Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder
What are the symptoms of manic depression (bipolar disorder)?
Bipolar Disorder includes the depression symptoms during the depression cycle, plus these symptoms during the mania cycle:
* Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
* Excessively “high,” overly good, euphoric mood
* Extreme irritability
* Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
* Distractibility, can’t concentrate well
* Little sleep needed
* Unrealistic beliefs in one’s abilities and powers
* Poor judgment
* Spending sprees
* A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual
* Increased sexual drive
* Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
* Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
* Denial that anything is wrong
Information source: U.S. National Institutes of Mental Health or NIHM at http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm.