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Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder



The signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder can last between a few days to months at a time. Symptoms differ from manic to depressive episodes.

Common signs and symptoms of manic episodes include:

• Intense feelings of optimism
• Feeling ‘high’
• Elevated mood
• Hyperactivity
• Extreme irritability
• High self-esteem
• Lack of sleep but no drop in energy levels
• Sleeping too much
• Talking rapidly
• Switching from one topic to another
• Thoughts that are incoherent
• Easily distracted
• Inability to concentrate
• Impulsiveness
• Loss of self-esteem
• Lack of judgment
• Lack of self-control
• Reckless behavior
• Hallucinations and delusions (in severe manic cases)
  

Common symptoms of bipolar depression include:

• Extreme feelings of sadness, emptiness or hopelessness
• Irritability
• Guilt
• Unable to experience or express any pleasure
• Constant feeling of tiredness and lethargy
• Mental sluggishness
• Difficulty making decisions
• Changes in weight
• Loss of appetite or overeating
• Disturbed sleep patterns
• Lack of concentration
• Problems with memory
• Thought of suicide and death
  

There are also mixed episodes that occur in some types of bipolar disorder. The symptoms of which include:

• Mania and depression
• Agitation
• Anxiety attacks
• Insomnia
• Racing thoughts
• Distractibility
• High-risk of suicide