| What is Bipolar Disorder? |

Bipolar Disorder is a mood disorder sometimes referred to as manic-depressive illness or manic-depression. It involves cycles of depression and elation or mania. The moods can shift from high to low rapidly, or over the course of days or weeks with intervals of “normal” moods in between.

There are three types of Bipolar Disorder.

1. Bipolar Type I
2. Bipolar Type II
3. Rapid-Cycling Form

Bipolar I is the classic type. People usually experience depression, get better for a time, then go into a manic phase.

Bipolar Type II is similar to Type I, however, the manic phases aren't as serious or destructive. The manic phases are much milder and are also referred to as hypomania (see below). Usually, fewer manic episodes occur with Bipolar Type II.

Rapid-Cycling Form is the third type of Bipolar Disorder. With this type, individuals experience four or more episodes of depression and/or mania within a year. These people may be healthy between episodes of depression and mania, or go directly from depression to a manic episode.

Let's explore the disorder in further detail.

There are two completely different sets of signs and symptoms classified as depression and mania.

Signs and Symptoms of Depression:

• Sadness and anxiety
• Loss of energy
• Feelings of guilt, hopelessness, or worthlessness
• Loss of interest or enjoyment from things that were once pleasurable
• Difficulty concentrating
• Uncontrollable crying
• Difficulty making decisions
• Increased need for sleep
• Insomnia
• Change in appetite causing weight loss or gain
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Attempting suicide

Signs and Symptoms of Mania:

• Excessive happiness, hopefulness, and excitement
• Sudden changes from being joyful to being irritable, angry, and hostile
• Restlessness, increased energy, and less need for sleep
• Rapid talk, talkativeness
• Distractibility
• Racing thoughts
• High sex drive
• Tendency to make grand and unattainable plans
• Tendency to show poor judgment, such as deciding to quit a job
• Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity — unrealistic beliefs in one’s ability, intelligence, and powers; may be delusional
• Increased reckless behaviors (such as lavish spending sprees, impulsive sexual indiscretions, abuse of alcohol or drugs, or ill-advised business decisions)

Signs and Symptoms of Hypomania:

• Periods of time with an especially energetic mood
• Feeling more self-confident than normal
• Being very talkative or speaking faster than usual
• Feeling hyper
• Having a hard time concentrating
• Being more irritable or angry
• Needing less sleep than normal
• Having more interest in sex
• Uncharacteristic spending sprees

The content from this page has been duplicated with permission from Band Back Together. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, after all. Pretty much? They rock over there so for additional information and resources on Bipolar Disorder, please visit Band Back Together's Bipolar Disorder Resources page.