Bipolar Disorder: What Are the Different Types And How Can One Recognise It?

Emotions can be tricky: you may be feeling perfectly happy one second and something could happen to make you feel sad the very next minute. People suffering from a mental condition called bipolar disorder present with dramatic shifts in their mood and energy within a short period of time. During the manic phase, the person would present with the following signs and symptoms: Excitability with high levels of energy Irritated mood Inability to sleep at night Exaggerated confidence Faster speech which is difficult to understand Inability to concentrate, easily distracted Delusions Hallucinations During the depressive period, the person would present with the following signs and symptoms: Low or irritated mood Loss of interest in the things which used to amuse them in the past Either loss of appetite or excessive eating Either increase in the weight or loss of weight Either inability to sleep or excessive sleeping Agitated behaviour Fatigue Loss of confidence Feeling of worthlessness Inability to concentrate Inability to make decisions Suicidal thoughts and even attempts Are there different types of bipolar disorder? There are three types of bipolar disorder: Bipolar I Disorder: In this type, the person would present with manic episodes that last at least 7 days. Most people with bipolar disorder are given a combination of treatments such as the use of drugs like lithium and other anticonvulsant and antipsychotic medicines which help in calming the person.