Everyone has good days and bad days. Your mood can change because of stress, lack of sleep, relationship problems, work, or other things happening in your life. Bipolar disorder is different. The changes in mood, energy, activity, and concentration can be much more intense and can interfere with your relationships, responsibilities, and everyday life.
Recognizing the signs of bipolar disorder can help you understand when a change in mood may be more than an ordinary emotional response. It can also help you or someone you love get support sooner.
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes distinct shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and concentration. These shifts can include periods of mania or hypomania and periods of depression. The symptoms and their severity can vary from person to person.
During a manic episode, you may feel unusually energized, excited, or irritable. You might need very little sleep but still feel full of energy. Your thoughts may move quickly, you may talk more than usual, and you may take on several projects at once. Mania can also affect your judgment, sometimes leading to impulsive spending, risky behavior, or other decisions you would not normally make.
Hypomania is a less severe form of mania. You may feel more energetic, productive, or confident than usual without experiencing the same level of impairment associated with mania. Because hypomania can initially feel good, you may not recognize it as a sign that something is wrong.
Depression can look very different. You may feel sad, empty, hopeless, or disconnected from the things you normally enjoy. Sleeping too much or too little, having trouble concentrating, feeling slowed down, and struggling with everyday responsibilities are also possible signs. Some people experience thoughts of death or suicide during a depressive episode.
Bipolar disorder is not simply a matter of being happy one day and sad the next. The changes tend to be more pronounced and occur as episodes that can last days or longer.
Signs You May Notice
Because bipolar disorder affects people differently, there is no single pattern that everyone experiences. Still, certain changes may be worth paying attention to.
You might notice that you:
- Suddenly need much less sleep without feeling tired
- Have unusually high energy or feel constantly “wired”
- Talk much faster or have racing thoughts
- Feel unusually confident, powerful, or important
- Take risks or make impulsive decisions
- Become unusually irritable or agitated
- Lose interest in activities you normally enjoy
- Feel hopeless, worthless, or emotionally numb
- Have significant changes in your sleeping or eating habits
- Struggle to concentrate or make decisions
- Have difficulty keeping up with work, school, relationships, or responsibilities
Some people also experience symptoms of psychosis, such as hallucinations or delusions, during severe manic or depressive episodes.
One of the most useful things you can do is look for patterns over time. A single restless night or a stressful week does not necessarily indicate bipolar disorder. But repeated periods of significant mood and behavior changes may be a reason to talk with a mental health professional.
When Should You Seek Help?
You do not have to wait for symptoms to become severe before reaching out.
Consider talking with a doctor or mental health professional if mood changes are interfering with your relationships, work, school, sleep, or ability to manage everyday responsibilities. An evaluation can help determine whether bipolar disorder or another mental health condition may be contributing to what you are experiencing. Certain medical conditions and medications can also produce symptoms that resemble bipolar disorder, so getting a professional evaluation matters.
It can also help to keep track of your mood, sleep, energy, and behavior. If you have noticed a pattern of going from unusually energized and active to deeply depressed, sharing those observations with a mental health professional can provide useful information.
If you are concerned about someone you love, try to approach the conversation with patience rather than judgment. Let them know what you have noticed and that you are concerned. You can offer to help them find a provider or accompany them to an appointment.
If you or someone you love is thinking about suicide, experiencing severe symptoms, or is in immediate danger, seek emergency help. You can call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For an immediate, life-threatening emergency, call 911.
Getting Help for Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder can be a lifelong condition, but treatment can help you manage symptoms and improve your quality of life. Treatment may include medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of approaches, depending on your symptoms and individual needs.
At Peak Behavioral Health in Santa Teresa, NM, you do not have to figure out what is happening on your own. Our team provides mental and behavioral health services for adolescents and adults, including inpatient care for people who need a higher level of support as well as outpatient programs for continued treatment.
If you are experiencing significant mood changes or other symptoms that are affecting your ability to function, reaching out is a place to start. Contact us today!
