An excessive and persistent hopeless, sad, or depressed mood. Extreme fatigue and lack of energy to do normal tasks. An inability to enjoy activities. Irritability and restlessness or sluggishness.
You may experience symptoms of depression, plus mania or hypomania at the same time. For example, you may feel very energised and impulsive, while feeling upset or tearful. Or you may feel very agitated or irritable. You may also experience highs and lows very quickly after the other, within the same day or hour.
It's sometimes called a "mixed state," "mixed mania," "mixed episode," or "mixed features." While experts used to think it was rare, they now realize it's common. About 40% of people with bipolar disorder have dysphoric mania at times.
Factors such as stress, poor sleep, and even seasonal changes can play a role in triggering your bipolar symptoms. Learn how you can reduce your risk of bipolar episodes and better manage your condition.
Signs of A Bipolar Meltdown
A burst of energy. Feeling irritable. Extremely happy and euphoric mood. Speaking fast.
Talking rapidly, sudden changes in topic, or “leaps of logic.” Having more energy than usual, especially if needing little sleep. Being intensely focused, or finding it hard to focus. Involuntary facial movements, such as twitches or mouthing.
Bipolar disorder is characterized by unusual shifts in mood and energy. These shifts, called “mood episodes,” last at least a week in the case of mania (feeling extremely “up”), and at least two weeks in the case of depression (feeling extremely “down”).
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is the most commonly used form of psychotherapy for treating bipolar disorder. CBT therapists will guide the individual to identify thought distortions or triggers that lead to the disruptive behaviors, and help them change these destructive thought patterns.
People experiencing mania may exhibit risky actions, outlandish demands, violent rants, and irresponsible behavior during a manic episode. It is common for family members and loved ones to feel like they are left to face repercussions once a manic phase has passed.
Bipolar disorder can cause your mood to swing from an extreme high to an extreme low. Manic symptoms can include increased energy, excitement, impulsive behaviour, and agitation. Depressive symptoms can include lack of energy, feeling worthless, low self-esteem and suicidal thoughts.
In other words, experiencing bipolar disorder does not mean you can't tell right from wrong, but its symptoms can temporarily make it harder to let our sense of morality guide our actions.
Stressful events, such as arguments, may trigger a person's mood to destabilize, increasing adverse symptoms of bipolar. The partner may feel they need to tiptoe around the person with bipolar for fear of burdening them and causing their mood to shift.
Your loved one with bipolar disorder can't control their moods. They can't just snap out of a depression or get a hold of themselves during a manic episode. Neither depression nor mania can be overcome through self-control, willpower, or reasoning.
We're all responsible for our actions, and we must all be able to control intense emotions, regardless of where they stem from. Remember, there is hope. The symptoms of bipolar disorder — even rage — can often be effectively managed so maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships is possible.
People with bipolar disorder have extreme highs and lows. Along with these unpredictable mood swings may come outbursts of emotion, including crying.
Symptoms of a manic episode may include a heightened sense of self-importance and grandiosity. These also feature in narcissistic disorder. Narcissism is not a symptom of bipolar disorder, and most people with bipolar disorder do not have narcissistic personality disorder.
It's common for someone with bipolar disorder to hurt and offend their partner. When someone is first diagnosed, there are often relationship issues that need to be addressed. Couples counseling can help you: Understand that there's an illness involved in the hurtful behavior.
Without ongoing treatment, a small mood change may spiral into a manic or depressive episode. Alcohol and drug abuse will increase the severity of Bipolar Disorder, so these problems must also be treated.
“Bipolar anger is impulsive, intense, erratic, and explosive. It is being asked a simple question and responding with irrational anger and/or irritation. It is lashing out, for no logical reason, on those that love and care for you.