Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder that people experience episodic unusual, intense emotion, changes in sleep patterns and activity levels, and unusual behaviours. They may experience periodic manic/ hypomanic and depressive episode over time.
| People having a manic/ hypomanic episode may: | People having a depressive episode may: |
| •Feel very “up,” “high,” or elated
•Have a lot of energy •Have increased activity levels •Feel “jumpy” or “wired” •Have trouble sleeping •Become more active than usual •Talk really fast about a lot of different things •Be agitated, irritable, or “touchy” •Feel like their thoughts are going very fast •Think they can do a lot of things at once •Do risky things, like spend a lot of money or have reckless sex |
•Feel very sad, down, empty, or hopeless
•Have very little energy •Have decreased activity levels •Have trouble sleeping, they may sleep too little or too much •Feel like they can’t enjoy anything •Feel worried and empty •Have trouble concentrating •Forget things a lot •Eat too much or too little •Feel tired or “slowed down” •Think about death or suicide |
Other assessments are required to exclude possibility of other physical or medical conditions before diagnosis is made. If you think you or your beloved ones have Bipolar Disorder, seek help.