HOW DOES BIPOLAR DISORDER FEEL?
The highs and lows of bipolar disorder can really interfere with your day-to-day life. They might effect your relationships, work, school or even sex-life.
Manic state
Here are some things you might experience while in a manic state:
- Feeling energetic, excited or super happy.
- Spending lots of money or taking risks (specifically sexual or financial ones).
- Feeling hyperactive, too much energy to sleep or eat like usual.
- Some people feel very creative and see this as a positive experience.
- You can also feel irritable, aggressive and out of control which isn’t as enjoyable.
- You may experience psychosis which is when you lose touch with reality and see or hear things that are not there.
Depressed state
At the other end of the scale you can go into a really depressed state where you experience things like:
- A general low mood such as feeling negative, guilty or remorseful.
- Sleeping lots or having problems sleeping.
- Feeling less interested in things that you usually would be or have problems concentrating.
- Feeling worthless, helpless or sometimes suicidal.
You might have heard that some of the most successful, talented and creative people in life, like famous artists, writers and comedians, have experienced these kinds of extreme states of mind.
That isn’t to glamourise it, because even for such people it involves a lot of unhappiness between the higher moments. Of course, this affects a whole range of people and can be really difficult for anyone to live with.
You can find more about the symptoms of bipolar disorder on the NHS website. If you think you are experiencing bipolar disorder your GP can help.