Bipolar disorder, or manic depression, causes patients to cycle between high and low moods, or mania and depression. The National Institute of Mental Health points out that the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health defines four types of bipolar disorder: bipolar disorder I, bipolar disorder II, cyclothymia and bipolar disorder not otherwise specified. Patients with bipolar disorder I have mainly mania symptoms, while patients with bipolar disorder II have mainly depression symptoms. Cyclothymia patients have a mild form of the disorder, while patients with bipolar disorder not otherwise specified have symptoms that do not fit into the other types.
Low Mood
When bipolar disorder patients experience the depressive stage of the disorder, they can have a low mood, which can affect their self-esteem. For example, Medline Plus notes that patients can have a daily low mood with persistent sadness. While feeling low, patients may feel worthless. They may feel guilty about events that occurred years ago or about issues that they did not cause. Bipolar disorder patients may have a loss of self-esteem during the depressive stage. Patients may also have anxiety with the low mood.
Suicidal Thoughts
Medline Plus points out that bipolar disease patients have a high risk of suicide. The persistent thoughts of death or suicide attempts can occur during the depressive stage or manic stage. The suicidal thoughts can become worse when patients use alcohol or drugs. The Mayo Clinic adds that during the manic stage, bipolar disorder patients might carelessly use alcohol and drugs.
Elevated Mood
During the manic phase of bipolar disorder, patients have an elevated mood, which causes them to feel more energetic and outgoing. For example, Medline Plus notes that mania causes patients to have an inflated self-esteem. As a result, patients have an unrealistic conception of their abilities, and may take on more work or go into risky situations. Patients may also become hyperactive and have increased energy.
Psychosis
The Mayo Clinic explains that during both the manic and depressive stages, bipolar disorder patients have a break with reality, or psychosis. For example, patients can have delusions in which they have unrealistic beliefs. Bipolar disorder patients may also have hallucinations, in which they hear, see or feel something that does not exist. Since these psychotic symptoms can occur with both depression and mania, the types of delusions and hallucinations they have change. For example, during the depressive stage of bipolar disorder, patients may hear a voice telling them that they are worthless. But during the manic stage, that voice may encourage patients to perform risky behaviors, like driving fast.
Mixed Mood
The National Institute of Mental Health notes that some patients may have a mixed mood, in which they have sadness and high energy at the same time. During the mixed mood, patients may become agitated or become hopeless. Suicidal thoughts can occur during the mixed mood as well. This mood may become difficult for patients, as they deal with two types of mood at the same time.
Rapid Cycling Mood
Some bipolar disorder patients may have a rapid cycling mood. The Mayo Clinic defines a rapid cycling mood as having four or more mood swings a year. For some patients, this means switching from mania to depression within a few hours. Switching rapidly between two drastically different moods can affect a patient's well-being, as she changes from euphoria to a low mood.
Thinking and Concentration Problems
The National Institute of Mental Health points out that bipolar disorder can affect cognitive function. For example, during the depressive stage, patients can have problems concentrating and making decisions. These thinking and concentration problems can affect patients' memory. When bipolar disorder patients become manic, they are easily distracted, which can also affect memory.
