Bipolar Affective Disorder

What is bipolar?

Bipolar disorder (formerly known as manic depression) is a mood disorder where a person has experienced a prolonged period (usually at least several consecutive days) of feeling elated and ‘high.’

Bipolar symptoms

During a bipolar/manic episode individuals tend to have racing thoughts, speak really fast, feel like they are bursting with energy and don’t need much sleep. Often people will be much more impulsive and engage in risky behaviours. They might have extreme levels of confidence and many grand ideas. These experiences are highly unusual for the person and represent a significant departure from their usual demeanour.