How to Recognize the Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

Do you suspect that someone you know is suffering from bipolar disorder? Do you think you may even have it yourself? How can you tell the difference between bipolar disorder and having normal mood swings? The short answer is that you can’t, because only a clinical psychiatrist can make a correct diagnosis. Bipolar disorder resembles other psychological illnesses, such as schizophrenia and clinical depression, and also has a lot in common with alcoholic behavior. However, you can look for the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder, and if you find them, suggest that the person get a diagnosis from a psychiatrist.

So what symptoms should you look out for? First of all, it is important to note that there are types of bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disorder Type I is known as classic bipolar disorder, and it is typified by alternating episodes of mania (intense emotional highs) and depression (lows).

The symptoms of a person with Bipolar Disorder I in the manic phase include:

- Extreme euphoria and optimism - Heightened aggressiveness and self-confidence - Very fast speech and movement - Hyperactivity and lack of sleep - Delusions of grandeur - Impaired judgment - Hypersexuality

The symptoms of a person with Bipolar Disorder I in the depressive phase include:

- Persistent feelings of sadness and self-loathing - Lack of motivation and interest in normal activities - Disturbance of sleep and loss of appetite - Reduced energy and sex drive - Inability to concentrate - Hopelessness and despair - Recurring thoughts of suicide

Between the phases of mania and depression, a bipolar person can actually go through a long period of normalcy in which no symptoms appear.

Bipolar Disorder II is similar to the classic bipolar disorder, but the person experiences milder depression and milder mania, which is called hypomania. A hypomanic phase is milder than a manic phase because the person does not experience delusions or hallucinations, the hallmarks of psychosis.

Bipolar disorder usually first surfaces in adolescence or early adulthood, and can persist for a long time afterwards. It tends to run in families, and a person is at higher risk of having the disorder if his or her family has a history of mood disorders and/or alcoholism.

Bipolar people often do not realize how severely impaired they are during their episodes, and may have no idea how much their illness affects the people close to them. If you suspect that someone you know is bipolar, you should urge them to get a diagnosis, and seek therapy or medication.

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