Bipolar Disorder Indication mood swings, manic phase, suicide symptoms
The symptoms of bipolar disorder can hurt your job and school performance, damage your relationships, and disrupt your daily life. And although bipolar disorder is treatable, many people don’t recognize the warning signs and get the help they need. Bipolar disorder is a mental problem that causes rapid and large mood swings, ranging from depression to manic or a great excitement that is not normal. More than just a fleeting good or bad mood, the cycles of bipolar disorder last for days, weeks, or months.
Bipolar disorder is a mental problem that causes rapid and large mood swings, ranging from depression to manic
Some people alternate between extreme episodes of mania and depression, but most are depressed more often than they are manic. Mania may also be so mild that it goes unrecognized. People with bipolar disorder can also go for long stretches without symptoms. During a manic episode, a person might impulsively quit a job, charge up huge amounts on credit cards, or feel rested after sleeping 1 hours.
During a depressive episode, the same person might be too tired to get out of bed and full of self-loathing and hopelessness over being unemployed and in debt. The Journal of the American Medical Association calls the following symptoms as an indication of bipolar disorder. The symptoms vary widely in their pattern, severity, and frequency. Some people are more prone to either mania or depression:
Manic phase:
- Improved mood that is not normal
- Anger and feelings of irritability.
- Racing thoughts; jumping quickly from one idea to the next
- Talking and thinking very fast, Highly distractible, unable to concentrate
- Likes to switch subjects during conversation
- Acting recklessly without thinking about the consequences
- Tend to do things at high risk but also often makes the wrong decision.
- Feeling no need to sleep enough
Depression phase:
- Feeling very sad suddenly, lose interest in something that is very enjoyable.
- Inability to experience pleasure
- Feeling anxious, guilty, hopeless or cries.
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt and Thoughts of death or suicide
- Sudden weight change
- Tend to take illegal drugs.
- Often thought of suicide.
People with bipolar depression also tend to move and speak slowly, sleep a lot, and gain weight. People experiencing a manic phase often talk a mile a minute, sleep very little, and are hyperactive. They may also feel like they’re all-powerful, invincible, or destined for greatness.
Most people with bipolar depression are not helped by antidepressants. In fact, there is a risk that antidepressants can make bipolar disorder worse triggering mania or hypomania, causing rapid cycling between mood states, or interfering with other mood stabilizing drugs.