Bipolar disorder, it used to be called ‘manic depressive disorder’ due to the extreme mood swings between both states. One day you might feel very overactive with lots of energy and elevated mood/irritability, racing thoughts, and it can also lead to a lack of sleep and in some cases, a psychotic state. Then a period of time later (several days to a week or more), it can completely switch, with overwhelming negative emotion like depression, lethargy, anhedonia, and other associated states.

Specific symptoms and diagnosis (I.E. hypomania vs. mania) depend on the type of BPD and the person. Some people can experience mania and depression at the same time, and the condition usually has an adverse effect on social interactions, particularly with relationships and work. Substance abuse is also common. Whilst it may seem like a manic state may be beneficial, it’s usually disruptive and can cause a person to have delusions about themselves as well as decreased judgement and heightened impulsivity (potentially leading to risky activities).