Symptoms

Doctors now consider bipolar disorder as a spectrum disorder (or continuous range). That means the person is always in a particular level of the condition. Different levels include: severe depression, moderate depression, mild low mood, normal or balanced mood, hypomania and severe mania.

Source: National Institutes of Health

Symptoms of mania - the "high" of bipolar disorder

• Increased physical and mental activity and energy.
• Heightened mood, exaggerated optimism and self-confidence.
• Excessive irritability, aggressive behavior.
• Decreased need for sleep without feeling tired.
• Grandiose delusions, inflated sense of self-importance.
• Racing speech, racing thoughts, flight of ideas.
• Impulsiveness, poor judgment, distractibility.
• Reckless behavior.
• In the most severe cases, delusions and hallucinations.

Symptoms of depression in bipolar

• Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells.
• Changes in appetite and sleep patterns.
• Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety.
• Pessimism, indifference.
• Loss of energy, persistent lethargy.
• Feelings of guilt and worthlessness.
• Inability to concentrate, indecisiveness.
• Inability to enjoy pastimes or activities.
• Social withdrawal.
• Unexplained aches and pains.
• Thoughts of death or suicide.

Hypomania

A mild to moderate level of mania is called hypomania. The person who is in this state is not in severe mania and may simply feel good and more productive, rather than the energized state of severe mania. If left alone, hypomania may eventually become severe mania or even depression.

Psychosis

Severe episodes of mania or depression can include psychotic symptoms. People with bipolar may be mistakenly diagnosed as having schizophrenia, a mental illness with psychotic symptoms. These psychotic symptoms in a person with bipolar may include:

• Hearing, seeing or sensing things that aren't really there.
• False beliefs that aren't reasonable (delusions).
• Delusions of grandeur often during mania (thinking one is the President or has special powers).
• Delusions of guilt or worthlessness often during depression (believing one has done a crime).

Mixed bipolar state

Some people may have a mixed bipolar state, meaning they have symptoms of both mania and depression at the same time.

Symptoms include:

• Agitation.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Major changes in appetite.
• Psychosis.
• Thoughts about suicide.
• Feelings of sadness and hopelessness while at the same time feeling extremely energized.

Bipolar may be disguised as other things such as alcohol or drug abuse, problems at work or school and relationships issues.

More on Bipolar Disorder

In the Encyclopedia:

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.