Bipolar mood disorder typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood and continues throughout life. It is often not recognised as an illness and people who have it may suffer needlessly for years or even decades.

Much research is being carried out as to the causes of bipolar mood disorder but there are no definite conclusions yet. There may be a genetic predisposition to the illness such that other family members may also suffer from this illness. It could also be triggered by major stress events or hormonal changes such as those occurring after childbirth. It may also be due to a chemical imbalance affecting that area of the brain responsible for "moods", thus causing changes in feelings and behaviour.

• depressed or in low mood
• a loss of interest and enjoyment in life
• a lack of drive and motivation that makes even simple tasks and decisions difficult or impossible
• utter fatigue
• agitation and restlessness
• loss of appetite with loss of weight
• insomnia
• loss of outward affection, loss of interest in sex
• loss of self-confidence, avoiding people
• feeling useless, inadequate, bad, helpless and hopeless
• feelings of guilt, worthlessness and helplessness
• feeling worse at a particular time of day, usually mornings
• suicidal thoughts; these are very common in depression and they are signs that help is needed.

2. Mania & Hypomania

• elated mood
• increased activity & energy
• inability or unwillingness
• to sleep
• rapid speech, flow of ideas & thoughts
• inflated self-esteem
• irritability & impatience
• increased sexual drive & lack of sexual inhibitions
• loss of judgment & impulsive decision making
• irrational spending of money & involvement in questionable endeavors
• grandiose delusions

An early sign of bipolar mood disorder may be hypomania. This is a state in which the person shows a high level of energy, excessive moodiness or irritability, and impulsive or reckless behaviour. Hypomania may feel good to the person who experiences this and the sufferer seldom thinks that anything is wrong and may object quite violently if anyone tries to point this out to him or her.

With experience, it is possible for some people to recognise their condition but often in an extreme state, all understanding is lost. It is not unusual for someone suffering an attack to break the law perhaps during a flight of fancy, about of excessive spending, committing a fraud, or fortunately, very rarely, of committing a physical assault.

3. Mixed States

A few people sometimes experience a combination of symptoms from both mania anddepression. For example, a high level of activity may be combined with a low level of concentration and a depressed attitude towards life. This can lead to an increased risk of suicide attempt.

After a period of depression or of mania, the sufferer usually return to a normal state, back to one's usual personality, thinking capabilities and energy levels without any physiological damage. However, the sufferer may start regretting the damage done to relationships or finances. There may be a loss of confidence and also embarrassment.

The frequency of attacks varies not only from one individual to another but also within the same individual. Some have a regular cyclic pattern: daily, monthly, yearly or every few years. Other people go for years free from the problem and then have a series of random attacks.

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