Is there a link between alcohol consumption and bipolar disorder?

Bipolar is a common mental disorder that causes sudden and irregular shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. It also cripples the ability to carry out day-to-day tasks. In US alone bipolar disorder affects over 6 million adults. It has also been called manic-depressive illness or simply manic depression.

People with bipolar disorder experience both manic and depressive effects. Under manic episode an individual feels of being “on top of the world”. During this episode people tend to feel intensely happy and extremely optimistic.

This can take a heavy toll on normal life of people. Difficulty of focusing on one task at a time and swinging thoughts tempt people to start many tasks and not following through on any. Under this condition people usually grand plans that is generally beyond their capabilities.

Depressive episodes leave people finding hard to concentrate on any task. These episodes bring feelings of despair, sadness and loneliness.

People under depressive episodes may feel they have sunk into darkness with no way out and no end in sight.

Symptoms of bipolar disorder

Humans are naturally inclined to mood swings. Many factors such as diet, exercise, various events and relationships can trigger a change in mood. These regular mood variations should not be confused with signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder. These symptoms affect a person’s daily life over long periods of time.

Common symptoms of manic episodes include:

·        Feelings of intense happiness over a long period of time

·        High self-confidence or self-esteem

·   Overindulging in pleasurable activities, such as overeating, shopping sprees, and risky sexual behavior

·        Rapid thoughts and speech

·        Distraction and an inability to focus on any one task

·        Common symptoms of depressive episodes include:

·        Extreme sadness or irritability

·        Feelings of isolation and loneliness

·        Feelings of unending despair and suffering

·        Unnecessary anxiety

·        Feelings of guilt linked with any of the above feelings

·        Rapid weight loss or weight gain

·        Insomnia

·        Inability to focus on any task at all

These symptoms must be present for days or weeks to be called an episode. Only a trained psychologist or psychiatrist can make a proper diagnosis.

What is link between alcohol consumption and bipolar disorder?

Alcohol consumption fuels symptoms of depressive and manic episodes. It can depress the central nervous system, adding to the feelings of depression.

Alcohol also reduces a person's inhibitions, which may make them behave irresponsibly. The combination of alcohol and bipolar disorder can not only be irresponsible but unsafe as well.

Both bipolar disorder and alcohol consumption can cause changes in a person’s brain. Alcohol itself is both a depressant and a sedative, which is why many people use it to relax.

For people with depressive episodes, alcohol consumption acts on the same brain regions which cause depression.

This link doesn’t stop here. One study found that people with bipolar disorder are more likely to have episodes if they drink irrespective of how much they have alcohol. With participants drank a small amount of alcohol, alcohol consumption is directly related to rate of manic or depressive episodes.

It is best for people with bipolar disorder to abstain from drinking alcohol.