Bipolar Disorder

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness marked by extreme shifts in mood. Symptoms can include an extremely elevated mood called mania. They can also include episodes of depression. Bipolar disorder is also known as bipolar disease or manic depression.

People with bipolar disorder may have trouble managing everyday life tasks at school or work, or maintaining relationships. There’s no cure, but there are many treatment options available that can help to manage the symptoms. 

What are the signs of bipolar disorder?

The signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder are varied. Many of these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions, making this condition hard to diagnose.

The signs of bipolar disorder can generally be divided into those for mania, and those for depression. 

signs of mania

Mania can cause other symptoms as well, but seven of the key signs of this phase of bipolar disorder are:

1. feeling overly happy or “high” for long periods of time
2. having a decreased need for sleep
3. talking very fast, often with racing thoughts
4. feeling extremely restless or impulsive
5. becoming easily distracted
6. having overconfidence in your abilities.

signs of depression

Like mania, depression can cause other symptoms as well, but here are seven of the key signs of depression from bipolar disorder:

1. feeling sad or hopeless for long periods of time
2. withdrawing from friends and family
3. losing interest in activities that you once enjoyed
4. having a significant change in appetite.

Bipolar disorder types and symptoms

There are four common types of bipolar disorder, but two of these types are most often diagnosed.

Bipolar I

This classic form of bipolar disorder used to be called “manic depression.” In bipolar I, manic phases are clear. The person’s behavior and shifts in mood are extreme, and their behavior quickly escalates until they’re out of control. The person may end up in the emergency room if left untreated.

To have bipolar I, a person must have manic episodes. In order for an event to be considered a manic episode, it must:

• include shifts in mood or behaviors that are unlike the person’s usual behavior
• be present most of the day, nearly every day during the episode
• last at least one week, or be so extreme that the person needs immediate hospital care

People with bipolar I typically have depressive episodes as well, but a depressive episode isn’t required to make the bipolar I diagnosis.

Bipolar II

Bipolar II is considered more common than bipolar I. It also involves depressive symptoms, but its manic symptoms are much less severe and are called hypomanic symptoms.