“Why do I keep doing the same things over and over again?” “Do I have ADHD?” “What can I do to feel less anxious?”
People are googling these questions – and other queries related to mental health – every day. And according to a new study released by Manhattan Mental Health Counseling, Delawareans had one mental illness they searched for more than any other: bipolar disorder.
An analysis of Google Trends for 22 mental health disorders and conditions ranging from depression to loneliness to social media addiction found that Delaware was one of two states to have bipolar disorder as its top query. Rhode Island was the other.
Six states – the greatest number in the study – recorded attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, as the most commonly searched disorder, according to the findings. This was followed by anxiety, the top search in five states.
What is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder affects about 4.4% of adults in the U.S. at some point in their lives, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. It’s characterized by periods of unusually intense emotions, also called mood episodes. These typically fluctuate between manic and depressive episodes, according to NIMH.
When experiencing a manic episode, a person may feel a high mood, racing thoughts, less need for sleep, jumpiness, ability to do many things at once, an inflated sense of personal importance and even psychosis. Depressive episodes often exemplify the opposite symptoms: feeling down and hopeless, tiredness, trouble concentrating and a lack of interest in things.
These episodes can last anywhere from a single day to multiple weeks, and often increase the likelihood of someone engaging in risky or even life-threatening behavior. Bipolar disorder also tends to co-occur with other mental illnesses such as substance use disorder, anxiety, ADHD and eating disorders, according to NIMH.
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What should I do if I think I have bipolar disorder?
While there’s nothing wrong with doing your own research on bipolar disorder if you think you or a loved one may have symptoms, experts say it’s important to speak to a healthcare provider to get help. They can connect you with a mental health professional who can evaluate and diagnose the disorder if applicable, or determine that the symptoms are caused by a different physical or mental illness.
Treatment for bipolar disorder is available, and typically involves medication and talk therapy, according to NIMH. Multiple free resources exist to connect people to treatment. However, if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, dial 988 immediately to get help.
How to get help
Delaware Hope Line: 833-9-HOPEDE for free 24/7 counseling, coaching and support, as well as links to mental health, addiction and crisis services. Resources can also be found on the Help is Here website.
NAMI Delaware HelpLine: 888-427-2643 for mental health treatment referrals on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. En español: 302-415-4356.
SAMHSA National Helpline: 800-662-HELP (4357) for free 24/7 substance abuse disorder treatment referral services. Treatment service locators are also available online at findtreatment.samhsa.gov or via text message by sending your ZIP code to 435748.
Send story tips or ideas to Hannah Edelman at [email protected]. For more reporting, follow them on X at @h_edelman.
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