Anger & Bipolar Symptoms

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that is characterized by mood swings. It involves a depressed mood alternating with an elevated mood. The symptoms of the manic period include irritability, anger, elevated self esteem and high risk behaviors. The depressed phase involves a depressed mood, worry, anxiety, lack of concentration, fatigue and loss of interest in pleasurable activities.

Bipolar disorder is a condition in which there is an alternation between a depressed mood and an elevated mood known as mania. The actual cause of this condition remains unknown but it has been found to have a genetic link.

The symptoms of mania and depression occurring at different times in an individual should therefore raise suspicion for the diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

The symptoms of bipolar disorder can be classified under the manic phase and the depressive phase.

Manic Phase

• Anger and Irritability: This is a prominent symptom in mania. The individual develops anger with little or no provocation and this may persist for some days or even weeks.

• Very Elevated Mood: This is manifested as hyperactivity, talkativeness, elevated self-esteem, agitation and periods of feeling overly happy.

• Other characteristic features of the manic phase include being distracted easily, restlessness, sleeplessness, excessive involvement in pleasurable activities and high-risk behaviors.

Depressive Phase

• Depressed Mood: The individual feels depressed and carries a very sad look. He or she is unable to carry out normal activities. This is associated with slowness and a loss of self-esteem.

• Worry and Anxiety: The person is overly worried about normal things that should cause little or no worry and gets obsessed. The worry is associated with anxiety.

• Other features of the depressive phase include lack of concentration, overeating or loss of appetite, fatigue, loss of interest in pleasurable activities and suicidal thoughts, which may lead to attempts at suicide.

Due to the probable fatal progression of this condition, early diagnosis and treatment is important. Professional advice should therefore be sought if symptoms are experienced.