Spotlight on Bipolar Disorder Symptoms

Quick Take

Bipolar disorder is characterized by two major sets of symptoms. Read on to learn more about these and how they affect a person.

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Manic Episodes and Bipolar Disorder Symptoms

Bipolar disorder is a condition that generally swings from an elevated emotional state to periods of depression that may be deep and long lasting. Each phase has a separate set of symptoms. A manic phase can be identified by the following signs and symptoms:

An excessively elevated mood that may include irritation and hyperactivity
An inflated sense of self importance
Rapid speech and agitated mannerisms
A decreased need for sleep and rest
Poor performance in a work or school situation
Easily distracted and moves from one thing to another
Loses rationality and becomes involved in high risk activities that give momentary pleasure. These include wild shopping sprees and sexual escapades
Indulging in alcohol or drugs with little or no restraint
Delusions and a sense of being disconnected from reality

Depressive Episodes and Bipolar Disorder Symptoms

After a manic episode, a person with bipolar disorder will generally descend into a state of depression that can last for an extended period of time. A depressive episode is characterized by the following bipolar disorder symptoms:

Feelings of sadness and hopelessness
Anxiety and worry
Guilt
Fear of the future and potential disasters
Sleep problems including insomnia, too much sleep and nightmares
Inability to concentrate and make even simple decisions
Change in eating habits and possible loss of appetite
Lack of confidence
Aches and pains that cannot be traced to a specific cause
Lack of interest in work or school and decreased performance levels
Suicidal thoughts or attempts to commit suicide

General Bipolar Disorder Symptoms

As well as the symptoms of mania and depression, there are several other signs that a person may be suffering from bipolar disorder. These include the following:

Some people find their bipolar disorder is influenced by the seasons. There is no set pattern as to what seasons are associated with the phase the person is experiencing.
While mood swings are a part of bipolar disorder, some people tend more to have more depressive or more manic episodes.
Some cases of bipolar disorder are characterized by rapid mood shifts. These shifts may occur within the space of a few hours or they may be spaced out with no less than four in a year.
In severe cases of bipolar disorder, a manic or depressive episode can develop into psychosis. This is a detachment from reality where the person may suffer from delusions and hallucinations.

Bipolar disorder symptoms vary from person to person and in some cases, a mixed episode may occur where symptoms of depression and mania occur together. A person may not be diagnosed in the early stages of bipolar disorder but if psychosis develops, medical intervention is necessary and the condition will usually be diagnosed.