Bipolar Disorder

A person suffering from bipolar disorder (also called manic depression) experiences extreme moods that alternate between high or "manic" phases, and low or "depressive" phases. 

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Overview | Resources | Encouragement | Get Help

Overview

People with mild cases of bipolar disorder are often undiagnosed until their disorder progresses to more severe or even life threatening symptoms (e.g. suicidal depression, or manic delusions).

A manic high usually feels good and for this reason those in a manic or mild (hypo manic) state will almost always deny that anything is wrong with them. They simply feel too good to believe anything is wrong. In a manic condition, it is difficult to reason with them.

In order to receive proper diagnosis and treatment your symptoms and family history (of mood swings, depression, and/or alcohol/drugs/gambling/sexual addictions need to be identified. The symptoms of any bipolar episode (mania or depression) are usually limited to distinct, time-limited periods of illness. These episodes are separated by times when the person has few or no symptoms.

Episodes vary from person to person. They generally occur in cycles, some lasting as long as a year (episodes have been known to last years), some may last only minutes. Whenever a person experiences four or more episodes within a 12 month period, that person is said to have "rapid cycling" form of bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness).

Symptoms of Depression

  • Extreme guilt

  • Cry easily

  • Physical problems

  • Paranoid

  • Pessimistic about future

  • Hopeless

  • Obsessive thoughts

  • Disorganized

Symptoms of Mania

  • Energetic/driven

  • Life of the party

  • Over-committed

  • Racing thoughts

  • Rapid, loud, or excessive talking

  • Financially irresponsible

  • Needs little sleep

 Helpful Articles

 Recommended Books

Bipolar Disorder: Rebuilding Your Life by Dr. Jim Stout — Jammed with life-enhancing, down-to-earth lessons from someone who’s “been there, done that.”

Living Well with Depression and Bipolar Disorder by John McManamy — Excellent. Filled with hope and realistic tips.

An Unquiet Mind:  A Memoir of Moods and Madness by Dr. Kay Redfield Jamison — Personal history and reflections from a bipolar person who’s impacted thousands through her writing.

Living Without Depression & Manic Depression: A Workbook for Maintaining Mood Stability by Mary Ellen Copeland — A practical, user-friendly workbook crammed with workable tools and tactics.

Winning Against Relapse by Mary Ellen Copeland — Practical and user-friendly, crammed with workable tools and tactics to prevent or rehab from a relapse.

The Bipolar Advantage by Tom Wooton — A helpful perspective on the positives from the bipolar condition.

 Useful Websites

Mental Health Recovery — Excellent practical self-help resources for adults and teens on topics such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD, and trauma like sexual abuse and others. One of the recovery movement’s nationally-known leaders, Mary Ellen Copeland, PhD, is their founder. 

National Institute for Mental Health — Self-help info and studies.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) — Varied self-help services: support groups, family and parent help, meetings, conferences for all mental illnesses. 

National Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance — Varied self-help services: support groups, family and parent help, meetings, conferences for all depression and bipolar disorder.

The Balanced Mind Foundation — Helpful info for parents of children & adolescents with depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, etc.

Man Therapy — Helpful for men struggling with depression but concerned that others will think getting professional help implies he’s weak or unmanly. Also good site for wives to share with their husbands—to encourage them to get help.

NAMI Faithnet — Nationally-based and provides spiritual programs and resources for all kinds of faith communities. Provides resources (books, articles, programs, videos, etc.) for individuals and faith communities. Offers practical help for anxiety, addiction, mental illnesses suicide, support groups, stigma, and related topics.

Mental Health Ministries (a program of Pathways to Promise) — A national, spiritually-based organization that provides resources (books, articles, programs, videos, etc.) for individuals and faith communities. Founder and coordinator is Rev. Susan Gregg-Shroeder, a nationally-known speaker on mental illness themes.

Encouragement

Don’t worry, there’s hope! The Bible is filled with examples heroes who were angry, hurt, depressed, skeptical, doubtful of God, and/or suicidal. Check out these statements of hope.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
—Jeremiah 29:11

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
—Isaiah 43:2

How to Get help

If you are in an emergency, click the emergency hotline button below. If you are looking for long-term help, numerous mental health professionals, clergy, organizations, and support groups offer comfort and guidance on boundary-related problems.