Abeer Athar
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Written By: Abeer Athar | Updated : June 11, 2025 10:31 AM IST
Bipolar Disorder: The Emotional Highs And Lows That Trigger Anxiety and Depression
Bipolar Disorder: The world has been constantly seeing a surge in mental health-related cases, the disorders that surround mental well-being don't get enough amount of attention due to the presence of silence that encompasses mental health-friendly conversations. Several conditions receive more lack of awareness than others, making them more neglected when a person suffers from them.
One of such mental health conditions is Bipolar disorder, which was earlier called as manic depression. This type of mental health condition is the one that causes extreme mood swings. These changes in the mood can include emotional highs, which are also known as mania or hypomania, and emotional lows too which are termed as depression. Hypomania is less extreme than mania.
When a person becomes depressed or sad, they may end up feeling sad or hopeless with reduced attraction towards things that intrigued them or that they once found interesting. But on the contrary, when a person's mood shifts to mania or hypomania, then they may feel enthusiastic, excited and euphoric. Making a person full of energy or unusually irritable.
These certain shifts in moods can adversely affect a person's sleep, energy, various activities, judgment, and cognitive functioning of a person. The signs of Bipolar disorder, or the manic-depressive disorder, often go unrecognised due to the lack of awareness. This condition of the mind is marked by extreme fluctuations and disruptions in mood, energy, and activity levels.
The symptoms can involve episodes where an individual may experience unparalleled elation, enthusiasm, and overactive involvement of the brain. The symptoms can also involve many depressive and despondent episodes, where one may see the dark sides of the condition, including sadness, hopelessness, and severe fatigue. Look for these symptoms given below to check if you are one of the people who could be suffering from such a mental disorder.
Any individual who faces bipolar disorder is bound to have over-the-top and elevated moods, which are marked by increased energy and reduced need for sleep, and are also accompanied by rapid thinking and speech.
People who have suffered through such mental conditions have complained about frequent disturbances that are made visible through forever residing sadness, loss of interest, loss of energy, and changes in several patterns and behaviours
People who suffer from this condition are known to have reported an increase in their energy levels. During such manic episodes, individuals may feel unusually energised and may feel that their brain is unusually active during such times. Such an increased flow of energy may feel euphoric.
An increase in energy is not the only indicator of bipolar disorder, but there are times when people also face a reduction in their energy levels. During such dark and depressive episodes, a lot of individuals are bound to experience fatigue and a lack of motivation that may make them lose interest.
The people who have bipolar disorder have manic episodes that cause a reduction in the need for rest and are associated with reduced need for sleep. On the other hand, the dark- depressive episodes also involve insomnia that is marked by patterns of excessive sleeping, making the person sleep for longer hours.
The brain disorder can affect the intestine, causing an individual to eat too much or too less. Amendments in appetite, or eating patterns such as eating more or less than regular, are intensely linked with both manic and depressive episodes. This symptom can also cause other disorders.
During such manic episodes of bipolar disorder, the people who go through them may exhibit impulsive and reckless behaviour, where they can become more aggressive and impatient of what happens around them. Making them more prone to negative emotions and feelings that can intensify the condition.
During such dark and depressive episodes, a lot of individuals may also see themselves in a situation where they feel like withdrawing from social activities and work, as this condition can make them lose interest in the things and the hobbies that they enjoyed the most in the past.
A lot of Individuals who go through these extreme highs and lows may end up experiencing difficulty in focusing and concentrating. This can even lead to the inability to decide for oneself or make decisions, especially during the times when one goes through depressive episodes.
Such a disorder can be hard to deal with, but with the right care and professional help, one can surely increase the pace of recovery. Other habitual changes can further complement the early improvement.