Bipolar disorder or manic depression causes serious shifts in mood, energy, thinking, and behavior—from the highs of mania on one extreme, to the lows of depression on the other. More than just a fleeting good or bad mood, the cycles of bipolar disorder last for days, weeks, or months. And unlike ordinary mood swings, the mood changes of bipolar disorder are so intense that they interfere with your ability to function.
SYMPTOMS
Bipolar Symptoms
Bipolar disorder varies among different people. The symptoms diverge extensively in their pattern, severity, and frequency. Some people are more prone to either mania or depression, while others alternate equally between the two types of episodes. Some have frequent mood disruptions, while others experience only a few over a lifetime.
There are four types of mood occurrences in bipolar disorder: mania, hypomania, depression, and mixed episodes. Each type of bipolar disorder mood episode has a unique set of symptoms.
Mania Symptoms
In the manic phase of bipolar disorder, feelings of heightened energy, creativity, and euphoria are common. People experiencing a manic episode often talk a recklessly and profligately, scarcely sleep, and are hyperactive. They may also feel like they’re omnipotent, impregnable, or destined for prominence.
Although mania inaugurates with delightful sensations, it has a tendency to spiral out of control. People often behave uncontrollably during a manic episode: gambling away savings, engaging in inappropriate sexual activity, or making irrational business investments, for example. They may also become angry, irritable, and aggressive—picking fights, lashing out when others don’t go along with their plans, and blaming anyone who criticizes their behavior. Some even become delusional or start hearing voices.
Depression Symptoms
In the past, bipolar depression was amalgamated in with regular depression. But a mounting reservoir of research