About Bipolar Disorder

There are several parts of bipolar disorder that can make you feel awful. The up feeling is called mania and the down feeling is called depression. The in-between part is a mix of both mania and depression and is called a mixed episode.  Many people suffering from bipolar disorder say that a mixed episode is the worst. Then there are times when you may be episode free and feel pretty good.

During a manic episode you usually have tons of energy, are sometimes irritable, and often overly self confident. During a manic phase you may schedule more tasks than you can accomplish. Risky behavior is also a symptom of mania. You might spend too much money or experience an overly active sex drive – this is called hypersexuality. Your judgement recedes and you might make choices and engage in behaviors that put you at risk.

During a depressive episode you can feel very isolated and tired. You might feel slowed down, sad, and have changes in your sleep and eating habits.You may also have difficulty with memory and concentration.

Some people who suffer from bipolar disorder will also have psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations and delusions. If a person is hallucinating with bipolar disorder they will see or hear things that are not there. Grandiosity is common. Usually these symptoms happen during a severe manic episode but not always.

Approximately 6 million Americans have bipolar disorder. You could have bipolar disorder and not even realize it. For me, a diagnosis of bipolar disorder explained so many things in my life. If you suspect that you have bipolar disorder contact your doctor and ask for a referral to a good psychiatrist (pdoc). Pdocs are highly trained physicians well qualified to diagnose and treat bipolar disorder.