Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

Symptoms of Mania

Euphoria – A feeling of intense happiness or excitement (for me it’s like every day we’re going to Disneyland!)
Inflated Self-Esteem – I think I’m prettier, sexier, everyone is looking at me and wants to be me.
Poor Judgement – Risky spending sprees, Poor financial decisions, Impulsiveness, Risky Behavior
Rapid Speech – Jumping from topic to topic, randomly with no connection between thoughts.
Racing Thoughts – Your brain moves faster than you can comprehend. By the time you write the thought done, it’s gone.
Aggressive Behavior – For me this can come verbally and/or physically. I have learned how to control the physical though.
Aggitation and/or irriability
Increased physical activity – Everything must be cleaned now, exercising often and vigoriously.
Increase in goal activity
Increased sex drive – this can lead to risky decisions of unprotected sex, sex with strangers.
Decreased need for sleep – I can function on as little as 2 hours or no sleep at all.

Sadness – Crying a lot for no reason at all, crying easily over music, movies, books, even commercials.
Hopelessness and Despair – Feeling as though there is no solution to the problems you are facing.
Anxiety -
Guilt – Blaming yourself for everything that seems wrong in your life. Feeling guilt for past mistakes or events.
Sleep Problems – Too much or too little.
Decrease or Increase in appetite
Fatigue – Can stay in bed all day. Tired after already sleeping many hours.
Loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed.
Concentration Issues
Irriability – Everything and everyone bothers you. You just want to be left alone.
Physical pain with no apparent cause – Headaches, body aches
Suicidal thoughts or Behaviors – If you or someone you know has reached this stage, please call 911 or your local crisis hotline.

Symptoms of both mania and depression are present at the same exact time
Mania in a mixed episode involves irriability, racing thoughts, rapid speech, agitation
Depression in a mixed episode is very similar to depression in the regular depression cycle
Hostility
Physical and verbal aggression