Characteristics of Bipolar Disorder

One of the characteristics of bipolar disorder is the different mood swing condition. Bipolar people experience tremendous mood swings, from deliriously happy then a sudden shift to extreme melancholy. The sudden changes affects the energy level and as a result so does the level of activity. It may be difficult for people with bipolar disorder to fulfill their everyday tasks as this is a debilitating condition. This article will discuss a few more characteristics of bipolar disorder.

Bipolar people experience dual mood episodes. When the person is extremely sad, it is called the depressive episode, while the manic episode is when the person is unusually joyful. Bipolar disorder’s mood swings are way different from the normal mood swings that are experienced by those who don’t have it. An episode of combined symptoms from both mania and depression are experienced, it is called the mixed state.

The common traits or characteristics of a person with bipolar disorder in a manic episode are talking very quickly, getting easily distracted, being restless, decreased sleeping time, impulsive and high-risk behavior, having an exaggerated belief in one’s own abilities, and preference of taking goal-oriented activities. If in a depressive state, the bipolar person tends to be lethargic, experience melancholy thoughts, seems to be detached from the every day world and even contemplates suicide.

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You daily activities as a person may be affected severely by such unstable emotions. This causes further of the characteristics of bipolar disorder such as sudden changes in activity, sleep, behavior, and energy. As a consequence, the person is unable to meet the expectations at home, school or even at home.

The characteristics of bipolar disorder can be experienced differently by a person as one can go through a long period of unstable moods while others suffer distinct episodes of mania and depression. If the bipolar person is exhibiting signs of manic-depression activity everyday for two weeks, he or she is experiencing an episode.

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