What does being bipolar feel like?

Basically, sometimes you're overwhelmingly sad. You have no energy, you sleep all day. Everyone says you're being lazy, and even when you try your hardest to do things you just can't. Then other times you're invincible. Everyone thinks you're charming and funny, and doing seems natural. Suddenly you're convinced you can do anything, and you have the kind of energy that makes others believe it to. Then it's back to being depressed again and all you want is to die, and you hate yourself and everyone else don't understand why you suddenly "stopped trying" and why you have a bad attitude. Typically the depressed periods last for months and the manic one only a couple of weeks. That's my experience at least. I'm sure others have different.

My bipolar was a roughly 6 week cycle of going from the deepest most hopeless depression through a normal middle time and on into a manic period over and over until I went into remission about 22 years ago. At 67 years old, I am thankfully stable with no manic or (depressed) hopeless episodes but the fear of same is still there occasionally, especially when I get really tired mentally. I am totally blessed but I never take it for granted that I am totally cured.

I would describe it as heavy emotional weight bearing down on you as you try to gain footing. Mania is always on go mode, there is no stopping, and I feel like I could take on anything at 'any cost'. The costs that follow are usually from outbursts, hard distrust, sometimes even cutting people off because they feel like a burden. When the depression seeps in, then a lot of my mistakes I made during manic episodes come back like demons siphoning my life. It's probably a little more descriptive than I need to be, but it's more than just "being sad" it's more like being so weighed down by the smallest details, that you feel you need to drag your life to get going. To summarize: I feel like manic episodes are setting a garden on fire, and depressive episodes are slowly the burden of regrowth at such a slow rate the effort feels useless.

Bi-polar is an mental illness that for some is very confusing. you are unsure of your feelings, your thoughts. one minute you could feel all okay and the next you want to just flip. it is something, that you yourself cannot control.

It feels like a hurricane sometimes. I feel like my emotions are in all different directions and i cant controll it. other times its like im completely numb to everything

Been bipolar makes you feel like crazy ,you feel like you can do anything until later you feel like the world is the worst.Sometimes I feel like dying because I feel like I am not worth it in life ,what’s the point leaving here.But later minutes past and I am like soo happy I don’t have any idea how this happen its crazy .Sometimes I feel like I am crazy because I can not control myself and the worst people see me and maybe they think I am crazy.why is soo hard to control my feelings?? I don’t know and I will never know . Sometimes I cry soo much I can not stop and then my mood changes and then I feel soo happy ..yeah and I don’t like anything sometime nothing makes me happy is the worst part .

That depends on the type of bipolar disorder. it can be torment between feeling energetic and lethargic, between times of high risk and times of just hiding in bed. Or it can be a mess of feelings jumbling in to each other and making it hard to pinpoint if what's happening is because of outer sources or because a switch's been flipped over in your brain. It can be very clear and easy to diagnose. Or it can be tough, because it's a mess and hard to see. Either way, it's stressful, sometimes dangerous, and no matter what phase is currently going, it's tiring to stay in control.

It feels like being locked in your own head. Like your mind is a cage and you can't get out. It's like feeling hopeless and empty. And at other times, useless. Like nothing will get better.

While I can't speak for everyone, I sometimes experience psychosis during mania and depression. I get paranoid delusions and occasional hallucinations. For me, the worst part of this is the inability to decipher delusions from reality. I end up questioning my every thought. Personal relationships with friends and family become strained, because I find myself over-thinking everything said between us. People begin avoiding me when they realize I'm going through one of my phases again, and I can become rather difficult. So I'm faced with having to deal with loneliness. I battle with the decision to reach out, because I really don't even know what's a real problem in my life and what are made up issues in my head. I usually end up making the right choice to reach out. That's what keeps me stable.

Being bipolar feels like one minute you could be on top of the world where others can feel happy and then something goes wrong and instead of dampening the day, it ruins it entirely. Your emotions are always to the extreme but people who don't have bipolar may not understand this so when they see us reacting in a way due to our bipolar - many think we are overreacting or being dramatic... But these feelings are real to us. It is difficult but more and more people are being educated on mental health and so the stigma and misunderstandings around bipolar are definitely improving

"Bipolar", Well to be precise, usually people down with this disorder suffers from varied anxiety levels, moodswings, sleeplessness, hallucinations, overthinking, suicidal thoughts (at extreme level) etc. Their is no particular age group for this disorder, people of any age group can suffer from this disorder. Their are many factors which can lead to this disorder, i.e., work pressure, isolation, indifferences in relationships, improper self-care, strive for perfection, improper sleeping hours, domestic abuse or any form of it, lack of appreciation, etc. Well this can be treated by taking proper care of that individual by understanding their level of mindset.

You have hectic ups and hectic downs. You’re extremely happy for a while then you just plummet into a deep depression. You’re emotions are also all over the place so you might find yourself change moods drastically in as little as a minute.

In my personal experience with being diagnosed with Bipolar I feel as if I am on a roller coaster that never wants to stop. Some days there are good days but the other days are bad, one minute I would feel terrific but then all of the sudden I would feel as if I was drowning in an abyss that's full of depression. Having Bipolar you will have dramatic mood swings for example with me I have times that I'm very hyper, full of energy, I felt like I could do anything if I set my mind to it and then all of the sudden I would be irritable and extremely tired.

It feels like you’re mind is racing and you can’t shut it off when you want it to. Also some days it makes you feel like not getting out of bed.

An emotional roller coaster. One minute you are as happy as can be then the next you are a crying mess or angry. It would be best to speak to a professional if you have concerns on this matter

It feels like you are on top of the world one minute, and the next you come crashing down into depression. The right meds help. But, there may be side effects you have to deal with too. My biggest issue with mine right now is weight gain and feeling a loss of creativity. Still, it beats feeling irritable, angry, depressed, or completely alone. Plus, learning what triggers your moods is a must. Some days, even on meds, bipolar disorder makes me feel exhausted simply because I almost feel like an outsider who has to work extra hard to fit in. Thank God for family and my therapist!

Bipolar makes me feel like I am two entirely different people constantly battling a war in my mind to maintain my life. Half of me stays in bed and away from people and the other half wants to see everyone and never come back home. They pop up unexpectedly so I never know how my day will go.

Bipolar feels different to many people, for me it feels like my emotions have voices and when I am feeling manic its like they are screaming and fighting over me. Sometimes I black out because it gets to be too much to handle so my brain has a black out. I usually have a manic episode 1 time a year, but with medication I feel more stable and more in control, I can help better myself and manage my bipolar when I exercise, eat healthy, meditate and more. If you have Bipolar Disorder know you aren't alone or helpless. you can make it through the disorder, if you just believe, its not even a disease its a part of you that makes you beautiful and unique.

Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities. Bipolar disorder is a confusing condition, especially for someone viewing it from the outside. If you have a friend or relative living with bipolar disorder, this person may be reluctant to share how they feel. Because this can make it hard to know how the illness affects them, reading first-hand accounts of other people living with bipolar disorder can help you understand the condition from their perspective.

For me personally, it feels like a rollercoaster you can't get off. Some parts are too fast, some parts are too slow, some parts are scary!! And some parts just feel pretty normal (like being on a train) but all that matters are those who are on it with you

I have been diagnosed with bipolar almost 10 years ago. Having bipolar is an illness just as diabetes is an illness. There is a lot of stigma around mental illness and we need to be ambassadors for ourselves and fellow-bipolar diagnosed people that it is nothing to be ashamed of. Someone once told me that having bipolar does not define who you are but is a perfectly manageable illness. Therefore, never say "I AM bipolar" (it is not who you are), rather say "I HAVE bipolar" like you would have told someone you have diabetes (you aren't diabetes). I have read in a book that having bipolar feels like this (and I have experienced it as well): Think of driving a car. You keep your foot steady on the accelerator but the car keeps speeding and you are trying to brake, but the brakes don't work. It doesn't matter what you do, the car will not slow down. Cops start chasing you and your loved ones are yelling at you to slow down. That is normally the mania stage. The opposite, again driving a car and you put pedal to the metal but the car keeps slowing down and nothing you do will make the car go any faster. Eventually other drivers pass you yelling and shouting at you for driving so slow but you cannot help it. This is the depression hitting you. Having bipolar messes up all your emotions and your moods flip faster than a burger on the grill. Normally you don't realise the symptoms until someone close to you like a family member or friend draws your attention to it. Unfortunately we experience feelings we cannot put into words. We feel alone (depressed) and long to go out with friends, yet when they ask we decline to rather stay at home. On the other hand, we feel invincible - like nothing can touch us - and tend to do impulsive things we later come to regret (mania). Having bipolar is difficult but with therapy and medication (yes medication) can help you to "nomalise" these episodes of mania and depression. There are so many medications on the market that it is important to work with your therapist to find the right combination for you as well as the right doses. It takes time, but do not ever give up finding the right medication and dosages. Every human being have their "off" days and happy days but not to the extent that we experience it. Taking medication and going to regular therapy sessions, the illness is managed to, like other people, still have "off" days and happy days but in a fairly normal margin. In conclusion, don't be ashamed, seek professional help, accept support from your family and friends and never say "I Am bipolar" - "we HAVE bipolar". I wrote this from my heart because I HAVE bipolar and I'm not ashamed of it. Yours in recovery, Piekkel ;o)

It's inconsistent haha. Seriously though some days I feel down in the dumps and some days I feel on top of the world. One common symptom for me is grandiosity.. I'll get these surges of great ideas and suddenly I'll have the belief that I can change the world with this idea. The grandiosity usually goes hand in hand with impulsivity, which then causes me to act on my grandiose idea, causing me to male bad decisions. Physically I feel my head get warm when I'm manic, and a different kind of sinking warmth when I'm depressed..

being bipolar is to feel the intensity of everything, not just happieness and sadness but all the inbetweens of every feeling with a name, being bipolar is to feel so intensely that you are connected to others and all their feelings or to feel so alone like the sharpness and rawness of the world is cutting you just by existing it and you have no words to explain it and when you try to find them people can't relate to them, being bipolar is to feel so alive your nerve ends tingle and there is possibility in every exciting moment and it is also to the hopelessness and lonelieness of an unbearable weight that will insist on stealing on you every single second until all you wish for is a deep dark UNFEELING sleep, being bipolar is to be tired of fighting, very very tired, its giving up but still living and then its feeling the tiny flame buried so deep inside of you flickering so softly that despite everything it has not gone out, being bipolar is coming back from a lot, sometimes from near death in a lot of cases and realizing how strong you are to have survived, to be here, to continue, being bipolar is having so much to offer the world because you feel so much and therefore emphatise with so much. Being bipolar is to curse all you feel and to be grateful at the same time. its paradoxes and contradictions and a big fucking mess but in the end it is not YOU, you are you and what you do with these feelings, with these experiences, how you interpret all you've been through and how you live your future is all totally unique to you and nothing to do with a diagnosis.

*TriggerWarning* As it's been described by a few people, it's different for everyone. But it mainly follows a kind-of set guideline of moments of mania followed by moments of depression. I say moments because the timing differs for everyone. Some can last for a week some can last for a day and in severe cases, just hours. Mania is basically when the mind and body are very hyper and euphoric with vast amounts of energy. It's usually marked by a feeling of superiority sometimes, anxiety, fidgeting, and inability to sleep. The depression is marked by being very drastic compared to the mania. Usually a person is feeling neglected, worthless, very sad, and it can sometimes be marked by insomnia or over sleeping, binge eating or self starvation, self harm or even just lack of general self care. There are two types of bipolar disorder that are really known. I don't remember very clearly but one is more common than the other as well as one is more severe. I hope this helps.

Being bipolar without medication feels like being on a runaway train that never makes stops. With medication you still have a few ups and downs but it's not anything like trying to function in society on your own.

People with bipolar experience both episodes of severe depression, and episodes of mania – overwhelming joy, excitement or happiness, huge energy, a reduced need for sleep, and reduced inhibitions. The experience of bipolar is uniquely personal. Bipolar disorder can cause your mood to swing from an extreme high to an extreme low. Manic symptoms can include increased energy, excitement, impulsive behaviour and agitation. Depressive symptoms can include lack of energy, feeling worthless, low self-esteem and suicidal thoughts high or irritated mood. more energy and greater goal-driven activity. elevated self-esteem or grandiosity. reduced sleep. higher than usual frequency of talking. rapid speech flow and flights of ideas or racing thoughts. being easily distracted.

It is like being on a roller coaster- one minute you are up soaring the skies with the wind in your hair and life pulsing through your being, and the next minute you are down in the very pits of hell, staring into a bottomless abyss. The switch between happy and depressed is unpredictable. Sometimes the high's last weeks and the low's last a few minutes, sometimes it is the other way around. The kicker is that it mostly feels like what's happening inside is so removed from what is happening in real life. There is no causation. Strap yourself in and just ride it through.

Being bipolar means one minute you can be happy and healthy and in a good spot and then all of the sudden everything just flips. You could have thoughts of starting over or moving or something spontaneous that normally wouldn't happen. Being Bipolar is a hard thing to deal with because it often means you are stable mentally or emotionally. Bipolar is a disorder where one day your happy and the next you feel down and depressed and cant get out of bed. It is something that can normally be helped with a licensed therapist or a psychiatrist!

Being bi polar feels wonderful and heartbreaking. It's strange that I say that right? Let me explain. The issue with bi polar disorder comes from the fact that we feel a certain emotion too much. Bi polar episodes are categorized by mania and severe depression episodes. One minute you are completely fine. You are so happy and joyful and you feel like you can do anything... You feel so powerful! Then the next minute comes and you're crying... a lot! It hurts even more when we get depressed because just a second ago, everything was great. We feel TOO much. We don't just experience happiness, we experience an overwhelming sense of joy and the same goes for depression. A person without bi polar disorder will feel a little sad but someone with bi polar disorder we feel absolute despair and we have no idea why. Being bi polar is like being on a never ending roller coaster. The ups and downs can get so exhausting but I am here to tell you now, I am proof that we can get better. I am proof and so many other people out there are proof that we can fight this disorder! Bi polar disorder sucks and it so awesome!

It feels like this feeling of instability that you cope with for the rest of your life. It's feeling on top of the world and then crashing with no parachute. I try to appreciate the good aspects; my creative mind, my ability to feel empathy, my intelligence, and the fact that I can help others who feel its debilitating at times. The days when you are in the depressive phase of your cycle are the darkest and you never know how long it will last. It can be scary and cause other emotions like anxiety or stress from feeling like you can't please anyone or even do your job, be a parent, or finish the simplest tasks. It is a process and an ongoing education of knowing triggers, patters in when you cycle, and having self-awareness while being brave enough to seek help with you need it.