What happens when bi-polar manic wpsychotic symptoms go untreated Can they permantely become like this always?
Untreated bipolar mania with psychotic symptoms can lead to severe consequences and complications. While the symptoms may not become permanent in all cases, it's important to seek treatment to prevent potential long-term effects and ensure the person's safety and well-being. Here's what can happen when bipolar mania with psychotic symptoms goes untreated:
Prolonged and Severe Episodes: Untreated mania can last longer and become increasingly severe, causing significant impairment in daily functioning. The individual may experience extreme emotional highs, impulsive behaviors, delusions, hallucinations, and impaired judgment.
Increased Risk of Hospitalization: Individuals with untreated bipolar mania are at a higher risk of requiring hospitalization due to their symptoms. Hospitalization may be necessary to ensure safety, provide intensive treatment, and prevent harm to self or others.
Suicidal and Homicidal Risk: Untreated bipolar mania can elevate the risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts, as well as aggression or violence directed toward others. The combination of mania and psychosis can lead to impulsive and dangerous behaviors that require immediate intervention.
Damage to Relationships and Social Functioning: Untreated mania can strain relationships and disrupt social interactions. The person's erratic behavior and impaired judgment can affect their relationships with family, friends, and colleagues. This can lead to isolation and difficulties maintaining employment or educational pursuits.
Legal Consequences: In cases of severe mania, individuals may engage in risky or illegal behaviors, such as excessive spending, impulsive purchases, or aggressive confrontations. This can result in legal consequences, such as debt, arrests, or legal actions against them.
Physical Health Risks: Untreated mania can have negative impacts on physical health. Sleep deprivation, poor eating habits, and risky behaviors during mania can lead to exhaustion, malnutrition, weight loss, and exacerbation of existing medical conditions.
Transition to Schizoaffective Disorder: In some cases, chronic untreated bipolar mania with psychotic features may lead to a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. Schizoaffective disorder is a mental illness characterized by symptoms of both schizophrenia and mood disorders, such as mania or depression.
It's important to seek professional help and treatment for bipolar mania with psychotic symptoms to prevent these potential consequences. Early diagnosis and appropriate management, which may include medication, psychotherapy, and lifestyle modifications, can help stabilize mood, manage symptoms, and restore overall functioning.