Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder I

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Bipolar disorder I has extreme highs (mania) and extreme lows (depression)

MANIA

• delusions of grandeur
• risky behavior
• talking rapidly
• talking non-stop,
•  talking about unrealistic things
•  feeling that you are unstoppable, oftentimes
• irritability
• need to sleep less
• racing thoughts
• can’t concentrate
• change in appetite
• increase in activity
• sometimes hallucinations
• reckless behaviour
• hypersexuality
• more creative
• unusual focus on religion
• spending money excessively
• inappropriate humor
• euphoria

DEPRESSION

• extreme sadness
• suicidal thoughts
• change in appetite
• unmotivated
• difficulty concentrating
• fatigue
• decreased energy
• feeling empty
• feeling irritable
• hopeless
• anxious
• feeling guilty
• insomnia
• aches and pains
• sleep change-usually too much
• loss of sex drive
• thoughts of death
• agitation
• thinking dark thoughts
• restless

You do not need to exhibit all of these to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder I.  However, most people with severe illness do experience most of them from time to time.

When you have bipolar disorder and cycle rapidly, it can be very discouraging to say the least.

However, there is hope out there. Therapy and medication are two examples of things that can help.