Episodes, not moodiness: distinct stretches of unusually high, energized, or irritable behavior - little sleep, racing thoughts, impulsive spending or risk - alternating with depressive stretches, per NIMH.
Mania lasts at least a week or forces hospitalization; hypomania is the lower-volume version. The diagnostic trap: people seek help in the low stretches, so bipolar masquerades as plain depression for years - always mention the high periods to your clinician, because antidepressants alone can worsen the cycling.
What to do
Common questions
What are the signs of bipolar disorder?
The signature is episodes, not moodiness. Per NIMH, bipolar disorder produces distinct periods of unusually "up," elated, irritable, or energized behavior - manic or hypomanic episodes - alternating with very "down," sad, indifferent, or hopeless depressive episodes. A manic episode looks like: sleeping far less without feeling tired, racing thoughts and rapid speech, inflated confidence or grandiosity, and impulsive behavior with real consequences - spending sprees, sexual risk, quitting jobs - lasting at least a week or requiring hospitalization; hypomania is the same picture at lower volume and shorter duration, without the severe impairment. The depressive pole mirrors major depression: low mood, lost interest, sleep and appetite changes, hopeless thinking. The diagnostic trap worth knowing: people usually seek help for the depressive stretches, so bipolar often gets misread as plain depression for years - mention any high-energy periods explicitly when you talk to a clinician, because antidepressants alone can worsen bipolar cycling. This is very treatable with mood stabilizers and therapy. In crisis: 988 in the US, or your local crisis line. Pymander, a free AI doctor available 24/7 by text, can help you map your history.