Bipolar disorder is characterized by dramatic mood swings between feeling of high energy, mania and irritability, to low lows of sadness and hopelessness. The mood swings can occur frequently (everyday) or less regularly (changing just once or twice a month).

What characterizes an abnormal mood swing such as this is that the moods are experienced as extremes. Bipolar disorder isn’t just the occasional feeling up being “energetic” one day and a little sad the next. For people with bipolar disorder, the symptoms are really life-altering, functioning their ability to go to work, carry on their relationships with others, and feel good about themselves.

Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these changes in mood. The periods of highs are called mania, and those of the lows are called depression. Most often experience periods of normal mood patterns in between these highs and lows.

Symptoms of bipolar disorder typically include:

• Dramatic mood swings ranging from elated excitability to hopeless despondency
• Periods of normal mood in between
• Extreme changes in energy and behavior

An important distinction between bipolar disorder and the normal emotions of life is that bipolar disorder results in an inability to handle daily activities. The person cannot work or communicate effectively and may have a distorted sense of reality (for example, unrealistically high or low opinion of one’s skills).

Bipolar disorder often is not recognized by the patient, relatives, friends or even physicians. However, recognizing the mood states that occur is essential. Treatment can help a person with bipolar disorder avoid harmful consequences such as destruction of personal relationships, job loss and suicide.

During a manic phase, symptoms include:

• heightened sense of self-importance
• exaggerated positive outlook
• significantly decreased need for sleep
• poor appetite and weight loss
• racing speech, flight of ideas, impulsiveness
• ideas that move quickly from one subject to the next
• poor concentration, easy distractibility
• increased activity level
• excessive involvement in pleasurable activities
• poor financial choices, rash spending sprees
• excessive irritability, aggressive behavior

During a depressed phase, symptoms include:

• feelings of sadness or hopelessness
• loss of interest in pleasurable or usual activities
• difficulty sleeping; early-morning awakening
• loss of energy and constant lethargy
• sense of guilt or low self-esteem
• difficulty concentrating
• negative thoughts about the future
• weight gain or weight loss
• talk of suicide or death

The main method used to diagnose bipolar disorder is a thorough interview with a psychiatrist, psychologist or other mental health professional. Although there are written methods for documenting the severity and number of symptoms, those tests only complement a complete interview. They do not substitute for a face-to-face evaluation by a professional. There are not yet any blood tests or other biological tests that can be used to diagnose bipolar disorder.

What's Related

• Who Gets Bipolar Disorder?
• An Introduction to Bipolar Disorder
• When a Loved One Has Bipolar Disorder
• Teens and Bipolar Disorder
• What Is Bipolar Disorder?
• The Causes of Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression)
• Frequently Asked Questions about Bipolar Disorder
• Risk Factors for Bipolar Disorder
• Bipolar Risk Factors
• Phases of Bipolar Disorder