What does being bipolar feel like?

It feels like the entire world is ending around you, enraged in flames and anger but you just want some peace in your heart. It is this constant fight between being apathetic and then having intense passion. Your crazy highs and happiest moments are confusing to others, and your substantial lows are worrisome. The joy and excitement of getting into a new subject cause you to devalue sleep, and want to enjoy in the rapture of pleasure endlessly. The second that joy slows, though, is when the depression hits. It hits you so hard that your entire being has flipped from intensely passionate to apathetic and suicidal.

bipolar is difficult to describe because everyone is different. there is with meds and without meds, knowing what it is and not knowing what it is. bipolar depression feels like a dark rainy day and can last for days weeks or months. it can also feel like a bad breakup which includes sadness and lonliness. your chemicals in your brain do not feel normal, you want to lay in bed for long periods of time and not function and maybe sleep too much. hypomania feels euphoric and you want to function at a very fast pace and behave sometimes without caution to your actions. medication can help to level your chemical imbalance so you don't have the highs and lows. bipolar is a disease you have to manage and you have to stay on your meds and go to a Psychiatrist for medication adjustments because your chemicals change in your brain

It feels like sometimes you want to kick, cry and scream, and other times you want to dance, sing and laugh. It can feel like your brain is fighting with itself and also helping itself. Sometimes all you want to do is lay around and not be social and sometimes you want to go out and talk to everyone about everything. Sometimes even brushing your teeth can be tough, eating even. And other days it’s easy like it’s no big deal. Waking up can be a struggle and going to sleep can be one as well, sometimes it’s all you want to do or something you don’t want to do at all. Getting dressed can be painful or it can be the best thing to do.

I have experienced being misdiagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. The symptoms that my psychiatrist thought displayed this mood disorder were my mania and depressive episodes. This personal experience shows the importance of exploring the diagnosis under the supervision of a trained practitioner. Bipolar disorder is an encompassing term of three types of mood disorder diagnoses, it is worth noting that this diagnosis should not be confused with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). BPD does share mood-specific symptoms such as major depressive episodes and periods of mania. However, BPD is rooted in trauma, whereas Bipolar Disorder has genetic markers in family history worth noting. Both should receive proper treatment from health care providers. In the United States, an individual with Bipolar Disorder will be affected in many ways. Many with variations of this disorder experience long-time drug abuse and substance use disorders, along with high rates of suicidal thoughts and even comorbidities of other mental health conditions. Family members and support groups for supporting individuals with Bipolar Disorder alongside medical treatments are invaluable. Some medications prescribed may initially result in weight gain and changes in sleep patterns. However, to manage the mood swings and potentially psychotic symptoms, most living with Bipolar Disorders find medication to help level out their rapid cycling of mixed symptoms.

Living with BIPOLAR DISORDER is like an emotional roller coaster with EXTREME MOOD SWINGS. In HYPOMANIC EPISODES, overwhelming RAPID THOUGHTS and boundless ENERGY make everything possible. Yet, DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS bring SADNESS and persistent SUICIDAL THOUGHTS. RAPID CYCLING between MANIC PHASES and DEPRESSIVE EPISODES is mentally exhausting. Understanding from FAMILY MEMBERS and IDEA of connecting with SUPPORT GROUPS has proven invaluable. Learning about different TYPES OF BIPOLAR DISORDER, like CYCLOTHYMIC DISORDER, with LONG PERIODS OF MANIA and DEPRESSION, has been eye-opening. Collaborating with HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS addressing SLEEP PATTERNS, navigating MIXED EPISODES and PSYCHOTIC SYMPTOMS manages my mental health. FAMILY HISTORY and SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS added complexity to BIPOLAR SYMPTOMS lead to SUBSTANCE ABUSE and WEIGHT GAIN. Finding proper TREATMENT and maintaining emotional balance with this FORM OF BIPOLAR DISORDER is a constant effort. Ultimately, it's a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and seeking SUPPORT in understanding and managing this complex condition for stability.