People with bipolar disorder experience episodes of severe depression and episodes of mania: overwhelming joy, excitement or happiness, enormous energy, reduced need for sleep, and reduced inhibitions. Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition characterized by intense changes in mood. It is characterized by extreme mood swings that range from mania or hypomania (an emotional state of energy and joy, or sometimes aggressive or delirious) to having episodes of depression. People with the disease may have episodes of depression more often than episodes of mania, or vice versa.
Between episodes of depression and mania, they may sometimes have periods when they have a normal mood. During episodes of mania and depression, a person with bipolar disorder may experience strange sensations, such as seeing, hearing, or smelling things that are not present (hallucinations).To help you better understand how you feel, mania and depression are described below. Mania is a period of high mood where a person may feel euphoric and have an increased energy level. They may also be more talkative than usual and have racing thoughts.
On the other hand, depression is a period of low mood where a person may feel sad and hopeless. They may also have difficulty concentrating and lack energy. There is some evidence that complementary therapies can help with depression caused by bipolar disorder. Having a substance use disorder can also make it more difficult to get an accurate diagnosis, as the doctor may have difficulty identifying which symptoms are due to bipolar disorder and which are derived from substance use. Intense feelings, from feeling like you can do anything to feeling hopeless, are among the most common experiences shared by many people living with bipolar disorder.
People with bipolar disorder are more likely to have seasonal depression, coexisting anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and obsessive compulsive disorder. If someone acts in the following ways, especially for several weeks in a row, bipolar disorder is a possible cause: feeling euphoric or having an increased energy level; being more talkative than usual; having racing thoughts; feeling sad and hopeless; difficulty concentrating; lack of energy; seeing, hearing, or smelling things that are not present (hallucinations). Medical help, such as medication, can go a long way in managing these “ups and downs” so that a person can effectively live with bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder usually begins in late adolescence or early adulthood. Learn exactly what a bipolar diagnosis means, how it might affect your partner's behavior, and what you can do to foster a healthy and stable relationship. And if you're like some people with bipolar disorder, you might enjoy the feeling of euphoria and the cycles of being more productive.
