Signs & Symptoms

Bipolar disorder symptoms can vary from one person to the next. Talk with your doctor about your symptoms at each visit. Bipolar disorder causes symptoms like:

Depression. You may:

• Feel sad or blue


• Have less interest in things you used to enjoy


• Feel worthless, hopeless, or guilty


• Sleep too little or too much


• Lose or gain weight, or have a change in your hunger


• Feel tired or restless


• Have trouble thinking or making decisions


• Think of death or suicide

Mania. You may:

• Have more energy and need less sleep


• Have racing thoughts or your mind jumps around


• Talk more than usual


• Feel more sure of yourself than usual


• Not finish things that you’ve started


• Take extreme risks

Hypomania is a milder form of mania. You may feel good. But this feeling may change to full-blown mania or depression.

Mixed mood is feelings of mania and depression that can also occur at the same time. This is called a mixed episode.

Experiencing four or more episodes of mania and/or depression in a year is called rapid-cycling bipolar disorder.

With all types of episodes, patients are at risk for suicide.

Keeping track

You may have periods of mania and depression during your life. But, with treatment, your symptoms may be managed.

One important way to manage bipolar disorder is to keep track of how you’re feeling. Tracking your symptoms using a Mood Chart (PDF Format) can help you see how things are going and the impact that your treatment may be having.

If you are taking medicine, it’s important to continue taking it, even after your symptoms go away. If you stop taking your medicine, your symptoms may return.

Common behaviors

Here are some ways of behaving that may be seen in adults with bipolar disorder. Some of these may also be a sign of a different problem. It’s important to get the right diagnosis.

• Agitation


• Alcohol or drug abuse


• Irritability


• Gambling too much


• Violence


• Poor judgment with decisions


• Careless spending, buying sprees


• Talking about hurting oneself


• Risky sex or change in sexual pattern


• Impulsive financial investments


• More arguments


• Change in energy level, appetite, or sleep


• Relationship problems at home or work


• Mounting debt


• Legal/criminal issues

Also of Interest

Greg tells how bipolar disorder is hard to predict.

Use a Mood Chart (PDF Format) to learn about your bipolar disorder and possible triggers.