Signs and symptoms
In a depression phase, it is common to feel sadness, hopelessness, loneliness, and a loss of interest or pleasure. Mania and hypomania moods can include euphoria, emotional or physical energy, and irritability. These mood swings can affect sleep, energy, motivation, judgment, behavior, and thinking.
Bipolar symptoms can occur randomly or multiple times a year. While most people will experience some emotional symptoms between episodes, some may not experience any. Bipolar disorder can be a lifelong struggle, but the symptoms can be managed, and you can lead a happy, peaceful, and productive life. We recommend treatment with medications prescribed by a licensed medical professional and mental health counseling.
Although bipolar disorder can occur at any age, it's typically diagnosed in the teenage years or early 20s. Symptoms vary from person to person, and may vary over time.
Mania and hypomania
Mania and hypomania are distinct types of episodes, but they have the same symptoms. Mania is more severe than hypomania and causes more noticeable problems in work, school, and social settings, as well as in relationships. Mania may trigger a break from reality (psychosis) and require hospitalization.
Major depressive episode
A major depressive episode includes symptoms that are severe enough to cause noticeable difficulty in day-to-day activities, such as work, school, social activities, or relationships. An episode includes five or more of these symptoms:
- Depressed mood, such as feeling sad, empty, hopeless, or tearful (irritability in children and teens)
- Marked loss of interest or feeling no pleasure in all—or almost all—activities
- Significant weight loss when not dieting, weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite (failure to gain weight as expected in children)
- Either insomnia or sleeping too much
- Either restlessness or slowed behavior
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt
- Decreased ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness
- Thinking about, planning, or attempting suicide
Types
People with bipolar II disorder frequently have other mental illnesses such as an anxiety disorder or substance use disorder, the latter of which can exacerbate symptoms of depression or hypomania.
Cyclothymic disorder symptoms include the following:
- For at least two years, many periods of hypomanic and depressive symptoms, but the symptoms do not meet the criteria for hypomanic or depressive episode.
- During the two-year period, the symptoms (mood swings) have lasted for at least half the time and have never stopped for more than two months.
When to see a doctor
If you have any symptoms of depression or mania, see your doctor or mental health professional. Bipolar disorder doesn't get better on its own. Getting treatment from a mental health professional with experience in bipolar disorder can help you get your symptoms under control.
When to get emergency helpSuicidal thoughts and behavior are common among people with bipolar disorder. If you have thoughts of hurting yourself, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, go to an emergency room, or confide in a trusted relative or friend. Or contact a suicide hotline. In the U.S., call, or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Or use the Lifeline Chat. Services are free and confidential.
If you have a loved one who is in danger of suicide or has made a suicide attempt, make sure someone stays with that person. Immediately call 911 or your local emergency number. Or, if you think you can do so safely, take the person to the nearest hospital emergency room.