What is Bipolar?

Some people self diagnose themselves with having bipolar disorder. It is believed that bipolar is characterised by having highs and lows in mood whereby one moment a person is experiencing a happy and high feeling and the next moment they are feeling quite down and depressed. Although the name bipolar suggests having shifts between high and low moods, bipolar is actually a little more complex.

There are two types of bipolar: Bipolar I and Bipolar II.

Bipolar I usually refers to a person who experiences at least one episode of mania in their lifetime while also having depressive episodes. This is slightly different from bipolar II whereby a person would generally experience episodes of depression while only having mild experiences of mania known as hypomania.

Hypomania or a hypomanic state can be described as having a decreased need for sleep while waking feeling fresh, being extremely (more than usual) outgoing and competitive, and having a general increase in energy levels and productivity. As hypomania has somewhat desirable effects for many, it is often missed or left undiagnosed.

Mania on the other hand is particularly different from hypomania in that mania generally comes with psychotic symptoms and grandiosity such as inflated self-esteem. For mania to be diagnosed the inflated or irritated mood must be present for at least one week (or any duration if hospitalisation is necessary to keep the person safe) and three of the following symptoms must be consistently present:

• inflated self-esteem

• grandiose thoughts

• decreased need for sleep (i.e., feels rested after only three hours of sleep)

• more talkative than usual or pressured speech

• an increased flow of thought

• significant distractibility particularly towards unimportant external stimuli

• goal directed activity is increased within work school or sexual activity

• increased physical agitation (restless)

• excessively being involved in pleasurable activities that can be considered of high risk (i.e., having unrestrained spending sprees, being sexually promiscuous or reckless business investments)

 

If you feel that you may be experiencing symptoms of bipolar disorder, it is recommended that you contact your GP or psychologist for further discussion.