More than a Mood Swing: Signs of Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder affects about 1 in 40 adults in the United States. It’s a mental health condition that causes dramatic shifts in mood, energy, and behavior. And it may look different than the stereotypes seen on TV. 

From intense motivation and confidence to stretches of deep sadness or exhaustion, the signs of bipolar disorder are sometimes easy to miss. The good news is that recognizing the symptoms is the first step toward support, treatment, and stability.

See Evan Donin, PMHNP-BC, at Sunshine Mental Wellness Associates Inc. in Palm Harbor, Florida, or Melville, New York, for a mental health evaluation to learn if you have bipolar disorder and receive a personalized treatment plan. 

Bipolar disorder basics

Bipolar disorder is often characterized by mood swings, alternating from depressed feelings to being overjoyed and energized (mania). You might be overly happy one minute and very sad the next. 

This cyclic pattern may negatively affect your quality of life when left untreated. If this is the case, see our Sunshine Mental Wellness Associates Inc. experts for an evaluation. 

10 signs of bipolar disorder to watch for

Here are ten signs of bipolar disorder, including some that might surprise you.

1. Changes in energy/motivation

Untreated bipolar disorder can affect your energy levels. You might alternate between feeling active and energetic and feeling fatigued and unmotivated.

1. Sleep changes

Bipolar disorder can also affect your sleep. During manic periods, you might need much less sleep than usual, but depression periods may bring on a need for extra sleep.

1. Impulsive decision-making

Bipolar disorder might cause you to make impulsive or reckless decisions. For example, people with this mental health disorder sometimes go on impulsive shopping sprees, make poor investments, make unrealistic plans, or take part in risky behavior patterns.

1. Weight changes

Mood changes can also cause fluctuations in appetite and body weight. You might lose weight without trying, or overeat and gain weight because of mood changes.

1. Irritability

People with bipolar disorder sometimes have periods of irritability and are quick to anger, annoyance, impatience, or frustration. You might be overly emotional and/or experience crying spells because of bipolar disorder. 

1. Difficulty concentrating

Bipolar disorder can also cause racing thoughts and difficulty making decisions or concentrating. You might get distracted easily, frequently jumping from one thought to another.  

1. Being overly talkative

During manic episodes, you may be extremely talkative with rapid speech and excitability. But during depressed periods, your personality might change to being less talkative or not wanting to be around other people. 

1. Frequent mood changes

Your mood can fluctuate often because of bipolar disorder, ranging from extreme happiness to feeling down in the dumps. You may also experience mood steadiness between the two bipolar disorder mood extremes. 

1. Self-esteem changes

Manic episodes can make you feel overly self-confident, unusually powerful, or very important. However, these feelings often come and go based on whether you’re in a manic or depressed state of mind. 

1. Loss of interest 

Depression plays a large role in bipolar disorder, so it’s common to go through periods of loss of interest in your favorite activities. You might also feel guilty, worthless, empty, or hopeless during the lows of bipolar disorder. 

What to do if you suspect bipolar disorder

If you suspect you or a loved one has bipolar disorder, depression, or other mood disorder, ADHD, OCD, anxiety, PTSD, or a personality disorder, see our experts at Sunshine Mental Wellness Associates Inc. for a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. 

They use DSM-5 criteria to learn if you have a mental health disorder that would benefit from treatment, such as lifestyle changes, medication management, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and/or therapy.

Discover relief from bipolar disorder symptoms by visiting our compassionate specialists at Sunshine Mental Wellness Associates Inc. Contact us by phone or request a mental health evaluation online today.