Bipolar Symptoms & Signs

A 'symptom' is a subjective sense or feeling of being unwell. Only the person suffering notices symptoms.

On the other hand, a 'sign' is an objective, observable event that someone else can see.

Lists of symptoms are often used as a means of self-diagnosis, but this approach is unlikely to produce the right answer for the right reasons. If you want to find out if you might have bipolar disorder, take our free test for bipolar disorder.

In bipolar disorder/manic depression, not all symptoms and signs are present in everyone. We have given a limited number of examples as an illustration. If you have bipolar disorder, you can learn how to identify your own signs of illness that are unique to you.

Symptoms & signs of mania

elation (symptom)
feeling invincible (symptom)
irritated (symptom)
irritability (sign)
busy (symptom and sign)
talking fast (symptom and sign)
thinking fast (symptom)
sleeplessness (symptom and sign)

Symptoms & signs of depression

dejected, pessimistic (symptom)
hard to concentrate or remember (symptom)
taking no fun/joy out of life (symptom)
no energy / can't get out of bed (symptom and sign)
belief that 'I am bad' (symptom)

When the symptoms & signs point to depression and mania

Bipolar disorder is not quite as simple as just mania and depression, as ten more groups of symptoms have been identified by Kraepelin in 1921. These are 'mixed states' with elements of mania and depression present at the same time. The suffering is different but equivalent to 'pure' depression or mania. They have some colorful names such as 'Black Mania' and 'Depression with flight of ideas.'

'Mixed' states occur in 40 to 50% of episodes, but may be more difficult to recognise as episodes of bipolar disorder and this may partly explain the low rate of diagnosis of bipolar disorder. More information on mixed states is available in Bipolar and the Art of Roller-coaster Riding.

Footnote

Kraepelin E: Manic-Depressive Insanity and Paranoia Trans RM Barclay, Edited by GM Robertson. Edinburgh: E & S Livingstone, 1921

Some mixed state symptoms and signs

depressed, hopeless outlook (symptom) with restlessness, fast pressured speech (sign)
depressed, anxious (symptoms) with constant talk flitting from one problem to the next
racing thoughts and speech, restless (signs) with inability to move / stupor (signs)

Making use of symptoms and signs

The best way to use symptoms and signs is to identify and record the ones that typically occur for you while you are becoming ill. When you know those, you will be able to use them to "ride the roller-coaster like an expert" to prevent and minimise the damage that an episode of bipolar can create.

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Symptoms and signs of bipolar disorder

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