Pressured Speech In Bipolar Disorder – Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Ranjeet KumarReviewed by Mr. Ranjeet Kumar Sr. Audiologist, Speech Therapist & Cochlear Implant Specialist, BASLP on May 6th, 2020 written by Editorial Team

The occasional experiences or thoughts provide a pressing desire to share the events, news, and gossips with your close friends or relatives.

It is a natural phenomenon that we want to share our experience and exciting news with our peers, groups, or friends.

If you need any assistance or have a question about Pressured Speech in Bipolar Disorder, you can consult our HearingSol experts with your problem, feel free to call us on +91-9327901950. We are always here to help you.

But you have to observe if someone is experiencing this urge to talk in an uncontrolled and excessive manner, then it is indicating a particular concern. You can call this concern as Pressurised Speech in Bipolar Disorder.

Well, it is a surprising fact that expressing your views excessively can be a symptom of a disorder. Let’s cover the overall aspects of Pressured Speech in Bipolar Disorder in detail.


What Is Pressured Speech In Bipolar Disorder?

Pressured speech is a common disorder in people having Bipolar Disorder. This is a symptom of several mental health conditions altogether.

There is an extreme need to share thoughts, ideas, or comments if a person is having pressured speech. It’s considered as a part of mania.

The words will spill out rapidly which may be jumbled. And doesn’t stop at any appropriate intervals.

Pressured speech refers to a compulsive or extreme urge to talk and is very difficult to control. It is not a disease or disorder but itself a symptom of bipolar disorder.

Due to such a rapid and even frantic speed during the pressured speech, it becomes difficult to understand what is being said.

Therefore carrying out conversations is not possible with people with pressured speech. This is so because the person with pressured speech doesn’t stop long enough and another person is unable to understand and speak.

Bipolar Disorder Symptoms

Some of the potential causes of pressured speech include schizophrenia, some forms of anxiety, dementia, stroke as well as bipolar depression.

Some other underlying causes may be the use of certain drugs, such as cocaine, methamphetamine, or even phencyclidine (PCP).

In all the cases mentioned above, pressured speech may be present with some or all of the following. The symptoms to watch out for in pressured speech are as follows:

  • The rapid speech is difficult to understand due to lack of pause.
  • Speech seems to be louder than the appropriate volume for the situation.
  • Inability to stop speaking and to allow others to speak their mind.
  • Speech occurrence about inappropriate things at inappropriate times at work, home, school, etc.
  • Having a sense of urgency to say about your thoughts.
  • An unclear or disorganized thought process while speaking.
  • Speaking out numerous ideas at once having no connection to each other
  • Includes rhymes as well as jokes while speaking.
  • Difficult to convey your thoughts as they are coming too fast.
  • Irritability, agitation, jumpiness, and racing thoughts.

While talking to people with pressured speech, it may not possible to stop them from talking or slow down their speed. This episode may continue for at least an hour or more.

Cycles of mania and depressive moods are experienced by people with bipolar mania. The time required by an individual to cycle through the moods varies from person to person.

symptoms of bipolar disorder

Some of the additional symptoms of bipolar disorder while the period of mania may include:

  • Inflated self-worth or delusions of grandeur
  • Reckless or risky behavior
  • Decreased need or ability to sleep i.e. insomnia
  • Elevated mood
  • Exaggerated optimism
  • Feeling anxious or jittery
  • Not able to focus
  • Restlessness

Bipolar Disorder Causes

Pressured speech is the ultimate result of rapid thoughts, mania, or a manic episode as is not a disease or disorder in itself. Rather, it’s a symptom of some underlying disorder.

Bipolar can be a result of any physical change in the brain or it may be genetic. This means you may be more likely to have it if any of your close relatives has bipolar mania.

It is unlikely for a person with bipolar disorder to experience any issues related to the pressured speech during their depressive cycle. The brain can usually prioritize thoughts based on their importance to the situation.

A person having bipolar disorder may face difficulty while processing these thoughts. This means irrelevant thoughts may appear pressing, as soon as they enter the mind.

People having bipolar disorder spend most of their time thinking about unrelated things. They even experience an enormous number of thoughts at once.

Some people having bipolar depression are more prone to hyperactivity during the cycles of mania. These thoughts arrive faster along with increased intensity.

It is hard to tell the people around them, about their feeling and emotions they are going through.

The person may feel pressured to get the thoughts out, as quickly as possible, and share what is on their mind. These outpouring of thoughts results in pressured speech.


Pressured Speech Treatment

As pressured speech is a symptom and not a condition itself, it is important to address its root cause. It can’t be treated or cured directly.

Pressured speech is a symptom of mania which is usually associated with bipolar mania. Therefore, the doctor usually focuses on treating bipolar depression.

Pressured speech and bipolar disorder, both are characterized as mental illnesses and should be treated by a psychiatrist. A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who is specialized in mental health conditions.

In the case of bipolar disorder, a person may experience some difficulty getting a diagnosis. It’s not uncommon for a person with bipolar disorder to be treated by several different doctors before getting correctly diagnosed.

Once diagnosed successfully, then the person can learn to manage their condition on their own. This can be done with a combination of medication and psychotherapy. These treatments are used depending on the symptoms and needs of the person.

To treat pressure speech, the bipolar disorder must be treated. So following are some various methods to treat bipolar disorder:

1. Bipolar Disorder Medications

The main way to manage bipolar disorder and its symptoms, including pressured speech, is to take your prescribed medications regularly on time.

Basically, there are three types of medications to help treat bipolar disorder. These medications can help in reducing or eliminating pressured speech. The medications prescribed by your doctor may include:

  • Antipsychotics, such as lithium carbonate
  • Mood stabilizers, such as valproic acid or lithium
  • Antidepressants, which are used the least
  • Anti-anxiety medications

You may be prescribed one medication or a combination of more than one. It depends on your symptoms as well as the underlying cause.

2. Bipolar Disorder Psychotherapy

A person with bipolar disorder should undergo counseling, as a regular part of their treatment. The key to success for a person with bipolar disorder is the counseling component of the treatment.

Similarly, a stable and supportive home environment directly affects the overall likelihood of success of treatment for a person with bipolar mania.

Psychotherapy will help reduce and better manage the symptoms of bipolar depression, including pressured speech. Your psychotherapy may include:

  • stabilize your daily tasks and rhythms
  • cognitive behavioral therapy
  • family therapy

3. Alternative Treatments

In some of the mood disorders, natural supplements, as well as alternative treatments, are used to complement medications and ongoing therapy.

However, it is yet not proved in any research that these alternatives can help in treating bipolar depression.

Before trying any natural or alternative treatment for the bipolar symptoms, consult your doctor. As some of the supplements may interfere with medications or increase their side effects.


Other Associated Conditions With Pressured Speech

Pressured speech can also be a symptom of other conditions besides bipolar mania. Pressured Speech can be a potential symptom for many disorders associated with periods of mania.

This mental disorder has an association with a breakdown of the connectors between thoughts, emotions, as well as behaviors.

Pressured speech can be a symptom of various conditions which include:

  • Bipolar disorder, the conditions associated with pressured speech
  • Autism, when coupled with bipolar disorder
  • Anxiety, with manic episodes or bipolar disorder
  • Other mental health conditions having manic episodes
  • Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia patients sometimes experience delusions and even withdrawals from reality. They get jumbled thoughts that produce the symptoms, such as pressured speech.

Some other disorders associated with pressured speech include:

  • Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): The condition makes it difficult to focus and be organized in thoughts and actions. People having ADHD may experience frantic or fast-paced thinking, which can result in pressured speech.
  • Anxiety: This condition may cause a person to experience pressured speech if their anxiety results in being unable to explain something quickly. In response to the situation, their thoughts become rapid, uncontrollable.
  • Drug use: This habit may result in symptoms of pressured speech. Drugs responsible for a pressured speech include stimulants, such as cocaine.

These disorders often require additional treatment to help a person manage their symptoms.


Complications of Pressured Speech

Pressured speech considered to be one of the most difficult symptoms of bipolar mania. The reason for this is, it’s difficult to control or stop when it happens.

The fact is that pressured speech can be due to a variety of potential disorders. These complications may vary widely among individuals.

It may have wide-ranging repercussions or complications in all aspects of life but none of them are as significant. However, the underlying cause of this may have great implications affecting a person’s overall health and well-being.

The likeliness of experiencing periods of low self-esteem is more in a person with bipolar depression. Additionally, they are more likely to have suicidal tendencies or risk violent actions.

In such cases, temporary hospitalization may be necessary. The following are some situations or place with the complications of pressured speech.

1. At School

A person with pressured speech might interrupt teachers and take over the direction of the class. It becomes really difficult or impossible for the teacher to continue teaching in the class.

Out of irritation, she may remove the child from the class and give punishment, and it sometimes results in an inability to continue in a normal school atmosphere.

2. At Home

Pressured speech can affect the relationships and also those the person has relationships with. This may be due to their frequent mood changes. Regular communication with them is difficult and sometimes gets impossible.

Stress and frustration are common if you live with someone having pressured speech. Break down of communication, sometimes leads to break down relationships as well.

3. At Work

The symptoms of pressured speech can show up at an inappropriate time. Such as in work situations like work meetings, clients or customer interactions, and interacting with coworkers.

The conditions are so disruptive in the workplace that it may lead to disciplinary actions and even losing a job. Such situations may also affect a person’s ability to maintain a steady career or job.


Outlook

Pressured speech is pretty manageable. Only if you stick to the treatment plan bipolar disorder, set out by your consulting doctor and psychotherapist.

The main challenge is that as soon as they start feeling better, many people irregular with their medications and counseling sessions.

This is so because they no longer feel the need for it. However, it’s important to continue your medications and therapy sessions even if you start feeling better.

If you require any adjustment in the treatment, then consult your doctor. Change your treatment only after the approval by a medical professional overseeing your care.

If you need any assistance or have a question about Pressured Speech in Bipolar Disorder, you can consult our HearingSol experts with your problem, feel free to call us on +91-9327901950. We are always here to help you.


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