The most common symptom associated with bipolar disorder is mood swings. Individuals who are bipolar will experience heightened euphoria and happiness followed by drastic depression and guilt. While mood swings are the most common symptom, they are not the only symptom. There are several other hallmarks of this condition, and many of them contradict each other. Essentially, there are two types of symptoms: manic symptoms and depressive symptoms. Each set of symptoms produce very different types of behavior and are often experienced back-to-back in a short period of time.
A list of bipolar symptoms from various medical sources as well as the type (manic or depressive or both) associated with each are…
1. Mood Swings
Type: Manic and Depressive
Mood swings are the most common symptom of bipolar disorder and are a combination of manic and depressive symptoms. A mood swing is characterized by high levels of positivity followed by high levels of negativity and depression or vice versa. Manic periods can last anywhere from a few days to a few months, as can their depressive counterparts.
Many people with bipolar disorder also experience a buffer phase known as “hypomania.” These are like mild manic episodes, which do not significantly interfere with the patient’s everyday responsibilities and behavior. It is also common for people to experience mood instabilities in the days leading up to the full onset of a manic or depressive episode.
