10 Signs of Bipolar Disorder

Hey Psych2Go fam, welcome back to another video. Are you struggling with bipolar disorder or know someone who is? Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder defined by periods of intense heightened emotion called mood episodes. The three types of mood episodes are manic, hypomanic, which is less severe than manic episodes, and depressive. Bipolar 1 disorder is the most extreme form, with some manic episodes lasting for 7 days. Bipolar 2 disorder consists of hypomanic and depressive episodes. With that said, here are 10 signs of a bipolar disorder. But before we begin, we would like to mention that this video is created for educational purposes only and is not intended to substitute a professional diagnosis. If you suspect you or someone else may have bipolar disorder or any mental health condition, we highly advise you to seek help from a qualified mental health professional. Okay, let's begin. 1. Mood swings. Mood swings, from intense highs to extreme lows, are one of the biggest signs of bipolar disorder. While you may experience mood swings from hormones or other factors, those with bipolar 2 disorder typically experience alternating periods of hypomania, depression, and regular function. It may be a sign of bipolar disorder when your mood swings are frequent and it interferes with your sleep and daily activities. 2. Cycles of depression. Do you experience cycles of manic and depressive episodes? Symptoms of a depressive episode may include strong feelings of guilt, worthlessness, disinterest in previously enjoyed activities, and even thoughts of suicide. Seeking treatment for a depressive episode may lead to a misdiagnosis for major depressive disorder instead, but it's likely to be bipolar disorder if symptoms of depression occur for a few weeks and alternate with symptoms of manic episodes. 3. Risky behavior. During manic episodes, people with bipolar disorder are more likely to engage in risky behaviors. A study using a computer simulation by the University of Oxford had found that people with bipolar disorder engaged in more gain-oriented risky behaviors than those without BD. Impulsiveness with money-like risky investments in gambling and actions that endanger yourself and others such as reckless driving are some examples of real-life risky decisions made by people with BD. 4. Periods of intense multitasking and energy. During a manic episode, do you find yourself suddenly making plans to do more than you're physically able to do? With bipolar 2 disorder, you typically experience less intense manic episodes or hypomania, so you may not see how your increased multitasking and energy during a hypomanic episode differ from a normal productivity boost. But those around you will probably be able to see this change in behavior. 5. Grandiosity or feelings of importance. The American Psychological Association defines grandiosity as an exaggerated sense of one's greatness, importance, or ability. While grandiosity is more prevalent in other mental disorders like narcissistic personality disorder, it can also be a symptom of bipolar disorder. Typically, you may experience grandiosity during manic episodes. 6. Talking faster than normal. Do you find yourself speaking faster or louder than normal during a manic episode? When going through a manic episode, you may experience irregular speech patterns like trailing off in the middle of a conversation or talking more than you normally do. You may be unaware that you're talking faster than normal, but someone close to you will probably pick up on it. 7. Difficulty concentrating. Another symptom of bipolar disorder is having difficulty concentrating during both manic and depressive episodes. In depressive episodes, a lack of energy may make it hard for you to stay focused, and you might also find yourself forgetting things. During manic episodes, too much energy might make it difficult for you to concentrate on any one task. 8. Extreme irritability or agitation. Do you find yourself feeling extremely irritated sometimes? Irritability is another symptom of bipolar disorder, especially when it occurs along with other symptoms. Your irritability may manifest into physical actions of agitation, such as pacing or hand wringing. 9. Irregular sleep. When paired with other symptoms, difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much may be signs of bipolar disorder. During manic episodes, you might feel very energized after only a few hours of sleep. During a depressive episode, on the other hand, you might sleep more and still feel tired or have trouble sleeping and suffer from exhaustion. And 10. Changes in appetite. During manic episodes, when the body is able to function off little sleep and food, you may experience loss of appetite. Although many factors including certain medications can contribute to a loss of appetite, if this symptom occurs along with the other signs, it could be a sign of bipolar disorder. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, some may even experience increased appetite during depressive episodes. Do you or someone you care about show any of these signs? Let us know in the comments below. Along with the references and studies used in this video, added in the description below, are some resources for you to seek help. If you found this video helpful, be sure to like and share this video with those who might benefit from it and subscribe to Psych2Go for more videos. Thanks for watching and we'll see you in the next one.