What is Bipolar Disorder?

Introduction

Imagine feeling like life has never been better. You’re full of joy and laughing with people you love, only for you to fall into deep sadness the next day. Unfortunately, for people who suffer from bipolar disorder, this is their reality. Their episodes of mania and depression can deeply affect their relationships, performance, and overall health. By understanding this disorder, we can help break the stigma that surrounds it and support the people who live with it every day.

Overview

Bipolar disorder, often called manic depression, causes extreme mood swings that include extreme highs and extreme lows. Extreme highs are referred to as mania or hypomania, while extreme lows are known as depression. Depression is much more extreme than mania and hypomania (less extreme than mania). A depressive episode often causes noticeable problems in daily life. These extreme mood swings often interfere with sleep, energy and activity levels, and judgment. These mood swing episodes can occur as often as multiple times a year, or as rarely as only occurring a few times, but each episode lasts for several days, sometimes even weeks.

Mania and hypomania are usually distinguished by containing three or more of the following symptoms

• Increased usual activity

• Increased self-confidence

• Making poor decisions

• Easily distracted

• Unusually talkative or fast-paced talking

• Less sleep is needed than usual

Depression is often characterized by five or more of the following symptoms

• Lost interest in things you typically enjoy

• Feeling sad and/or helpless

• Significant weight loss

• Feeling worthless

• Hard time thinking and/or focusing

• Sleeping too little or too much

• Feeling restless or slower than usual

• Fatigue or low energy

• Contemplating or attempting suicide

Symptoms of Different Bipolar Disorders

There is more than just one type of bipolar disorder; in fact, there are three main types: Bipolar I, Bipolar II, and Cyclothymic disorder. Symptoms often vary based on the type of bipolar disorder, as they mainly differ in severity.

• Bipolar I disorder is the most severe type; it impacts approximately 2.8% of adults in the U.S.

• Some symptoms of a manic episode include fast talking, increased energy, high self-esteem, decreased need to sleep, excessive spending, and substance abuse.

• With mania from bipolar disorder, it’s possible to get psychosis, which includes some symptoms such as hearing voices, visual hallucinations, delusions, and unorganized thinking. In addition, depression episodes may include low energy, restlessness, increased sleep activity, and struggling with memory.

• In bipolar II disorder, the same symptoms are present as in bipolar I, but full mania is never reached, so these episodes are called hypomania, and depressive episodes are more common than hypomanic episodes for these patients.

• Cyclothymia is a mild version of bipolar disorder, and often undiagnosed because its symptoms overlap with other mental health disorders.

• The timing of these symptoms is mixed, especially if, for example, someone has both mania and depression symptoms simultaneously.

Causes

The exact cause of this disorder isn’t fully understood yet, but researchers have found that the brains of people diagnosed with bipolar disorder function differently than that of people who don’t suffer from bipolar disorder. It’s also been found to be linked to genetics, although there’s no “bipolar gene”; this means that if a parent has bipolar disorder, you’re more susceptible to developing the disorder later on. Additionally, research has shown that if you’ve experienced childhood trauma or traumatic life events, substance misuse, or suffer from another mental health issue, your risk for bipolar disorder may also increase.

Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Bipolar disorder is often evaluated through physical exams and/or lab tests, day-to-day mood charting, and mental health assessments. Children and teens have the same set of evaluations, but the criteria for diagnosis differ vastly between the two. Unfortunately, there is no cure for bipolar disorder, as it’s a lifelong condition; therefore, treatments are targeted to manage the symptoms, not get rid of them.

Treatment will vary patient to patient according to their needs, but some treatment options include the

following

• Medications: mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and/or antidepressants

• Hospital stays and/or intensive outpatient programs

• Drug or alcohol misuse treatment

• Psychotherapy (a.k.a talk therapy): cognitive behaviour therapy, psychoeducation, interpersonal

• Therapy, and/or family-focused therapy

Understanding bipolar disorder as a teenager is crucial because some of the symptoms are most likely to present during these years. This being said, if early intervention is possible, the earlier you can receive treatment, the less you will suffer from your symptoms. Additionally, the more we’re educated on this disorder and other mental health conditions, the better we can support those living with it and challenge the stigma that often surrounds mental disorders.

Written by Irma H and researched by Laylah W

2026 The HEAL Project