What is a bipolar episode?
If you are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, you probably know firsthand how much bipolar disorder can impact your life. bipolar mood swings do not typically shift in rapid succession. Episodes can last for years months or in some cases weeks, but the important thing to understand is that they can stretch out over a long period of time and during some of the stretches you can experience normal or balanced moods.
Depression Characterizations
- sadness
- Irritability
- Loss of appetite
- Over eating
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Thoughts of death or suicide
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Low energy
- Loss of pleasure
- Excessive crying
- Abnormal sleep, sleeping too much or too little
Manic Characterizations
- extreme irritability
- Excessive energy
- Racing thoughts
- Talking too much
- An inappropriate sense of elation or euphoria
- Out-of-control spending
- Difficulty concentrating
- Increased activity in an abnormal way
- Abnormal increases in sexual activity
- Reckless behavior
- aggressive behavior
- Poor judgment
