Bipolar, or formerly manic depression, is a brain condition that is characterized by extreme changes in mood, thoughts, energy, and the ability to function. The symptoms of this condition that most people with depression experience are different from the usual ups and downs. They are more severe and can result in damage to careers, relationships, school performance, and sometimes, unfortunately, ending in suicide. Fortunately, however, bipolar is treatable and those who have recovered from this disabling condition can have full and productive lives. 

The reason why bipolar or manic depression is called such is because a person with this condition has moods that can alternate between the poles of mania (highs) and depression (lows). The length of this change in mood, or sometimes called mood swings, may last for hours, days, weeks, or months, depending on any one person’s individual factors and reactions to depression, and will vary from one sufferer to the next.

Bipolar can cause dramatic changes of mood – from extreme highs and/or irritable to sad and hopeless then back high again, usually with normal/stable moods in between. The periods of highs and lows are called episodes of mania and depression. Here are some of the symptoms of mania or manic episodes:

• Extreme irritability
• Increased or high energy
• Racing thoughts and talking very fast
• Easily distracted
• Sleeps for only a few hours or for hours/whole days
• Decreased sexual drive
• Behave differently from the usual and denies that nothing is wrong
• Aggressive 

A manic event is diagnosed if high mood occurs most of the day, almost everyday, for a week or more with three or more of the other symptoms. If the mood is irritable, four more additional symptoms must be present to be diagnosed.

Here are some of the symptoms of depression:

• Overwhelming and lasting feeling of unhappiness, anxiety, or empty mood
• Feeling of hopelessness or deep pessimism
• Difficulty remembering or making decisions 
• Too much, too little, or broken sleep
• Significant change in appetite resulting in weight loss or gain
• Thoughts of suicide or death
• Feeling of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
• Chronic fatigue
• Restlessness or irritability

A depressive episode or manner can be diagnosed if five or more of the above symptoms last most of the day, almost everyday, for a period of two weeks or longer.

Moderate to mild levels of mania is called hypomania, which may feel good to the person who is experiencing it and may also be associated with good functioning and enhanced productivity. If not treated immediately, hypomania may become severe mania and can switch to depression. One of only a couple events in life where too much happiness can be a detrimental thing.

Some episodes of mania or depression include psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions. The psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder have the tendency to reflect this extreme mood state. For example, delusions of richness, like believing that they’re wealthy, may occur during mania; or delusion of guilt or hopelessness, like believing that they are completely desolate – ruined and broke, may appear during depression. People who are suffering from bipolar who happen to have psychotic symptoms are occasionally and incorrectly diagnosed as having schizophrenia. As I continually say, this chaos in the mind is a direct correlation to the chaos in the soul. That cannot be diagnosed or treated by anyone or anything, except the sufferer and their mental willingness to heal and their spiritual wellness to sustain. To put it plainly, those who believe they know everything about the mind is egotistically and unintelligently disservicing those who need real help. Hence, the reason the depression numbers are so ridiculously high in this country, yet ‘everyone’ is in therapy. So please seek the help your soul shows/tells you it needs. It’ll never steer you wrong. It can’t because it is the only untainted thing we have, unless we gave in/sold it to negative forces. The latter is another unforgiving process and subject in itself. 

• As a reminder, please seek immediate help at your local ER or treatment center if you feel you might be a danger to yourself and others. I cannot stress that enough.