Bipolar Disorder Mood Swings: What To Know
Mood swings are fairly common. Everyone can experience them from time to time, and they may be caused by factors like hormone fluctuations, lack of sleep, or increased stress. Generally, mood swings only last a day or two.
However, for people living with bipolar disorder, mood swings can be quite different. People with this mental illness may have extreme and unusual mood swings that can last for weeks at a time. If left untreated, symptoms can worsen, but with early recognition and an effective treatment plan, many people with bipolar disorder experience improvement.
Bipolar disorder symptoms
Symptoms of bipolar disorder can vary from person to person. Some people may experience distinct bipolar disorder mood swings between mania and depression and then go for extended periods without symptoms. Others may cycle between these more rapidly.
Hypomanic and manic episodes
For a bipolar disorder diagnosis, a person must have had at least one episode of hypomania or mania. Hypomania . Someone with hypomania typically has an abnormally elevated mood, extreme changes in mood, or a change in activity level that’s noticed by others. Hypomania is typically not severe enough to affect social, work, or school functioning.
On the other hand, manic states can severely impact daily functioning, even though someone experiencing a manic episode may feel energized, excited, productive, and even invincible and prefer an elevated mood, especially if it follows a period of depression. Mania can escalate to an uncontrollable level. During a manic episode, people may exhibit unpredictable behavior, make reckless decisions, and take unnecessary risks. They may not consider the consequences of their actions.
Depressive episodes
Depression can be debilitating for people with bipolar disorder. The symptoms can affect their ability to function and lead them to become obsessed with negative feelings like failure, loss, or guilt. For a diagnosis, symptoms of depression must be present nearly every day for at least two weeks. Depression that is associated with bipolar disorder may be more challenging to treat.
Both manic and depressive episodes can lead to an increased risk of suicide. Thoughts of suicide can result from the negative thinking and helplessness associated with depression, but people can also become suicidal in manic states.
Symptoms of bipolar disorder
Symptoms of manic and depressive episodes can vary from person to person, and both can trigger psychotic symptoms, like hallucinations or delusions. Some of the signs to look out for include:
Manic symptoms
- Having intense feelings of excitement, euphoria, or happiness
- Being wired or jumpy
- Having a lot of energy
- Experiencing insomnia or restlessness
- Speaking quickly or being unusually talkative
- Being easily distracted
- Having an inflated sense of self-esteem
- Being increasingly agitated or irritable
- Acting impulsively or uncharacteristically
- Engaging in risky activities, like spending a lot of money or having unsafe sex
Depressive symptoms
- Feeling sad, down, worried, anxious, guilty, empty, or worthless
- Having low energy or feeling tired
- Losing interest in activities
- Being forgetful
- Being indecisive
- Having difficulty concentrating
- Experiencing changes in sleep patterns, sleeping either too little or too much
- Experiencing changes in appetite, eating either too little or too much
Types of bipolar disorder
There are three main types of bipolar disorder. Each has symptoms that involve some type of mood swings, but each type has a unique pattern.
Bipolar disorder type I
Bipolar I disorder is defined by manic episodes that last at least seven days, nearly every day, for most of the day. Manic symptoms can also be so severe that the person may require hospitalization. People with bipolar I disorder may also experience mood disturbances with features of both mania and depression.
Bipolar disorder type II
Bipolar II disorder typically has a pattern of depressive and hypomanic episodes with less severe symptoms than the manic episodes of bipolar I, but it is not considered a “milder” form of the condition. Symptoms of bipolar II can linger, and long periods of depression can cause significant impairment.
Cyclothymia
Cyclothymic disorder is characterized by recurrent depressive and hypomanic symptoms, but symptoms are generally not severe enough to be considered major depression.
Why they’re not just mood swings
While everyone can experience mood swings, bipolar disorder mood swings are typically different in their duration, intensity, and impact on everyday life.
Regular mood swings may have a specific cause, like an issue at work or home. People who experience them may have high or low moods that last a day or so, but they can typically still go to work and manage their daily tasks. Regular mood swings generally do not lead to risky behaviors, and people experiencing them can still usually engage in activities they enjoy and maintain relationships with the people they love.
Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that affects quality of life
A mood disorder is a condition where someone struggles to regulate their moods in a healthy way. Bipolar disorder is one of these conditions; depressive disorders are another branch.
People with bipolar disorder may have manic and depressive episodes that last much longer, and they may seem to come out of the blue. However, some people may have only a manic episode, with no depressive episode. Sometimes, a person may not be able to identify what is causing a mood shift.
Physical and mental health risks associated with bipolar disorder mood swings
Manic episodes may make someone with bipolar disorder more likely to engage in risky behavior, and both manic and depressive episodes can heighten the risk of suicide.
People with bipolar disorder may also have other mental health conditions that can make treatment challenging. A study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that people with bipolar disorder may also experience personality disorders, with borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorders being the most prevalent in the study. Substance use was also common, with 23.8% of people in the study admitting to using cannabis, 19.4% to using alcohol, 10.5% to using cocaine, and 9.6% to using opioids. This research also found that those who had bipolar disorder along with a personality disorder and substance abuse were more likely to attempt suicide.
Treatment of bipolar disorder
Treatment can help many people with bipolar disorder, even those who have severe forms.
Some medications may reduce the symptoms of bipolar disorder. According to the American Psychiatric Association, doctors may prescribe mood stabilizers, such as lithium or atypical antipsychotics. Antidepressants may also be used, but they can trigger rapid cycling or a manic episode. For this reason, they are typically prescribed only for the short term.
Therapy can help you manage bipolar disorder mood swings
Talk therapy or psychotherapy can teach skills and strategies to manage symptoms as well as provide education and support for people with bipolar disorder and their family members. Therapists may use multiple types of therapy, including interpersonal and social rhythm therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
If you want to learn more about the symptoms of bipolar disorder or need help navigating the condition, you might consider speaking with a therapist. If you feel hesitant to sign up for traditional in-person therapy, you might consider online therapy. With an online therapy platform, you can work with a licensed mental health counselor at a time that works for you from anywhere you have an internet connection. You can also contact your therapist 24/7 through in-app messaging, and they’ll respond as soon as they can.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of online therapy. One study found that online therapy can be effective for treating bipolar disorder, depression, and anxiety disorders, among other mental disorders.
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