The Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

The symptoms of someone suffering from bipolar disorder can differ from person to person. The disorder is primarily characterized by the severe high and low mood swings for which the disorder is named. Both the manic and depressive stages of bipolar disorder have distinct symptoms.

The Manic Stage

An incredible high is the key element in the manic stage of bipolar disorder. A person afflicted with the illness will experience extreme feelings of joy, happiness, and excitement. The person may have other symptoms as well. The person may switch suddenly from joy to anger or irritability. He may be restless, have rapid or incoherent speech, or act overly impulsive. The manic stage may also be characterized by a person’s making grand plans or plans that are simply unattainable. Drug and alcohol abuse may also be associated with the manic stage of the disorder.

A person experiencing mania may sometimes become psychotic. The person may have false beliefs or delusions. It is not possible to sway the person from these delusions, and he may see or hear things that are not present or happening. A person in the manic stages of bipolar disorder may also believe he is superhuman with special skills or powers, or that he is god-like.

The Depressive Stage

The symptoms a person experiences in the depressive stage of bipolar disorder are very similar to severe depression. This is the reason why many cases of bipolar disorder are misdiagnosed, because a person may be more likely to spend more time in the depressive stage than in the manic stage. Symptoms for the depressive stage include feeling sad, having no energy, or feeling worthless. The person may be unable to concentrate, may have uncontrollable periods of crying, or may experience suicidal thoughts. He may experience poor quality sleep and develop insomnia, or perhaps he may sleep too much.

No Patterns

The symptoms of bipolar disorder do not have any set patterns. A person may have three depressive cycles before he experiences a manic period. These cycles can last for weeks, months, or even years. The cycles also vary in severity from person to person. It is important to pursue a diagnosis after the initial appearance of symptoms in order to prevent these cycles from recurring.