Bipolar disorder is also known as manic-depressive illness. It is an illness that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, and activity levels. It makes it difficult in carry out day-to-day tasks. These moods include periods of extremely “up,” elated, and energized behavior. In addition, they also include very sad, “down,” or hopeless periods.
People with bipolar disorder experience periods of unusually intense emotion. They also have changes in sleep patterns and activity levels. These periods are called “mood episodes.” In other words, mood episodes are very different from the moods and behaviors that are typical for the person. Episodes can occur often or rarely. They can also last for days or months.
Examples of manic symptoms:
- Feel very “up,” “high,” or elated
- Have a lot of energy
- Have increased activity levels
- Feel “jumpy” or “wired”
- Have trouble sleeping
- More active than usual
- Talk really fast about a lot of different things
- Be agitated, irritable, or “touchy”
- Thoughts are going very fast
- Thinking they can do a lot of things at once
- Do risky things, like spend a lot of money
Examples of depression symptoms:
- Feel very sad and down or hopeless
- Have very little energy
- Decreased activity levels
- Have trouble sleeping
- Can’t enjoy anything things they used to
- Feel worried and empty
- Trouble concentrating
- Forget things a lot
- Eat too much or too little
- Feel tired or “slowed down”
- Think about death or suicide