7 signs that will indicate that you are dating someone with a bipolar disorder

Jehana Antia | Updated: Jan 18, 2018, 10:07 IST
Mental illness is a sort of 'stigma topic' that isn't really spoke about openly in society. It is shunned upon and most often than not, avoided. However, today, we're here to talk about one mental illness that apparently receives much appreciation when portrayed on the big screen but is rarely spoken about in general: the bipolar disorder. What is the bipolar disorder, you ask? In simple terms, the bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes severe mood swings.

The disorder can vary from person to person and also in severity. And if you are dating someone with that sort of illness then we suggest that you go through these 7 signs to be sure. They will help you understand your partner better and will help you deal with the issue in a better way too. Here are 7 signs that your loved one may be suffering from the bipolar disorder...

An elevated mood: In this state, patients go through a high-energy phase. Their mood is elevated and they feel overly happy for long periods of time. Their need for sleep decreases in this state and they may notice a lot of energy and creativity in them during this period. They sometimes display overconfidence in their abilities as well.

An inability to complete tasks: While staying in the manic state, they feel extremely restless or impulsive. They become easily distracted. They often switch from task to task, leaving almost all of them incomplete. They plan big and unrealistic things, only to never finish them, before shifting to something else.

Rapid speech: The person will talk rapidly and sometimes cut you off if you try to speak as well. If you see them jumping around to different topics quite unusually, this maybe be a symptom of bipolar disorder.


Sleep issues: Sleep problems occur quite frequently to people with this condition. They may sleep too much and sleep all the time during a depression phase. They may not sleep enough and still never feel tired during a manic phase.


Erratic behaviour: They have an unreasonably high self-esteem when they are in a manic phase. They don’t consider the consequences and go for everything that would seem impractical in normal times. Big spending sprees and unusual sexual behaviours are two of the most common types of behaviours that they display during this period.

Alcohol or drug abuse: Study states that about 50% of people with bipolar disorder suffer from a substance abuse problem. More often than not, alcohol turns out to be the substance they abuse. Many patients drink to improve their mood when they are depressed.

Depression: This state doesn't differ from any regular person. They feel sad and hopeless for long periods of time. They even tend to withdraw from friends and family. They sometimes lose interest in activities they used to enjoy and their appetite decreases. They suffer from severe fatigue and they lack energy and they often speak slowly during this period. They have problems remembering things, concentrating and they struggle to make decisions.
Copyright © 2021 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd.
All rights reserved.