Symptoms of bipolar disorder

Symptoms of mania can include:

  • Feeling happy even when things aren’t going well for you
  • Feeling more positive about yourself than usual
  • Feeling more active, energetic or restless
  • Being irritable, argumentative and aggressive
  • Talking very quickly, jumping from one idea to another, racing thoughts
  • Easily distracted and struggling to keep focus on one thing
  • Not being able to sleep, or feeling like you don’t need any sleep
  • Making decisions you wouldn’t usually make, such as gambling, excessive spending, being sexually promiscuous, going on spending sprees and using drugs or alcohol
  • Thinking you can do more than you can
  • Being more social than usual

Hypomania

Hypomania is similar to mania but has milder symptoms. It can be more manageable, but it still has a noticeable effect on you day-to-day. Hypomania may last for a shorter period of time.

Symptoms of depression can include:

  • Low mood, feeling hopeless and negative
  • Having less energy, feeling tired or slow
  • Feeling guilty and worthless
  • Being less interested in things you normally like doing
  • Difficulty concentrating, remembering and making decisions
  • Feeling restless or irritable
  • Sleeping too much or not being able to sleep
  • Feeling more or less hungry than usual, losing or gaining weight when you do not mean to
  • Suicidal thoughts

Symptoms of psychosis can also happen during episodes of mania or depression such as:

  • Hallucinations – Hearing, seeing or feeling things that aren’t there
  • Delusions – Believing things that aren’t true and that other people find unusual

These experiences can feel very real, which can make it difficult for you to understand people’s worries about you.

Your donation will make the difference

Just £10 could help pay for a call to our advice and information line, supporting someone living with mental illness who may be feeling in distress during this time.