What it's like

Bipolar disorder is an illness that can be distressingly difficult to live with - although with the right treatment, and over time, people can become adept in managing the illness and are able to live full and productive lives.

People with bipolar disorder often describe the highs associated with the illness as enjoyable. Someone experiencing mania would usually be in very high spirits, and feel terrific, enthusiastic, confident and invincible ('energised' and 'wired'). However, others have a different experience and instead become irritable and aggressive. In a state of mania, the mind works much faster than usual, and ideas come rapidly. Individuals tend to talk more, and much faster than is usual for them. Less sleep is required, and it is as if reserves of energy are discovered, so that they may stay up late to do housework or to begin a new project. In a state of mania, the world seems to be a wonderful place, and no job or task seems too difficult. A person with mania has described the experience as 'bubbling with plans and enthusiasms'.

However, while people having mania seem to have a very positive outlook on life, their perspectives and beliefs about their own abilities are very unrealistic. Judgement is affected in a manic state, and this can cause serious problems for the individual and/or family members. For instance, people may engage in reckless spending sprees, gambling, or in sexual activity they would not normally engage in, without thinking of the consequences.

Experiencing a 'high' has been described as a feeling that your brakes have failed - that you are going too far and too fast.

Once an episode of mania has passed, people can also feel significant embarrassment or shame about what they did or said to others during their period of mania. They may avoid social contact for a time after their mania has subsided. However, whether or not someone remembers what they did or said during an episode of mania will depend upon the degree of their mania, and, upon any medications that are taken.

The lows - or depressive episodes - experienced by people with bipolar disorder can be extremely difficult to cope with and particularly emotionally painful, reflecting the very biological 'type' of depression. We have described elsewhere what it's like having depression - so you might like to look at this section if you haven't done so already. Depression can also lead to suicidal thoughts and feelings in some people. In this instance it is very important to get immediate treatment (see Getting Help).

A person who has been depressed may misread the onset of mania as a sign that their depression is lifting, rather than as another part of the illness.

Read personal accounts of bipolar disorder

What it's like

Further reading