Bipolar Disorder: Just the facts

Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition causing moods to swing from one extreme to the other, unlike simple mood swings these can be very severe changes and last for a few days or weeks at a time.

Someone with bipolar disorder experiences periods of both:

• Depression: feeling very low and lethargic
• Mania: feeling very high and overactive

The symptoms of bipolar disorder are different depending on which mood the person is experiencing.

Symptoms of a depressive episode can include:

• Feelings of worthlessness and low mood
• Thoughts of harming themselves or suicide

If you’re feeling suicidal, seek urgent help from a GP, Samaritans on 116 123, NHS 111, or 999 in an emergency.

You can find a local NHS urgent mental health helpline here.

Symptoms of mania can include:

• Feeling very happy
• Having lots of energy, ambitious plans and ideas
• Spending large amounts of money on things, such as expensive items or possessions that they wouldn’t normally want
• Psychosis, where someone sees or hears things that are not there, or becomes convinced of things that are not true.

During a manic episode, it’s also common to:

• not feel like eating or sleeping
• talk quickly
• become easily annoyed or irritated

Just because you have one or more of these symptoms, it doesn’t mean you definitely have bipolar disorder. It’s important to speak to a GP to get a diagnosis.

Living with bipolar disorder

The differences in mood caused by bipolar disorder can seriously affect a person’s everyday life, but treatments can be prescribed such as:

• Medicine that works to stabilise mood, preventing serious swings of depression and mania
• Medicine to treat the symptoms of depression and mania when they occur
• Talking therapies
• Lifestyle advice, such as improving diet, exercise and sleep

A GP may also refer you to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) or a specialist psychiatrist.

Bipolar disorder is usually a long-term condition, but prescribed treatments mixed with the following self-help techniques can limit the impact it has on everyday life:

• Staying active and eating well
• Talking to friends and family. Some charities, such as bipolar UK, have online communities where those affected by the condition can talk to others in similar circumstances.
• Talking therapies
• Avoiding drugs and alcohol, these can have harmful physical and social effects

How to get help

If you have any more questions on this area or would like to speak to somebody about this topic, have a look at the links or search for your local services in the blue box below. Alternatively you can always contact your school nurse.

• w: Bipolar UK
  
• w: NHS - Bipolar disorder