Symptoms of bipolar disorder

Learn how to keep a mood chart, manage your anxiety,
sleep easier, help someone with depression and more!
Order helpful Mental Health Tip Sheets.

Home

Articles

Resources

About us

Quick Tips

Educational materials

Add this site to your Favorites or Bookmarks.

Talk to your doctor
The content of Moodletter is for informational purposes only. You should consult with your professional health care provider about your diagnosis and treatment.
Moodletter content may not be reprinted without express written permission and credit.

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
verify here.

Symptoms of bipolar disorder

Moodletter provides information, hope and help to people living with depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder and those who care for them.

Find 250+ articles on:

Mood, anxiety
Treatments
Medications
Lifestyles
Personal stories

Order helpful Mental Health Tip Sheets
for individuals and professionals.

Buy a pretty pill organizer to help you stay on track with your meds!

Pill organizer from Etsy

Many researchers and doctors today use the term Bipolar Spectrum Disorders for a group of disorders that involve cycling moods and other symptoms that occur along a continuum. These disorders include: bipolar I, bipolar II, bipolar NOS (not otherwise specified) and cyclothymia. Not everyone who is depressed or manic experiences every symptom. Some people experience a few symptoms, some many. Severity of symptoms varies with individuals and also varies over time.

Type I

Symptoms of depression

Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed
Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
Restlessness, irritability
Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain

Symptoms of mania

Abnormal or excessive elation
Unusual irritability
Decreased need for sleep
Grandiose notions
Increased talking
Racing thoughts
Increased sexual desire
Markedly increased energy
Poor judgment
Inappropriate social behavior

See Understanding bipolar disorder

Type II

Some signs and symptoms of Bipolar Spectrum Disorder

elevated mood
being especially outgoing
increased creativity
increased productiveness
feeling energized
impatience
insomnia
irritability
negative thinking
fatigue, decreased energy
inability to concentrate
persistent sad or empty mood
loss of interest in activities
thoughts of death or suicide

Page updated May 1, 2010