Bipolar Symptoms?
Question by Mandie: bipolar symptoms?
Best answer:
Answer by Ade
Euphoric mood
Feeling “high”, excessively optimistic, better than ever.
Extreme irritability
Feeling irritable or angry; Behavior that is aggressive, provocative, or intrusive.
Decreased need for sleep
Feeling rested after just a few hours of sleep.
More talkative than usual
Extremely talkative and sociable; pressure to keep talking.
Racing thoughts
Flight of ideas; can’t keep up with your own ideas and thoughts.
Distractibility
Inability to concentrate, distracted, restless.
Increase in goal-directed activity or psychomotor agitation
Extremely energetic; increased productivity; a feeling of high intelligence and creativity.
Risky behavior
Excessive involvement in pleasurable or high risk activities, such as sex, drug or alcohol use, gambling, or spending sprees.
Impaired judgment
Reckless, impulsive, unpredictable; No perception that the mood and behaviors are abnormal.
Answer by jamie s
How to recognise patients with bipolar disorder? These patients experience dramatic mood swings, ranging from being extremely ‘high’, to feeling very depressed, sad and hopeless. They then move back again to the ‘high’ state, often with some periods of normal mood in between. Besides these mood changes, there are also severe changes in energy and behaviour.
The periods of highs and lows are called episodes of mania and depression, which have very different and recognisable symptoms:
Signs and symptoms of mania and/or a manic episode can include:
An increased level of energy and activity, often restlessness
Excessively ‘high’, overly good and euphoric mood
Extreme irritability
‘Racing’ thoughts, talking very fast, moving from one idea to the other
Difficulties in concentrating, easily distracted
Reduced need for sleep
Unrealistic beliefs in own abilities and powers
Poor judgement
Periods of spending large amounts of money
Increased sexual drive
Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol and sleeping medications
Provocative, intrusive or aggressive behaviour
Patients deny that something is wrong
Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive episode) can include:
Lasting sad, anxious or empty mood
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex
Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or being ‘slowed down’
Difficulties in concentrating, remembering things or in making decisions
Restlessness or irritability
Sleeping to much, or not able to sleep
Changes in appetite and weight loss or gain
Chronic pain or other symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury
Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
What is hypomania?
Hypomania means that the level of mania is mild to moderate. People with hypomania often feel good and may be associated by them with better functioning and productivity. As a result, even when the family recognises the symptoms of bipolar disorder, the person may deny that anything is wrong. However, without proper treatment, hypomania can become severe mania, or can turn into depression.
Psychosis can be a symptom of bipolar disorder
Severe episodes of mania or depression can include the symptoms of psychosis. People may have hallucinations: they hear or see or sense the presence of certain things that are not actually there. Another symptom is delusions: patients have false but strong beliefs that can not logically be explained.
The type of psychotic symptoms reflects the mood of the patients. During a manic episode, they may believe to be a person with special powers or wealth. During depressive episodes, they can believe to be worthless, or to be ruined or to be guilty of some crime.
It is important to note that people with bipolar disorder suffering psychosis are often incorrectly diagnosed as suffering schizophrenia, another severe mental illness.
Obviously, when patients suffer psychotic symptoms, urgent intervention of a doctor is required.
I hope this helps! For more info see the website below-it has some pretty good info.
Also, I am bipolar (and really pretty normal!) if you wanted to contact me, let me know! I would be happy to help out!
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