Bipolar disorder is a serious mental health disorder, and it can affect virtually every aspect of life. Your work, school, personal, and professional relationships may be strained at best and irreparable at worst without a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Although the exact number of people who suffer from this illness is still largely unknown, children, adolescents, and adults may be affected, and the symptoms may have a genetic component and present differently in men and women. As a general rule, however, a checklist of bipolar symptoms would typically include:
- Mood swings
- Mania
- Depression
Regardless of intensity, mood swings may be prevalent, and people with bipolar disorder fluctuate from feelings of mania to feelings of depression. Depression is the dominant mood for some people, whereas others are more often manic with a few episodes of depression from time to time. For individuals that experience frequent shifts in mood, they are said to have a rapid cycling form of the disorder. Milder mood swings are referred to as cyclothymia, and these fluctuations are not as severe as the fluctuations that typically occur in full blown bipolar conditions.
Symptoms of Mania
Manic depression and bipolar disorder are considered to be the identical mood disorder, and the highs of mania may be as equally disturbing as the low points associated with depression. Individuals in manic stages are beyond merely feeling enthusiastic, and may exhibit behaviors that may endanger their physical, emotional, and financial health. Manic symptoms often include a mix of:
- Extreme happiness
- Excessive irritability
- Racing thoughts
- Abnormally high energy levels
- Extreme fearlessness
A List of symptoms is a useful resource
An individual in the midst of a manic episode may be happier or more irritable than seems appropriate, and this may lead to jumping from one idea to another in thought as well as actions. Combined with a high level of energy, a manic individual may attempt dangerous or improbable activities, such as spending inordinate amounts of money, driving recklessly, or engaging in otherwise risky behaviors alone or with others. If left unchecked, the extreme sociability that may be present during a manic phase may lead to genuinely devastating outcomes.
Symptoms of Hypomania
Although not as severe as true mania, this more subtle mood may be worth noting, particularly if it is unfounded and lasts for an extended period of time. Depending upon how it manifests, hypomania may actually seem like a good thing. Symptoms of hypomania include:
- Heightened good feelings
- Changes in productivity
- Lowered inhibitions
For most people, generally feeling positive and being productive are wonderful things. Being outgoing and showing an interest in the surrounding environment may even be goals for an individual. For people truly suffering from bipolar disorder, the concern is that these mild feelings may develop into mania or depression.
Symptoms of Depression
There are many different types of depression, but being clinically depressed goes beyond typical feelings of sadness. Similar to the dangerous behaviors that may result during a manic phase, depression may be equally distressing. Bipolar depressive symptoms often include:
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Sadness
- Uncontrolled crying
- Decreased energy levels
- Changes in appetite
- Excess sleeping
For someone suffering from bipolar depression, the feelings of anxiousness and irritability often show up in the form of a general inability to make even the simplest decisions. Crying out of proportion to what is actually occurring and excess sleeping may be also be accompanied by marked changes in personal hygiene habits. A depressed individual may gain or lose weight, and overwhelming feelings may include thoughts about dying or suicide.