Bipolar Disorder Symptoms?

Could I be bipolar? Am I bipolar just because I get mood swings? I experience feeling extremely happy then suddenly feeling too sad. Does this make me a bipolar person? I am 19 years old. I went through family problems and stuff. If this information helps.

What are the symptoms? How can you tell if someone is really bipolar?

Symptoms of bipolar mania
The main feature of a manic episode is an excessively "high" mood (euphoria) or an abnormally irritable mood. The mood must last for a week or more (less time if the person has to go to the hospital). Along with the euphoria or irritability, a person has three or four of the following symptoms:


Inflated sense of self-importance (may have grandiose delusions or overestimate abilities and talents)
Decreased need for sleep (may go days without sleep and not feel tired)
Loud, rapid speech ( may talk nonstop)
Racing thoughts ( may abruptly jump from one subject to another)
Distractibility ( may not be able to screen out irrelevant details)
Agitation or restlessness (may pace or hold multiple conversations at once)
Increase in goal-oriented activities ( may have an increased sex drive or become excessively and inappropriately social)
Unwise involvement in pleasurable but potentially risky activities (may rack up significant debt, have sex with strangers, abuse drugs, or make rash investment decisions)


Symptoms of bipolar depression
Bipolar depression is more than just having the blues. A person in the midst of a major depressive episode experiences extreme sadness or numbness almost all day, every day, for at least two weeks. Or they may show a loss of interest in or enjoyment from their favorite activities. In addition, the person shows signs of at least four of the following nearly every day:


Significant changes in appetite and/or weight ( may crave specific foods or be unable to eat)
Sleep problems (e.g., may have insomnia or sleep too much)
Loss of energy or fatigue ( may take much longer to do simple, everyday tasks)
Trouble concentrating (may have a hard time making decisions or focusing on work)
Slowed speech, thinking, or body movements ( may take a long time to answer a question)
Inappropriate feelings of guilt or worthlessness ( may fixate on perceived failings)
Agitation or restlessness ( may not be able to sit still)
Recurring thoughts of death or suicide ( may have plans for how to commit suicide)

Hope this was of some help. If you feel life you have Bipolar you need to seek treatment. I wish you all the best!

No, your mood swings do not mean you have Bipolar Disorder. Everyone has mood swings to some degree, yet most people don't have Bipolar Disorder. Life stressors can certainly cause mood swings, as can normal hormonal changes in the body.

Bipolar disorder is a complicated, serious, and currently "overhyped" disorder. It's considered an incurable (but treatable), severe and persistent form of mental illness.

It takes the professionals a long time to diagnose it. The symptoms are very severe. The mood swings must be significant. There is a less severe form called Cyclothymic Disorder, that's probably more common than actual Bipolar Disorder. There are also different types of Bipolar Disorder.

If your mood swings are causing you distress, then see a mental health professional for an assessment. You really need to be in treatment for a while so the therapist/psychiatrist can see your symptoms over time. Your friends cannot diagnose you, and we can't do it here either.

WebMD has a section on Bipolar Disorder symptoms. Because of the different types, it's too much info to list here. It would just be oversimplified and misleading. Please see the website, but avoid diagnosing yourself. Your doctor is the best one to review your symptoms with, to see if they really do fit the criteria.

If you really feel like you might have it, go see a doctor. Even if you don't have it, you will have peace of mind. Bipolar disorder is normally characterized by episodes of extreme depression and extreme episodes of mania, which could be like not sleeping for a few days, going on spending binges, for example. But like I said, if you really want to know, just go to a doctor.

The website below can be helpful.Everyone has feelings of sadness and happiness once in a while.Feeling high and feeling low are part of life.It doesn't necessarily mean you are bipolar just cause of your mood changes.But like i said go on the site,read about it and if you are still not sure maybe you should seek professional help to help you determine.Hope all is well,best wishes.

Bi-Polar can often run in families. Because you have "ups and downs" does not mean you have bi-polar, however you do appear to have some of the traits, but it takes more than that to have a diagnosis.

Has anything recently changed in your life. Any trauma occur within your family, have you been ill recently.

Visit your Gp who will decide whether or not you need to be referred toa specialists. Bi_polar can sometimes be over diagnosed, and needs to me monitored more professionally before accepting a condition of Bi-Polar.

Blessings. Jack.

Well i may be bi-polar because my mom is and i have most of her traits...and some things she told me you can do is chart your moods and then after a few weeks maybe go and see a doctor and show them those and usually your moods will be up and down a lot, like you can be in a low when your really depressed and nothing else can make you happy or when your high and you cant stop moving or doing something..

Mood swings can occur for a few reasons, not just a person with bipolar. I used to have extreme mood swings when I was younger, it turns out I just had a lot of anger, hurt and sadness to deal with.

I don't think it necessarily means just mood swings because everyone has those. I do know that bi-polar disorder usually goes hand in hand with depression.