Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

1. A person suffering from bipolar disorder (also called manic depression) experiences extreme moods that alternate between high or "manic" phases and low or "depressive" phases.

2. People with mild cases are often undiagnosed until their disorder progresses to more severe or life threatening symptoms (e.g. suicidal depression, or manic delusions).

3. A manic high usually fels good and for this reason those in a manic or hypo (mild) manic state will almost always deny that anything is wrong with them. They simply feel too good to believe anything is wrong.

4.  In order to receive proper diagnosis and treatment your symptoms need to be recognized

5. The symptoms of any bipolar episode (mania or depression) are usually limited to distinct, time-limited periods of illness. These episodes are separated by times when the person has few or no symptoms.

6. Episodes vary from person to person. They generally occur in cycles, some lasting as long as a year (episodes have been known to last years), some may last only minutes. Whenever a person experiences four or more episodes within a 12-month period, that person is said to have "rapid cycling" (manic-depressive illness).

How to Get Help:

1. Check off your symptoms from this page and show them to your doctor, therapist or nurse

2. See a psychiatrist or physician to get appropriate medication and regular monitoring

3. Seek talk therapy by a therapist

4. Meet regularly with supportive people

5. Educate yourself about your illness via books, magazines, tapes, seminars, support groups, conferences, and the internet.