Living with depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder
Please take our surveyPlease donate $12/year or moreSign up for our monthly newsletter

Find us again!
Click here, then add the page to your Favorites or Bookmarks.


Over 175 articles on:


Help support Moodletter
with $12/year? Or more?

Donate by PayPal or mail

Moodletter provides information, hope and help to people living with depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder and those who care for them. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.


©2006-2010 Moodletter, Inc.
All rights reserved



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

 
 
Symptoms of bipolar disorder
 

Have you read these?

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

 

Related articles
What is hypomania?
Bipolar II and the bipolar spectrum
Faces of mania
More articles

 

 

Page updated May 1, 2010