“What is bipolar disorder?”

Do not try to diagnose anyone on your own. Mental health conditions are complex.
Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental health condition characterized by extreme shifts in mood, energy, and behavior. These shifts occur between two main states:
Manic Episodes
During manic episodes, individuals experience:
Elevated or irritable mood
Increased energy and activity levels
Reduced need for sleep
Racing thoughts and rapid speech
Impulsive or risky behaviors
Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
Depressive Episodes
Depressive episodes involve:
Persistent sadness or hopelessness
Loss of interest in activities
Changes in sleep patterns (usually oversleeping)
Low energy and fatigue
Difficulty concentrating
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Thoughts of death or suicide

This is actually a complicated answer but to make is simple, it is basically when a person cycles from feeling severe depression to having severe highs, which we call a manic or hypomanic phase. They feel on top of the world, they have increased energy and don't need sleep, they don't believe consequences apply to them, can talk fast and think fast, etc. Both the depression and mania have to interfere with functioning. But if you need more answers, check out NAMI.

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings, including emotional highs (called mania or hypomania) and lows (called depression). These mood swings can affect a person’s energy, behavior, and ability to function day-to-day.

Mania/Hypomania: During a manic episode, someone may feel extremely energetic, overly confident, or irritable. They might make impulsive decisions, have racing thoughts, and sleep very little. Hypomania is a milder form of mania, but it still affects behavior and mood.

Depression: During depressive episodes, they might feel sad, hopeless, or extremely fatigued. Everyday tasks may seem overwhelming, and they may lose interest in things they once enjoyed.

The exact cause of bipolar disorder isn't known, but it often involves a mix of genetic, environmental, and neurochemical factors.

Treatment:
Bipolar disorder is treatable, typically through a combination of medications and therapy:

Medications: Mood stabilizers (like lithium), antipsychotics, and antidepressants are often prescribed to help balance mood swings. These help manage both the manic and depressive episodes.

Therapy: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Interpersonal and Social Rhythm Therapy (IPSRT) can be helpful. These therapies help individuals recognize patterns in their mood and behavior and teach ways to manage stress and relationships.

With the right treatment plan, people with bipolar disorder can lead fulfilling, stable lives. If you ever want more info or help finding a treatment option, feel free to reach out! I'm happy to help.

Bipolar Disorder is a mental illness that causes extreme shifts in mood and energy levels. Episodes of manic/hypomanic/depressive feelings characterize bipolar disorder. Manic episodes include times of feeling very "up", elated, energized, or irritable. Hypomanic episodes include times of feeling "up", elated, or energized. Hypomanic episodes are considered a milder form of mania. Depressive episodes include times of feeling very "down", sadness, or indifferent. There are several different types of Bipolar Disorder, which can include a combination of these specific symptoms (or additional related symptoms).

Hi. Bipolar disorder is a chronic mental illness characterized by significant mood swings, including manic and depressive episodes. It is formerly known as manic depression. During manic episodes, individuals experience elevated or irritable moods, increased energy, and impulsive behavior. Depressive episodes involve feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and low energy. There are also several types of bipolar disorder: Bipolar I: Involves at least one manic episode lasting a week or requiring hospitalization. Bipolar II: Includes major depressive and hypomanic episodes but no full-blown mania. Cyclothymic Disorder: Features milder mood swings over a longer duration. Bipolar disorders can affect daily functioning but they can be managed with therapy and medication. Whereas medication alone can be helpful, I am a strong advocate for talk therapy AND medication. There is a HUGE benefit in talking about what ails us. Not only are we sitting with a mental health professional helping us to process what we are thinking, feeling and experiencing, but we are HEARING our own thoughts, feelings and experiences articulated out loud. Research shows that we problem-solve very differently when we hear things out loud vs. just having our them float around in our heads. Dr. Rovaris

The definition of Bipolar Disorder has changed over the years and I'm not sure how helpful the change has been ..let's dial this back a bit. Initially, the definition referred to extreme mania (feeling like "I'm a god ..I can do anything ..I'm invisible") and extreme depression (not being able to get out of bed or function). An example might be someone like Robert Downey Jr (the actor), maybe Robin Williams could fall into that category a bit too? These swings are a problem when they make it very hard to function normally such as doing risky things that can ruin one's life when manic (selling something off, leaving someone abruptly, etc.) or depressed (unable to do one's life). Medications can be used to help reduce the severity of the swings so that a person can function more normally in the world without the negative life consequences that come with such swings. I find that in recent years we have forgotten about this "difference severity" and we have forgotten that the original definition of mania included risky destructive impulsive behaviors. Now, it seems when one has ups and downs people can be quick to think "bipolar". Also, physicians/psychologists use the term for children now as well which I'm not sure I agree with; children present much differently than adults in many instances. At any rate, I guess the bottom line is, if someone has large mood swings of very high and very low that are destructive to life and make it difficult to function, the diagnosis might apply and medications with psych services could be considered.