Bipolar Disorder

Formerly known as manic depression, bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes abnormal mood swings that can interfere with your ability to function normally. You may have periods of regular moods between your manic and depressive episodes. 

There are three types of bipolar disorder. Bipolar I disorder causes extreme shifts in mood between depressed and manic episodes that last for two weeks or more. It’s usually diagnosed during a manic episode that causes dangerous behaviors.

Bipolar II also causes severe mood swings, but instead of manic episodes, you have hypomanic episodes, which produce less severe, but still disruptive symptoms. Bipolar II is often diagnosed during a depressive episode. 

Cyclothymic disorder is the mildest type of bipolar disorder. Your periods of depression and hypomania may last longer, but the symptoms are not as severe or disabling as with bipolar I or II. 

If you have bipolar disorder, you have different symptoms depending on whether you’re in a manic or depressive mood. 

Some of the common symptoms of a manic episode include:

• Feeling euphoric with exaggerated self-esteem or grandiosity
• High energy levels
• Not sleeping
• Feeling jumpy or agitated
• Being more talkative than usual
• Having racing thoughts
• Trying to do too many things at once
• Engaging in risky or self-destructive activities

However, if you’re in a depressed episode, you may have symptoms including:

• Feelings of intense sadness, despair, worthlessness, or guilt
• Low energy levels
• Changed sleep patterns
• Changed appetite
• Loss of pleasure in previously enjoyed activities
• Thoughts of self-harm or suicide

If you have bipolar II or cyclothymic disorder, your manic symptoms are less extreme and disruptive than with bipolar I.