What are the signs and symptoms of bipolar
disorder?
People with bipolar disorder experience unusually intense emotional states that
occur in distinct periods called “mood episodes.” Each mood episode represents
a drastic change from a person’s usual mood and behavior. An overly joyful
or overexcited state is called a manic episode, and an extremely sad or hopeless
state is called a depressive episode. Sometimes, a mood episode includes symptoms
of both mania and depression. This is called a mixed state. People with bipolar
disorder also may be explosive and irritable during a mood episode. Extreme
changes in energy, activity, sleep, and behavior go along with these changes in
mood.