The very name of the illness – bipolar – tells us that it involves two extreme ends. At its simplest it can be seen as mood swings – from mania to depression and back. Let’s look at each separately:

Symptoms of Mania Mania can range from the normal level mood through hypomania (which covers mild to moderate) to severe mania.

• On a high and very optimistic, happy and even euphoric

• Unrealistic beliefs and ideas over one’s abilities

• Full of energy

• Not feeling the need to sleep

• Eating not seen as a necessity

• Feeling self important and powerful

• Illogical thinking and hallucinations

• Rapid speech with the words tumbling out often in an incoherent fashion

• Lack of concentration and jumping from one idea to another without finishing the one before

• Easily distracted

• Impulsiveness which impairs judgement

• Unable to think things through and weigh up the consequences of actions

Symptoms of Depression

Depression ranges from the normal level mood through mild and moderate depression to severe depression.

• Feeling sad and hopeless and very pessimistic

• Unable to experience any pleasure

• Lack of energy • Lethargy and loss of interest in daily life

• Lack of appetite leading to weight loss • Often unable to sleep

• Lack of concentration coupled with difficulty remembering things

• Distinct feelings of lack of self worth and emptiness

• Feelings of guilt and despair

• Having hallucinations and illogical thinking

• Suicidal thoughts

A sufferer will not experience all these symptoms. Also the two extremes may not be experienced in equal measure. The swing is not like a pendulum going back and forth in any kind of rhythm. It maybe the depression is deep and lingering and yet the mania hardly perceptible .

There are terms to describe the various combinations of the bipolar symptoms. However, the symptoms will come in mixes according to the individual and a medical practitioner’s advice should be sought.

Rapid cycling This term is used to describe the moving in and out of the normal mood into one or other of the extremes, or from one extreme to the other. It happens four or more times within the space of a single year.

Mixed episode This is when both ends of the spectrum are happening together, so it possible to be full of ideas and yet unable to enjoy them.

Cyclothymia In this there is a tendency to swing from mild mania to mild depression and back continuously for at least two years.

Psychosis This involves the symptoms of hallucination and delusions and losing touch with reality. Communication with others maybe difficult. This is probably the rarest of these illnesses.

A qualified medical practitioner will be able to diagnose exactly what is going on.

Knowing about this illness helps both sufferers and carers. For more information about depression, visit: Depression FAQs

Jean Taylor became interested in the illness when members of her family were diagnosed with depression. This led her to research alongside the experience which was thrust upon her. She has now set up a website: http://www.depression-faqs.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/bipolar-symptoms-1613785.html