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What is bipolar disorder?
What is bipolar disorder?
It's an illness that causes extreme changes to your mood. If you have the disorder, you may experience times of very high energy to times of depression. This also includes unusual shifts in your:
Energy
Activity levels
Concentration
Ability to complete daily tasks
These mood swings (also called “mood episodes”) may cause problems with your work, school, family life, relationships and how well you function.
What are the symptoms?
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms depend on your mood episodes where you’ll go through "highs" and "lows." Common symptoms include periods of:
Unusually intense emotion
Changes in sleep patterns and activity levels
Unusual behavior
You may often experience these things without knowing the likely harmful or negative effects.
During a high, or “manic episode,” you may experience feeling:
Very happy
Jumpy, wired or more active than usual
Very talkative about many different topics
Able to do many things at once without getting tired
Unusually important, talented or powerful
An extreme appetite for food, sex or other things you might enjoy
During a low, or “depressive episode,” you may experience feeling:
Very down, sad or anxious
Unable to sleep normally
Unable to think clearly and make decisions
Unable to do simple tasks
Hopeless or worthless
Thoughts about death or suicide
These episodes are very different from the moods and behaviors that are typical for a person. During an episode, the symptoms last for most of the day. Episodes may also last for longer periods, such as several days or weeks.
It’s not clear what causes bipolar disorder. But experts believe many factors may be involved. It tends to run in families. You are at greater risk of having bipolar disorder if a close family member has it.
To find out if you have bipolar disorder, your doctor will ask:
How long your symptoms last and how often you have them
About your family’s history with mental health
They may do a mental health screening. You may also have other tests to make sure another problem isn't causing your symptoms.
Your doctor may then refer you to a trained mental health care provider, such as a:
Psychiatrist
Psychologist
Clinical social worker
They’ll have experience in diagnosing and treating bipolar disorder.
What are some treatment options?
What are some treatment options?
Treatment can help many people, including those with the most severe forms of bipolar disorder. A helpful treatment plan usually includes both medication and psychotherapy (also called “talk therapy”). You may need to try several methods to find what works for you.
Bipolar disorder is a lifelong illness. Episodes of mania and depression typically come back over time. Between episodes, many people with bipolar disorder are free of mood changes, but some people may have symptoms. Long-term, ongoing treatment can help people manage these symptoms.
Learn more about bipolar disorder