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Bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression) causes serious shifts in mood, energy, thinking, and behavior–from the highs of mania on one extreme, to the lows of depression on the other. More than just a fleeting good or bad mood, the cycles of bipolar disorder last for days, weeks, or months. And unlike ordinary mood swings, the mood changes of bipolar disorder are so intense that they interfere with your ability to function.

There are four types of mood episodes in bipolar disorder: mania, hypomania, depression, and mixed episodes.

Common signs and symptoms of mania:

·         Feeling unusually “high” and optimistic OR extremely irritable

·         Unrealistic, grandiose beliefs about one’s abilities or powers

·         Sleeping very little, but feeling extremely energetic

·         Talking so rapidly that others can’t keep up

·         Racing thoughts; jumping quickly from one idea to the next

·         Highly distractible, unable to concentrate

·         Impaired judgment and impulsiveness

·         Acting recklessly without thinking about the consequences

·         Delusions and hallucinations (in severe cases)

Common signs and symptoms of hypomania

Hypomania is a less severe form of mania. People in a hypomanic state feel euphoric, energetic, and productive, but they are able to carry on with their day-to-day lives and they never lose touch with reality. To others, it may seem as if people with hypomania are merely in an unusually good mood. However, hypomania can result in bad decisions that harm relationships, careers, and reputations. In addition, hypomania often escalates to full-blown mania or is followed by a major depressive episode.

Common symptoms of bipolar depression:

·         Feeling hopeless, sad, or empty.

·         Irritability

·         Inability to experience pleasure

·         Fatigue or loss of energy

·         Physical and mental sluggishness

·         Feeling hopeless, sad, or empty.

·         Irritability

·         Inability to experience pleasure

·         Fatigue or loss of energy

·         Physical and mental sluggishness

Common signs and symptoms of a mixed episode

A mixed episode of bipolar disorder features symptoms of both mania or hypomania and depression. For example, depression combined with agitation, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, distractibility, and racing thoughts. This combination of high energy and low mood makes for a particularly high risk of suicide.

Bipolar disorder has no single cause. It appears that certain people are genetically predisposed to bipolar disorder. Yet not everyone with an inherited vulnerability develops the illness, indicating that genes are not the only cause. Some brain imaging studies show physical changes in the brains of people with bipolar disorder. Other research points to neurotransmitter imbalances, abnormal thyroid function, circadian rhythm disturbances, and high levels of the stress hormone cortisol. External environmental and psychological factors are also believed to be involved in the development of bipolar disorder.

Source: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/bipolar_disorder_symptoms_treatment.htm