Bipolar Disorder Signs, Symptoms & Treatment

What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness within the brain. More than 5 million Americans have bipolar disorder. It consists of mood swings which involves major highs and major lows. There are two types of bipolar disorder. Type one is where the person experiences manic episodes, and type 2 is where the person experience hypomanic episodes and depression. Bipolar disorder is also called manic depressive disorder which was the old terminology which we are not using anymore.

What causes bipolar disorder?
The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown, but there are several factors which contribute. Some include genetic predisposition (it runs in families), abnormalities of the brain, a chemical imbalance in the brain, stress, abuse, psychological trauma - all these factors contribute to either causing or putting someone at risk of developing bipolar disorder.

What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
A person with bipolar disorder is going through a manic episode, they may show many symptoms such as:
their mood is either irritable, agitated, or they're elated or euphoric.
They're easily distractible
They don't sleep but have a lot of energy
They are unable to focus
They may display grandiose and risky behavior
They feel like they're on the top of the board
They may be involved in more compulsive behavior like using more drugs or alcohol

When a person with bipolar disorder is experiencing major lows, that may show itself as:
Their mood is either depressed or hopeless
They are unable to concentrate
Their energy level is down
They have increased guilt
They are unable to sleep or they may sleep an excessive amount
Their appetite may go down and they lose weight
Their appetite may increase and they gain a lot of weight
They can have suicidal thoughts

Are their complications of bipolar disorder if left untreated?
If a person with bipolar disorder doesn’t get treatment on time they are more likely to use alcohol and drugs, more likely to get into legal problems, have difficulty coping at work or losing their job, grades go down, have relationship problems, and other similar issues. If they continue to experience bipolar symptoms without treatment, they are at the highest risk of either hurting themselves or others.

Where can a person get help?
If you have bipolar disorder and are experiencing these symptoms, please call your primary care physician, counselor, therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist. If you have suicidal thoughts or are thinking of hurting others please call 911.

More CHI Health resources:
Reach out anytime for help by calling (402) 717-HOPE.

[rexchuchu]

This is my highs, I feel great wake up happy. Go to the gym. Feel great think about getting a great body. Want to visit ppl great atitude at work. Laughing, talking to random ppl. On my lows, i wake up happy, then bam.feel sad, made suicidal look for attention by making stuff up. Get mad at friends for no reason. Look at life as hopeless and feel worthless. Avoid ppl.

[moedalgarny]

my sweet beloved mom have this disorder..it get hardship some times in home but i started to learn about this disorder more and more so it can help me handel and take care of my mom..

[karicuepul]

I go from feeling happy secure of myself. Suddenly I feel like I’m invincible and I get these moments of hyperactivity where I want to dance and just do crazy over the top things that I normally wouldn’t do. After the hyperactivity, I endure the horrifying stage of depression. No one knows. I literally suffer in silence. I’m afraid to seek help. I don’t want to be prescribed medication. Or even worse be labeled “bipolar.”

[danjakeway]

I failed graduate school and the love of my life left me at the same time in 2010. It usually takes years to get the right cocktail of meds, so don't give up if you still feel depressed from the first round of guessing on meds.

[yuinurahilyon]

Every single day... in silence I worry, and fear the future. Emotions like anger. embarrassment, depression, and etc... is slowly eating me away. I don’t know how long I can keep this up. I am so paranoid to the point of exhausting myself from these thoughts. I just want to isolate myself from my family and I just want to sleep without waking up. Every week I would feel a rush of emotions coming inside my brain, unable to think properly... unable to calm myself... unable to have privacy in my life... it feels hard to breathe... and I am slowly getting eating away by negative thoughts that I would never want to think of. I do not hate myself but I hate how my environment keeps bothering me of nonsensical bullshit just because they are bored. They do not care about my own privacy just so long as they are happy... even if you ask me to meditate I can’t even meditate peacefully... I keep myself in silence despite these emotions, if I even show the anger of emotion or annoyance then they would judge me... telling me that I am wrong... life is really a curse if you have someone with you. Hahahaha!

[baronsaturday]

Thanks Dr. Qadri. That's the best explanation of my illness I've heard in my life. I'm bipolar and I've been treated for it for over 30 years. I was diagnosed as a teenager. It's been really hard to describe to my friends and family what this is and what it's like. I'll share it with my friends. I wish you would add that not everyone is alike. As in people like me who never was interested in drugs or alcohol, got decent grades, graduated both undergraduate and graduate university on time in communications and library science with flying colors, kept the same job for 23 years, never flunked school and am an award winning writer. I do have a good productive life and I wish more people would know that that is possible with this disorder. That in spite of a disability, it is possible to be a good member of society. It's hard. It sucks having this disorder. But I can do positive things. I've found that every bipolar patient is different. It seems to me that some people are mild and mellow like me and for others it's a lot worse. The disease is way more intense for them. I have good days and bad days like everyone else. It just feels different from everyone else's problems. But I'm ranting. Typical.

[youarehorriblymistaken]

My mom makes me this way I don’t know what to do

[robb]

I honestly think this is the perfect explanation of BPD

[armancha]

Thank you so much for this information. My wife had a 4/5 day hypo-manic (exactly as described) episode 3 months ago and we got through it while her work also had her speak with a therapist. She is having another episode this week; I am looking at how to find answers and what questions to follow up with. last time it was a little over 4 days, she expressed she had "forced episodes" to scare off people or groups who were being mean in high school. but 4 months ago was the first time i had seen it in our 12 years together. She is on day 4 today and just trying to figure out what to look for and questions to ask. But, I haven't noticed the depression side but maybe an occasional quiet/ sad day with regular functioning.

[sathidevi]

Ankit, I am very much fine.I am taking Ayurvedic medication, Aswagandhaadi for sleep.I am getting 5 hrs sleep.For last 2 months, I am on Major High.I am doing yoga, brisk walking etc.Whatever the mood, I am adjusting.Life is a challenge, face it.Nobody will understand us.

[jeremytucker]

Nail on the head. I hate it when you have some people calling themselves bipolar as if its some sort of club you can join, ....If you REALLY have bipolar disorder then your lifestyle will show it. It is very difficult being successful with a normal 9-5 job having Bipolar 1 disorder, because your job performance will not be consistent. Your focus will be in and out to the point where you can't focus for long periods of time. You will feel fatigued in a matter of hours or really energetic for a whole day or for moments during the day. Your appetite will be constantly up and down, causing your weight to fluctuate to being overweight or underweight. A true bipolar person cannot maintain a proper weight balance. This medical professional hit the nail on the head regarding a REAL PERSON dealing with bipolarism.

[joshuabates]

I have met this man and he was amazingly kind to me and others around me. I really appreciated his care. I benefited from it a lot!

[Shortnsweetmel]

I asked my parents saying I might have it and they laughed and said I'm acting dumb

[Muuhinatotto]

after experiencing severe depression I keep watching graphic contents. Used to not watch those kind of things because it’s disturbing but now　i'm able to watch them without being scared. My depression is caused mostly by emotional abuse and not physical abuse but I was definitely severely mistreated for years . When I’m watching graphic contents I have empathy I feel like a psycho but I feel " not alone" and by feeling empathy i'm able to feel like i'm still a human afterall. On the other hand when watching happy people it just makes me sad, jealous, disturbed, lonely.
Sometimes while I’m watching those graphic videos it reminds me of what my mothers once said to me, that was “ there’s more people suffering than you” I was said that when I was extremely seeking for help and suicidal in front of her. Maybe I’m watching graphic content because I was said that by my mother. She drove off to work after that and I was left sitting on top of a fence 3 meters from the ground . I still regret not committing suicide, I always have the thought, I’m never going to be able to make my mother regret if I don’t commit suicide.

[sathidevi]

I have deadly combination of Diabetes, knee pain & Bipolar.I keep myself happy.It is a challenge, dears

[gratemind]

Atleast we have internet to know these things.🙏 Thanks to those who worked hard to make this happen...

[workingman]

Very well explained and pretty much dead on the spot.

I was happy to be diagnosed and here's why. Once diagnosed those bag of bricks I was toatin around no longer existed. I was happy to know that all those burned bridges, failed businesses and marriages, traffic rage incidents, and drinking was not all my doing. I jumped up and moved to another country and eventually got deported. My first wife wanted to buy a house and was SHOCKED at my credit and repossessed vehicles I had on my report. Just crazy spending habits. Had packages coming just about everyday. I was just ordering stuff that I thought I needed in the moment but only used it once or twice and then it ended up in random places around the house with no use. I just got highs off of getting packages either for myself or others I made purchases for. This behavior just springs up and happens for a few days to about a week at any given time.

Once I got on meds, (Lamotrigine and others) I started changing my life pattern for the better. Keeping myself and my surroundings organized and clean. No longer out late at night chasing anything walking around in a short skirt for a quick fix. That was a lot of nights. One woman was never enough. I needed encounters to get me off. I am now Able to hold a decent conversation at any given time without spooking the other person out due to my jumping around with different topics etc. I'm happy because I can be what I call a somewhat normal human being in position to make clear choices instead of impulsivity cloudy judgement based choices.

[exotic_star]

I am such a bad daughter. My mom just told me now that I'm 11 I'm in tears i so sad that I made it worse for my mom. :( I'm still am crying

[alokkumar-wuvp]

Feels like crying...I need a tight hug.

[christopherwalters]

Hmm I love being bipolar. It keeps life interesting. I’m great at work until I encounter a bad boss. Can’t sustain relationships for shit. But with some self control and putting myself in situations that are bipolar friendly I’ve been able to have a edge. The depression and stuff doesn’t bother me because I know it will pass. I also need to stay away from things like big crowds and social media.