Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that causes significant mood swings — not just the ordinary ups and downs everyone experiences, but extreme shifts that can last days, weeks, or longer. These fall into two types: manic or hypomanic episodes (elevated mood, high energy, reduced need for sleep, sometimes risky decisions) and depressive episodes (low mood, fatigue, loss of interest, hopelessness).

Around one in fifty people in the UK will be diagnosed with bipolar disorder at some point. It usually appears in late teens or early adulthood, though it can emerge at any age. With the right support and treatment, people with bipolar disorder live full, meaningful lives — but it does require ongoing management.

The term "bipolar" is sometimes used casually to describe mood shifts — but true bipolar disorder is a serious condition that requires a proper diagnosis and care, not just willpower.

Signs during a manic or hypomanic episode:
- Feeling unusually euphoric, energised, or powerful
- Needing very little sleep but not feeling tired
- Racing thoughts, talking quickly, jumping between ideas
- Impulsive or risky behaviour — spending sprees, reckless decisions
- Feeling invincible, or as if you have special abilities or insights
- Irritability or agitation if things do not go your way

Signs during a depressive episode:
- Persistent low mood, emptiness, or hopelessness
- Extreme fatigue and difficulty doing even small tasks
- Changes in appetite and sleep
- Difficulty concentrating
- Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy
- Thoughts of self-harm or suicide

Living well with bipolar disorder:

Key strategies include: taking prescribed medication consistently (never stop without speaking to your psychiatrist first), keeping a regular routine especially around sleep, tracking your mood to spot warning signs early, and having a plan with trusted people for what to do when an episode begins.

Bipolar UK has excellent peer support groups and a free mood diary app, which many people find invaluable for spotting patterns before a full episode develops.

When to seek help:

If you think you might have bipolar disorder, speak to your GP and ask for a referral to a psychiatrist. Bipolar disorder is best managed by a specialist team. If someone is in crisis during a manic episode and may harm themselves or others, call 999 or your local NHS crisis line.

UK support:
Bipolar UK — 0333 323 3880 or www.bipolaruk.org (helpline, peer support groups, mood diary app)
Mind — 0300 123 3393
Rethink Mental Illness — 0300 5000 927 or www.rethink.org
Samaritans — 116 123 (free, 24/7)

Sources: NHS (nhs.uk), Mind.org.uk, Bipolar UK, Rethink Mental Illness