to do if your significant other has bipolar, ptsd and ocd

South_agency/Due east+/Getty images

Bipolar disorder is a status characterized by farthermost changes in mood, behavior, and thoughts. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a condition that causes recurring, intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors.

Clinical research suggests that OCD and bipolar disorder co-occur with each other at a college rate than would be expected by run a risk. Importantly, the presence of bipolar disorder can affect OCD symptoms and handling.

This commodity discusses the link betwixt OCD and bipolar disorder including the symptoms and how the weather are diagnosed when they co-occur. Information technology also covers mutual treatments for the 2 conditions and how their co-occurrence can complicate the treatment process.

Symptoms

Before discussing the link between bipolar disorder and OCD, it may be helpful to first depict the symptoms of the two conditions. Bipolar disorder is a mental illness where the affected person experiences ane or more "manic" or "mixed" episodes; however, most people with bipolar disorder have too had i or more ​episodes of depression.

The symptoms of OCD include obsessions (repeated, unwanted thoughts) and compulsions (behaviors performed to relieve distress). Common symptoms of OCD include unwanted thoughts, perfectionism, excessive checking, excessive cleaning, or counting rituals.

Shared Symptoms

Symptoms that may occur in cases of comorbid bipolar disorder and OCD include:

• Changes in activity levels
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Feelings of sadness or depression
• Intrusive thoughts
• Sudden shifts in mood
• Recurrent thoughts and behaviors
• Social issues

Sometimes people may exhibit more OCD symptoms during depressive episodes. This may include more than extreme shifts in mood, stiff feelings of depression, intense obsessions and compulsions, and uncontrollable thoughts.

Differing Symptoms

While in that location is some overlap in symptoms, there are some distinct symptoms that differentiate the ii atmospheric condition. One of these is the presence of episodes of mania that occur with bipolar disorder and non with OCD.

Mania is a distinct period of abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, lasting at least one week. A manic episode is usually accompanied by iii or more than of the following symptoms.

• A dramatic decrease in the need for sleep
• Engaging in pleasurable activities with a high potential for painful consequences, such as impulsive spending and risky sexual activity
• Extreme distraction and unable to focus
• Goal-directed activity (often of a social, professional, or sexual nature)
• Inflated cocky-esteem or grandiosity
• More talkative than usual or pressure to keep talking
• Racing thoughts

To be diagnosed as a manic episode, these symptoms have to be severe enough to cause major disruption at work or at domicile. In addition, a manic episode often requires that the person goes to the hospital for handling. It is non uncommon for people with mania to show features of psychosis, such as delusions.

Currently, there are four subtypes of bipolar disorder:

• Bipolar I: The nearly severe form, usually requires hospitalization
• Bipolar II: Like symptoms, but the mania is not as astringent; even so, people oftentimes experience astringent depression
• Cyclothymia: Rapid fluctuation between hypomania and depressive symptoms that are non astringent enough to run across the criteria for a Major Depressive Episode
• Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified: Disorders with bipolar features that do non meet the criteria for the specific bipolar disorders
  

Recap

While they may share some symptoms, bipolar disorder oft includes episodes of mania that distinguish it from OCD. Symptoms of OCD tin also sometimes occurring during depressive episodes and disappear during manic episodes.

Diagnosis

Because bipolar disorder and OCD can occur alongside one another, information technology can complicate the diagnosis procedure. The two conditions can sometimes share symptoms, which tin can lead to misdiagnosis in some cases.

To make a diagnosis, a healthcare provider will ask questions to assess the nature of the symptoms that y'all are experiencing as well every bit their duration and severity.

Your healthcare provider may as well perform a physical exam and lab tests in club to rule out medical atmospheric condition that might be contributing to your symptoms.

People with bipolar disorder are frequently more than likely to seek treatment during a depressive episode than they are during a manic episode, which may contribute to problems with misdiagnosis.

During your appointment, exist sure to describe any other symptoms that you have experienced in the past, including any periods of mania or obsessions and compulsions. This can help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis and recommend the advisable treatment, whether you have bipolar disorder, OCD, both, or another mental health condition.

Recap

When OCD and bipolar disorder occur together, it can make both conditions harder to diagnose. Talking to your doctor nigh your symptoms and noting any episodes of mania can help them make a more authentic diagnosis.

OCD and Bipolar Disorder

Research has established a strong link between bipolar disorder and OCD. Comorbidity is very mutual among psychiatric conditions, but the co-occurrence of OCD and bipolar disorder tin can exist peculiarly disruptive and challenging to care for.

In that location is some evidence suggesting that the overlap betwixt the two conditions may be due to the fact that OCD symptoms may really be symptoms of bipolar depressive episodes and not a carve up occurrence of OCD.

How Often Do OCD and Bipolar Disorder Co-Occur?

Research suggests that effectually xx% of people with bipolar disorder will likewise experience a co-occurrence of OCD at some point during their lifetime. When OCD symptoms are present, they typically occur secondary to bipolar disorder as opposed to representing a split disease process.

In general, people who are afflicted past both bipolar disorder and OCD seem to accept very high rates of other forms of mental illness; in particular, panic disorder also as impulse command disorders. Enquiry has likewise shown that people with co-occurring OCD and bipolar disorder accept a higher disease severity, a greater need for specific handling strategies, and an increased take chances for suicide.

Although there is not one item gene that links OCD and bipolar disorder, there is increasing show that these two disorders may share some genes. Behaviorally, both people with bipolar disorder and people with OCD show a decrease in specific types of verbal memory.

Recap

It is not uncommon for OCD and bipolar disorder to occur together. It is non entirely clear, however, if OCD is e'er a carve up status or if some OCD symptoms are a manifestation of bipolar disorder.

Treatment

Both bipolar disorder and OCD can impair a person'south ability to function as they normally do. They can likewise cause considerable distress. There are treatments that can assist relieve symptoms.

Treatment for OCD

Common treatments for OCD include medications, cerebral behavioral therapy (CBT), and exposure and response prevention. SSRI antidepressants may be helpful for treating symptoms of OCD, simply can sometimes trigger manic or hypomanic episodes in those with co-occurring bipolar disorder.

Treatment for Bipolar Disorder

Management of bipolar disorder often involves psychotherapy and medication. CBT is commonly used equally well as mood stabilizers, atypical antipsychotics, and antidepressants.

Implications for Treatment

When bipolar disorder and OCD occur together, the symptoms of bipolar disorder tend to be much worse and more difficult to treat than bipolar weather condition that occur without OCD.

People with both OCD and bipolar disorder as well tend to evidence more frequent use and abuse of substances such as drugs and booze. Substance utilize frequently complicates treatment and commonly predicts worse outcomes.

There is too some evidence that when OCD occurs with bipolar disorder, there are fewer checking compulsions but more obsessions related to religious and sexual themes.

It is important to note that OCD in the presence of bipolar disorder may require the utilise of unlike treatment strategies, as many of the antidepressants that are commonly used to treat OCD can sometimes exacerbate or even cause symptoms of mania or hypomania.

Mood stabilization should be the priority of treatment. SRI medications may exist unnecessary with CBT preferred for OCD symptoms.

Treatment Priorities

Also, when OCD and bipolar disorder co-occur, information technology has been suggested that the treatment of bipolar disorder symptoms takes priority owing to their potentially destructive and harmful nature.

A Word From Verywell

It is non uncommon for bipolar disorder and OCD to occur together. Experiencing both conditions at the aforementioned time tin make diagnosis more than challenging, then it is of import to talk to a mental health professional person if yous are having symptoms of either condition.

While the co-occurrence of the two conditions tin create special concerns during treatment, there are effective treatment options bachelor. Getting the right diagnosis and handling tin help you manage your symptoms and live your life to the fullest.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What treatment takes priority when you have OCD and bipolar disorder?

  Some researchers propose that mood stabilization should be the primary focus of handling because it is the about confusing and potentially harmful. Psychotherapy treatments, such as CBT, can be helpful for symptoms of both bipolar disorder and OCD.

• How practice you aid a person who has bipolar disorder and OCD?

  Y'all can help by listening, being supportive, and paying attention to changes in their moods and behaviors. You might also encourage them to talk to a healthcare professional and maintain a positive mental attitude about treatment around them. Enquiry suggests that social support that is positive almost mental health treatment can improve treatment adherence.

• What medications can treat OCD and bipolar disorder?

  Research suggests that the use of mood stabilizers followed with the anticonvulsant topiramate tin be helpful in the management of comorbid bipolar disorder and OCD. The use of the antipsychotic olanzapine along with an SSRI or the tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine can also exist effective.

burnsmosedeted.blogspot.com

Source: https://www.verywellmind.com/ocd-and-bipolar-disorder-2510583

Share this post