Know what's going on

One of the most important things to know about bipolar disorder is how to recognize signs or symptoms. There are different signs and symptoms for the different types of bipolar episodes: mania, depression and mixed episodes.

"I have this wonderful feeling of being able to do anything. It's as though all this energy is coursing through me. I don't need to sleep. I accomplish so much. But then this feeling vanishes and I find myself becoming extremely irritable."

How to identify an episode of mania

In the early part of a mania episode the mood slowly begins to move upward. Many people experience pleasant and even joyful feelings at first and may not think anything is wrong. In fact, they may even feel better than usual. However, as time goes on symptoms become more severe and more unpleasant. Feelings of joy may be replaced with feelings of anger. The following are common signs that someone may be experiencing an episode of mania:

• Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
• Excessive happiness or joyous mood (sometimes called euphoric)
• Extreme irritability or anger
• Racing thoughts that jump from one idea to another
• Talking very quickly
• Trouble concentrating and paying attention
• Needing little sleep
• Unrealistic feeling of personal power to accomplish any task (sometimes called grandiosity)
• Bad decision-making, such as spending too much money or driving way too fast
• Increased sexual drive
• Increased use of alcohol or illegal drugs
• Denial that anything is wrong

"I was feeling so good, but now I don't have the energy to get out of bed in the morning. People tell me to just snap out of it, but I can't. I feel so sad, but I don't know why."

How to identify an episode of depression

When someone experiences an episode of depression they usually know right away that something is wrong. They feel that everything in life is much more difficult than usual. Common signs include the following:

• Intense sadness or despair
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• Loss of energy, feeling "slowed down"
• Loss of interest in activities
• Sleeping too much or too little, or difficulty staying asleep
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
• Social isolation
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Suicide attempts

"One minute I'll be on top of the world and the next minute I feel like I'm at rock bottom."

Other symptoms that can occur with bipolar disorder

Sometimes people with bipolar disorder experience a combination of symptoms of mania and depression. When this happens almost daily for at least a week a person is experiencing a mixed episode. Also, in some cases of mania or depression episodes, an individual can experience psychotic symptoms. Common psychotic symptoms are hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or otherwise sensing the presence of things not actually there) and delusions (false, strongly held beliefs not influenced by logical reasoning or explained by a person's usual cultural concepts).

When bipolar disorder is not treated

Without treatment, many people with bipolar disorder have episodes of mania or hypomania that swing back and forth from episodes of depression. It is difficult to predict when or what types of episodes will appear. Even if the symptoms go away they can return months or even years later if the person is not being treated

With proper treatment, most people have periods when they have no symptoms. However, some people may continue to have milder "breakthrough" symptoms. You can effectively manage bipolar disorder by learning your symptoms and getting treatment at the first sign of an episode.

Find out if you or a loved one has bipolar disorder

If any of the signs described above seem familiar, take our short
questionnaire to help determine if they could be caused by bipolar disorder.