Find out all you need to know about bipolar
disorder a mood
disorder characterised by extreme moods. Learn about:
Signs this might be a problem…
- you’re extremely moody and it’s impacting on
your everyday life
- you have poor sleeping patterns
- sometimes you have a ridiculous amount of
- at other times, you feel really low and
What can I do now?
- Try to stick to a daily routine
- Don’t make hasty decisions
- Track your mood so you know when to get
What exactly is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder is when people experience serious mood swings,
to the point where their moods interfere with their everyday life.
If you have bipolar disorder your mood is likely to go through
extreme highs (known as mania or hypomania) and lows (known as
depression). However, what those moods feel like and how quickly or
slowly you move between high and low moods is different for
everyone. As a result, several different types of bipolar disorder
have been identified.
Somewhere between 1-5% of the population
experience bipolar disorder and it’s caused by a combination of
different things. Your genes play a big part in whether you are
likely to develop bipolar disorder, but the condition can be
brought on by stress, certain brain chemicals and the environment
(for example, you’re more likely to get bipolar disorder in
Back to top.
Signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder
When people have bipolar they often
- Swings between moods that can last hours or
- Like their mind is racing
- Really reckless and uncaring about risks
- Uncontrollably angry
- Like they have an endless amount of
Some physical signs of bipolar
- Not needing any sleep, or needing to sleep
constantly (the first often happens when you’re experiencing a
high, and the second a low)
- Having intense food cravings, usually for
sweets or carbohydrates
- Chucking huge tantrums or going into a
- Working really intensely on multiple projects
at the same time.
The mood swings and feelings experienced by
people with bipolar disorder are different from mood swings that
most people experience in everyday life. Mood swings that occur as
a result of bipolar disorder are extremely disruptive and impact on
a person’s ability to function day to day.
Types of bipolar disorder
There are several different types of bipolar
disorder, and the type you are diagnosed with often depends
individual experience of mood changes, including how quickly
you swing between different moods.
- Bipolar I. People with
bipolar 1 usually experience more extreme highs (mania) that last
for longer, and may experience psychotic
- Bipolar II. People with
bipolar II usually experience highs which are less extreme (called
hypomania) and only last for a few hours or days. Between extreme
moods, they might have times where life continues normally.
disorder. A milder form
of bipolar. Extreme moods are less severe, last for shorter periods
and don’t happen as regularly.
- Bipolar disorder otherwise not
specified. Because the
mood changes people experience with bipolar disorder are different
for everyone, some don’t fit into the above three categories.
All types of bipolar disorder are
What to do about it
If you think you may have bipolar disorder,
it’s really worth visiting your GP or mental Health Practitioner
for a consultation. Bipolar disorder can be hard to diagnose but it
is a treatable condition and managing it will be much easier if you
get professional advice. Your doctors can work with you to create a
treatment plan which suits your personal circumstances and
What else I might like to know
Back to top.