Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong mental health condition known for causing significant shifts in one’s mood. These mood swings include emotional highs and lows. Highs are known as mania or hypomania. While emotional lows result in depression. This depression may result in feelings of sadness or hopelessness and the loss of pleasure in most activities. When the mood shifts to hypomania (which is less extreme than mania) or mania, you may feel euphoric. This can include an excessive amounts of energy, talkativeness, decreased need for sleep, and even irritability.
Bipolar episodes can occur multiple times per year or less rarely. If left untreated, bipolar disorder cause disturbances to sleep, judgment, thinking, behavior, and overall quality of life. There are several very effective medications available to treat bipolar that can help stabilize your mood and allow you to live a healthy, productive life.
Common signs and symptoms of a depressive episode seen in bipolar disorder include:
Feelings of sadness, emptiness, and/or hopelessness
Loss of interest or lack of pleasure in most activities
Slowed or restless behavior
Changes in appetite result in a loss or gain in weight
Sleep issues that can include insomnia or sleeping too much (hypersomnia)
Problems thinking clearly, concentrating, or indecisiveness
Loss of energy and feelings of fatigue
Suicidal thoughts
Common signs and symptoms of mania or hypomania seen in bipolar disorder include:
Abnormally upbeat, jumpy or wired
Excessive energy, excitement, or feeling euphoric
Inflated self-esteem and grandiosity
Decreased need for sleep
Increased talkativeness, rapid speech and racing thoughts
Being easily distracted
Impulsivity and reckless behavior — this could include spending large amounts of money, quitting ones job or participating in risky sexual behavior