Bipolar disorder is a type of mood disorder. It’s made up of two parts: mania and depression. Mania is an unreasonably high mood and depression is a very low mood. Many people experience periods of wellness in between episodes of mania and depression. There are a few different types of bipolar disorder: bipolar disorder I, bipolar disorder II, and cyclothymic disorder.

Signs and Symptoms

Mania:

• feeling overly happy or “high” for long periods of time
• having a decreased need for sleep
• talking very fast, often with racing thoughts
• feeling extremely restless or impulsive
• becoming easily distracted
• having overconfidence in your abilities
• engaging in risky behavior, such as having impulsive sex, gambling with life savings, or going on big spending sprees

Depression:

1. feeling sad or hopeless for long periods of time
2. withdrawing from friends and family
3. losing interest in activities that you once enjoyed
4. having a significant change in appetite
5. feeling severe fatigue or lack of energy
6. having problems with memory, concentration, and decision making
7. thinking about or attempting suicide, or having a preoccupation with death

Treatment

Most people with bipolar disorder can be treated using a combination of different treatments, including:

• medicine to prevent episodes of mania and depression – these are known as mood stabilisers, and you take them every day on a long-term basis
• medicine to treat the main symptoms of depression and mania when they happen
• learning to recognise the triggers and signs of an episode of depression or mania
• psychological treatment – such as talking therapies, which help you deal with depression and provide advice on how to improve relationships
• lifestyle advice – such as doing regular exercise, planning activities you enjoy that give you a sense of achievement, and advice on improving Bipolar disorder.