Bipolar Disorder Symptoms Uncovered

Bipolar is a disease of the brain that causes abnormal brain chemistry. It affects mood, energy level and basic function. This serious medical condition can be severe enough to hamper a person's every day functioning abilities. Bipolar disorder symptoms are most commonly referred to as manic and mania. These are extreme moods that are either depressive (manic) or euphoric (mania). Each pole is an extreme and both have distinct bipolar symptoms that accompany them.

Symptoms of Bipolar – Depression

Depression is the most common mood of bipolar disorder symptoms. It will look somewhat similar to deep depression however; there are a few notable differences. Symptoms of bipolar depression differ from classic depression in that it is accompanied by extremely low energy. A person who is bipolar and depressed will noticeably speak slower and sleep quite a bit. They are also more likely to suffer psychotic depression, another of the symptoms of bipolar disorder. Psychotic depression is a condition where the person has lost all sense of reality.

If you or a family member think that you could be suffering from this disorder, you will want to be on the look out for some of these basic symptoms. Bipolar depression will often be characterized by listlessness, deep abiding sadness, low energy or activity and restless irritability. As the depression progresses you could see or feel guilt, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, confusion, worry and anxiety. Anyone of these symptoms of bipolar depression should be taken seriously and treated by a medical professional.

An important factor to note is that bipolar symptoms may vary between people and age groups. Adolescent bipolar symptoms are different to that in adults.

Bipolar Symptoms – Bipolar Mania

The mania side of bipolar symptoms may seem good at first, everything is great and you feel on top of the world. Many times however people will begin to get out of control and behave in a reckless manner. Some common activities include extreme gambling, sexual promiscuity, or making risky business deals. Aggression and irritability are also common bipolar disorder symptoms. A sufferer may lash out or pick fights with those who do not agree with them and be critical of those who mention the irrationality of their behaviors.

Other signs and symptoms can include intense euphoria and extreme physical or mental activity. These will often lead to behaviors such as rapid speech, big plans, risky behaviour, impulsive spending or sexual activity and alcohol or drug abuse. A person suffering with bipolar symptoms may also have insomnia with no fatigue and Hypo mania symptoms.

In some cases, a person may have only the hypomania bipolar symptoms with no signs of depression. They will have a lot of energy and become more active than they normally are. On the up side, they do not suffer from delusions, hallucinations or loss of reality. A person with this kind of bipolar disorder symptom will know who and where they are. The problem comes in when they overestimate their abilities or cannot see the risks they are taking.

Hypo mania symptoms can include  delusions of grandeur, alcohol abuse, excessive desire for pleasure in many forms and the formation of many plans. All these symptoms can lead to riskier behaviour such as extreme flirting, taking on too much and dangerous activities. Again these are not bipolar symptoms to be taken lightly.

Bipolar Disorder Symptoms of Mixed Episodes

Mixed episodes will have a mixture of bipolar disorder symptoms. Both manic and mania will be present. Symptoms of bipolar mixed episodes include anger, insomnia, loss of appetite, increased appetite, delusions, suicidal tendency and more. These moods combined with high energy create a high probability of suicide.

Getting Help

This illness may appear suddenly without warning especially in high stress life styles, however the onset of it can be more gradual. Mania symptoms of bipolar disorder can last from a few days to even months however, they are generally shorter than periods of depression. The disorder will usually be present in young adults but can begin in early childhood. Bipolar disorder symptoms will normally be present between the ages of 15-24 and nearly 90% of all cases are caught before age 30.

Anyone who sufferers from bipolar manic depression or has a friend or loved one  should keep a close watch  for bipolar disorder symptoms and immediately seek medical treatment. Many options available are support groups, therapy, and medications that will calm the symptoms of bipolar disorder. With the correct treatment plan, the symptoms of bipolar can be controlled and the patient can lead a happy normal  life.