Condition : Bipolar disorder
What is bipolar disoder?
If you have bipolar disorder, you will experience extreme mood changes that can last for a few days or weeks at a time, with periods in between where your mood is stable.
The symptoms you experience will depend on whether your mood has swung to a high or low.
Symptoms of high moods (mania or hypomania) include:
- feeling very happy and excited
- feeling very irritable or aggressive
- having a lot of energy, feeling restless or not needing much sleep
- racing thoughts or not being able to concentrate
- speaking fast or talking a lot – you may not make sense to other people
- a high sex drive (libido)
- feeling overly confident or adventurous
- being impulsive or extravagant such as spending lots of money
- saying or doing things that are rude, inappropriate or not usual for you
- hearing things that are not real (hallucinations), believing things that are not true (delusions) or feeling paranoid
Symptoms of low moods (depression) include:
- feeling sad or upset
- not being interested in things you usually enjoy
- low energy or feeling very tired
- difficulty sleeping or sleeping a lot
- eating too much or too little
- low confidence
- feeling worthless or hopeless
- not being able to concentrate
- avoiding seeing or spending time with other people
- having suicidal thoughts or thoughts about harming yourself
What causes bipolar disorder?
It's not known exactly what causes bipolar disorder, but there are some things that can increase your chances of developing it, such as:
- having a parent or sibling who has bipolar disorder
- childhood trauma or abuse
- a stressful event (for example, relationship problems, abuse, the death of someone close to you, or money problems)
- recreational drugs, such as cannabis or cocaine
- having toxoplasmosis, an infection caused by a parasite found in infected meat or the poo of infected cats
- having cyclothymia, a mild form of bipolar disorder
Next steps
Browse our recommended external support resources to learn more about your condition and ways to manage it.
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Discover services and support options available to help you with your health and wellbeing.
Related services
Mental Health Integrated Community Service
- Adults
Specialised support, focusing on recovery and resilience, for adults with a significant mental illness or difficult circumstances.
Mental Health Integrated Community Service: Go to serviceEarly Intervention in Psychosis Service
- Adults
Assessment and intervention for adults experiencing psychosis for the first time, or who may be at risk of developing psychosis.
Early Intervention in Psychosis Service: Go to serviceEarly Intervention in Psychosis and Mania Service for children and young people
- Children & young people
Help for young people (up to the age of 18) who may be experiencing psychosis or mania, or showing early signs of developing psychosis.
Early Intervention in Psychosis and Mania Service for children and young people: Go to serviceTalking Therapies
- Adults
A free and confidential service offering effective treatment for common mental health problems such as low mood, stress or worry.
Talking Therapies: Go to serviceCrisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team
- Adults
Mental health assessment at home or a community setting and, where possible, treatment to avoid admission to hospital.
Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Team: Go to serviceExternal support
Further information on the NHS UK website
Mental Health Foundation
Research and campaigns to prevent poor mental health
Rethink Mental Illness
Advice and information about living with a mental health problem