What is bipolar?

Bipolar disorder is a severe mental illness (SMI) that causes extreme mood swings and changes in energy levels. The condition used to be called ‘manic depression’. 

Someone with bipolar can have long or short periods of stability, but can then go ‘low’ (into depression) or ‘high’ (experiencing hypomania and/or mania and psychosis).

Bipolar mood swings are more extreme than most people’s everyday experiences of feeling a bit down or happy.

What are bipolar mood swings?

The Bipolar UK community uses a Mood Scale – where 0 is low and 10 is high – to help explain bipolar mood swings. 

People without a mood disorder sit in the middle of the scale. When they feel down, they rank 4. When they feel happy, they rank 6. This balanced mood range is known as ‘euthymia’.

People with bipolar experience a much wider range of moods – from 0 (deep depression with recurring suicidal thoughts) to 10 (an extreme manic high with psychosis and hallucinations). 

They can also experience bipolar with mixed features, also known as a ‘mixed state’, where symptoms of depression and mania happen at the same time.

What is a bipolar episode?

If someone is experiencing severe bipolar symptoms, some people say they are ‘having an episode’ or ‘in an episode’. 

Read more about bipolar symptoms here

The typical pattern of a bipolar episode is a period of high mood followed by a period of lowmood. 

Each episode can last anything from several days, to several weeks or months. 

In between episodes, many people with bipolar have short or long periods of stability. Other people with bipolar have more frequent mood swings.

Can you cure bipolar?

Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition. But if someone gets the right treatment and support, their mood swings can be managed, and they can live and function well.

Who has bipolar?

Bipolar affects people of all ages and from all backgrounds.

Like many mental health conditions, bipolar symptoms are usually first noticeable in teenagers and young adults. Research has found that almost 50% of people get symptoms before the age of 21.

In one study, more young people screened positive for bipolar than older people:

• 3.4% of people aged 16 to 24 had bipolar
• 0.4% of people aged 65 to 74 had bipolar

The reason for this big variation is unknown, although limitations in the screening tools used, lower life expectancy and increased cases among young people are all possible factors.

How many people have bipolar?

It is impossible to get an exact figure of the number of people who have bipolar. This is because researchers use different criteria to diagnose bipolar and different ways to measure data. It is estimated that:

What causes bipolar?

Bipolar symptoms happen because of a system imbalance that makes it difficult for someone’s brain to regulate mood. 

As a result, mood can become unstable or stuck in extreme states of depression or mania.

Is bipolar a genetic condition?

Studies on twins suggest that bipolar is mostly a genetic condition. If an identical twin has bipolar, their sibling has a 70% chance of developing the condition. 

There is no single gene responsible for bipolar but a collection of over 100,000 genes that are also linked to schizophrenia, anxiety and depression.

Some families have high levels of heritability (where the condition is passed down through the generations), while some families have very low levels. 

Researchers aren’t sure why there’s so much variation, but some think it could be linked to early life challenges – especially if a parent had been living with untreated bipolar symptoms.

What impact can bipolar have on someone’s life?

Bipolar disorder affects people in different ways. 

Some people who live with bipolar find the right treatment and support, and can live a relatively stable life. 

For others, the condition can have a big impact – both on them and on the people close to them. This impact can range from short-lived disruptions to ongoing, devastating challenges.

If someone is living with untreated bipolar – or if they haven’t found the right treatment and support yet – they may do things they regret during both manic and depressive episodes. 

During a period of hypomania or mania, someone may:

• Spend their family savings on cars, or gifts for strangers
• Make mistakes at work
• Have affairs and damage family relationships
• Misuse substances, such as alcohol and unregulated drugs
• Make impulsive decisions that have lifelong consequences 

During a period of depression, someone may:

• Be unable to work or look after their family like they usually do
• stop washing, eating properly or going out
• Attempt to take their own life

Read more about bipolar and suicide risk here  

People with bipolar tell us they frequently blame themselves for how they behaved during an episode. Self-stigma, guilt and shame are common. 

They often say they experience intense anger, grief and frustration at losing years of their lives and not being able to fulfil their potential.

These negative feelings, low self-worth and traumatic experiences can cause stress, making it even harder to maintain a balanced mood. 

Many people get trapped in a vicious cycle and often end up being ‘revolving-door patients’ with frequent hospital admissions.

However, the good news is that getting a diagnosis can open the door to effective treatment, support and self-management so that someone with bipolar can live well and fulfil their potential.

Read more about getting a bipolar diagnosis here

Bipolar UK is here for you

Being diagnosed with bipolar, or waiting for a diagnosis, can be stressful and overwhelming. But you’re not on your own. 

We’re here for you with a range of support and resources, and a community that understands.