Bipolar Disorder Affects Men and Women Differently

In more developed countries, bipolar disorder appears to behave differently depending on gender. The question is: Why do women seem to be more vulnerable to this condition?

So that you have much more information about it, we are going to explore what bipolar disorder is, how to recognize it and what role gender plays in its incidence depending on where you are in the world.

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a mental health problem that affects about 40 million people worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). This is characterized by extreme changes in mood: for example, it is possible to go from moments of great energy and euphoria (mania or hypomania) to others of great sadness and exhaustion (depression).

During mania, someone may feel invincible, hyperactive, and wanting to do anything; while in depression everything seems uphill: there is no energy, no desire to do things, no pleasure in activities that were fun before.

Bipolar disorder affects emotions and the way you feel also has a clear influence on many other aspects of life, so it is common that, without proper treatment, relationships, work and daily life become complicated.

In addition, this disorder often appears along with other problems such as anxiety or substance abuse, which makes it more difficult to manage. Despite being a serious condition, many people do not receive the diagnosis or treatment they need, in part due to stigma and lack of access to mental health services.

How to recognize it? Some common symptoms

Identifying bipolar disorder is not always easy, as symptoms can vary greatly. Even so, there are certain signs that can give clues:

During episodes of mania or hypomania

During depressive episodes

But be careful! It must be remembered that not all people have the same symptoms or feel them with the same intensity. If any of this sounds familiar, it’s important to consider seeking professional help.

Does gender influence the incidence of the disease?

Recent studies show that women are more likely to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, especially in developed countries. For example, according to data from Global Burden of Disease Study 2021women between 30 and 34 years old are the ones with the most differences compared to men.

Why is this happening?

There are several possible reasons that may influence these results:

On the one hand, the biological factor may have something to do with this. Hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, appear to be linked to mood swingsespecially during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy or menopause.

On the other hand, there are sociocultural elements that influence, because in places where women have more freedom to express their emotions and make decisions, they also there are more reported cases of mental health problems.

It is also suggested that, as women in these countries may have less pressure to follow traditional roles, this could lead to a greater emotional impact when making more complex decisions.

It is also important to mention that in these regions it is easier to receive diagnosis and treatment, which increases the number of reported cases. In addition, women tend to seek medical help more frequently than men, which could explain why more cases are detected among they.

Lastly, the study suggests that Gender differences also have to do with personality, self-esteem, and how men and women cope with stress. These differences are especially noticeable in young people, between 20 and 34 years old.

What can we reflect on this?

Bipolar disorder affects men and women differently, and understanding these differences can help improve treatment and prevention strategies. Although, according to the studies reviewed, women are more predisposed to developing this condition, they also tend to have more opportunities or willingness to seek help.

Definitely, putting these issues on the table to understand how they affect us, depending on our gender and context, is an important step to breaking down the stigma and improving the quality of life of those facing bipolar disorder.