how do you know if someone is bipolar?

Answer 1

Ideally you get them evaluated by a mental health professional. If you want to have a good sense of whether they need that evaluation, though, they need to have had an episode of mania lasting 2 weeks and at least one episode of depression lasting two weeks. The symptoms of those are below:

Symptoms of mania - the "highs" of bipolar disorder

Increased physical and mental activity and energy

Heightened mood, exaggerated optimism and self-confidence

Excessive irritability, aggressive behavior

Decreased need for sleep without experiencing fatigue

Grandiose delusions, inflated sense of self-importance

Racing speech, racing thoughts, flight of ideas

Impulsiveness, poor judgment, distractibility

Reckless behavior

In the most severe cases, delusions and hallucinations

Symptoms of depression - the "lows" of bipolar disorder

Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells

Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns

Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety

Pessimism, indifference

Loss of energy, persistent lethargy

Feelings of guilt, worthlessness

Inability to concentrate, indecisiveness

Inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal

Unexplained aches and pains

Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

Answer 2

Typically, the main signs of bipolar are intense mood swings: extreme happiness one minute (mania) and then BAM! extreme sadness the next (depression). Usually, nothing has happened externally to make this happen.

Bipolars in their manic stage tend to talk quickly, take unneccesary risks, spend or give away money and do things that they normally wouldn't do. (For example, when my dad was manic, he got his ear pierced. He was raised Church of Christ, where men just don't do that so it was completely out of character for him.) Depressed bipolars sleep a lot, are unresponsive when you talk to them, and often comtemplate or attempt suicide.

It should be noted that anyone suffering from enough stress can display these symptoms and not be bipolar. The only way to know for sure is to be evaluated by a reputable psychiatrist. (And even they can be wrong!)

Answer 3

This, from the Nat'l Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) website:
(link to full article at the bottom)

Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings—from overly "high" and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these changes in mood. The periods of highs and lows are called episodes of mania and depression.

Signs and symptoms of mania (or a manic episode) include:
Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
Excessively "high," overly good, euphoric mood
Extreme irritability
Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
Distractibility, can't concentrate well
Little sleep needed
Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers
Poor judgment
Spending sprees
A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual
Increased sexual drive
Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
Denial that anything is wrong

A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.

Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive episode) include:
Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex
Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being "slowed down"
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
Restlessness or irritability
Sleeping too much, or can't sleep
Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain
Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury
Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

A depressive episode is diagnosed if five or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, for a period of 2 weeks or longer.

Answer 4

It is NOT as simple as the first 2 answers. Some times it's days or weeks of a high happy mood & then days & weeks of black depression & feeling useless. I know I have lived it for years. It's not any pat answer, everyone is different, Whoever you are referring to, yourself or someone else they need to get on medication & talk to a professional.

Answer 5

Bipolar means extreme ups and downs. Another words if this person is very happy one minute and then flammin mad the next they may b.

Answer 6

My friend would go for months with only a couple hours sleep each night. Then she would become totally depressed and even psychotic b4 they finally diagnosed and gave her Lithium.

Answer 7

my daughter is bi-polar. she has mood swings you wouldn't believe . she has enormous amount of energy one day the next she cannot even get out of bed. she is sitting on top of the world one day and and the next be crying all day. its a chemical and mental imbalance.

Answer 8

Like riding an emotional roller coaster....

Answer 9

manic depressive
mood swings
europhic highs
deep blues lows

Answer 10

see a doctor