People with bipolar disorder have extreme mood swings. They can experience periods of depression, periods of mania, and long periods of normal moods in between. A person with bipolar disorder will usually have more episodes of depression than mania. The time between these different episodes can vary greatly from person to person, but usually episodes last days or weeks, distinguishing bipolar disorder from moodiness which may cause mood switches that occur on a daily basis or several times a day. Bipolar disorder is less common than major depressive disorder, affecting around 0.7% of people in the year preceding the research, with approximately equal numbers of men and women affected.

The depression experienced by a person with bipolar disorder includes some or all of the symptoms of depression. Mania appears to be the opposite of depression. A person experiencing mania will have an elevated mood, be overconfident and full of energy. The person might be very talkative, full of ideas, have less need for sleep and take risks they normally would not consider taking. Although some of these symptoms may sound beneficial (example, increased energy and full of ideas), mania often gets people into difficult situations (example, they could spend too much money and get into debt, they can become angry and aggressive, get into legal trouble or be sexually promiscuous). These consequences may play havoc with work, study and personal relationships. The person can have grandiose ideas and may lose touch with reality. In fact, it is not unusual for people with this disorder to become psychotic during depressive or manic episodes.

If you or someone you know are experiencing any of these symptoms, speak to a mental health professional. Our professionals are available to help you 24/7.

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Persuni li jbatu mill-kundizzjoni tal-bipolar disorder jkollhom bidliet estremi fil-burdati. Jistgħu jesperjenzaw perjodi ta’ dipressjoni, perjodi ta’ manija, u perjodi twal ta’ burdati stabbli fin-nofs. Persuna bil-bipolar disorder ġeneralment ikollha aktar episodji ta’ dipressjoni milli manija. Iż-żmien li jgħaddi bejn dawn l-episodji differenti jista’ jvarja sew minn persuna għal oħra, iżda ġeneralment l-episodji jdumu jiem jew ġimgħat.

Id-dipressjoni esperjenzata minn persuna b’bipolar disorder tinkludi wħud mis-sintomi jew is-sintomi kollha tad-dipressjoni. Il-manija tidher li hija l-oppost tad-dipressjoni – jiġifieri, persuna li tesperjenza manija se jkollha burdata elevata, se tkun kunfidenti żżejjed, u mimlija enerġija. Il-persuna tista’ tpaċpaċ ħafna, tkun mimlija ideat, ikollha inqas bżonn ta’ rqad, u tirriskja affarijiet li normalment ma tikkunsidrax li tirriskja. Minkejja li wħudminn dawn is-sintomi jkunu jinstemgħu ta’ benefiċċju (per eżempju, aktar enerġija u ħafna ideat), il-manija ta’ spiss tpoġġi lin-nies f’sitwazzjonijiet diffiċli, per eżempju jistgħu jonfqu żżejjed u jispiċċaw bid-dejn, jistgħu jħossuhom irrabjati u jsiru aggressivi, jidħlu fi problemi legali jew ikunu attivi sesswalment ma’ diversi persuni mingħajr irbit). Dawn il-konsegwenzi jistgħu jaffettwaw ħażin ix-xogħol, l-istudju u r-relazzjonijiet personali. Il-persuna jista’ jkollha ideat stravaganti u tista’ titlef il-kuntatt mar-realtà. Infatti, huwa pjuttost komuni li persuni b’din il-kundizzjoni isiru psikotiċi waqt episodji dipressivi jew manijaċi.

Jekk int jew xi ħadd li taf qed tesperjenzaw xi wħud minn dawn is-sintomi, kellem professjonist. Il-professjonisti tagħna qegħdin hawnhekk 24/7 biex jgħinuk.