Yes, brains in people with bipolar disorder often show subtle structural and functional differences, including reduced gray matter volume (especially in frontal/temporal areas), changes in white matter, larger ventricles, and altered activity in emotion-regulating circuits like the amygdala, though these aren't visible on a basic scan and vary greatly, with some changes linked to episode frequency or medication.
While brain scans cannot be used to diagnose bipolar disorder, they can show grey matter and amygdala activity. This information can help doctors understand how bipolar disorder affects the brain and how brain activity in those with bipolar disorder compares to those of others with a different mental health condition.
Research has shown that individuals with the condition may experience reduced gray matter volume in certain brain regions compared to those without the condition. These structural changes may contribute to the cognitive deficits and emotional instability experienced by individuals with bipolar disorder.
The idea that people with bipolar disorder have distinguishing facial features or expressions does not currently have support from scientific research. However, anecdotal accounts may suggest that people with bipolar disorder have facial changes that distinguish them from those without the condition.
Symptoms of bipolar disorder
At the outset, bipolar symptoms are commonly mistaken for ADHD, depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, and, in its more severe manifestations, as schizophrenia.
The first red flag of bipolar disorder often appears as significant changes in sleep patterns, mood instability (irritability/euphoria), increased energy/agitation, and rapid thoughts/speech, frequently mistaken for unipolar depression or normal moodiness, with sleep disruption (insomnia or oversleeping) and heightened irritability being very common early signs, notes Better Mental Health.
How many hours should a bipolar person sleep? People should try to sleep at least 7 hours per night, regardless of whether they have a condition such as bipolar disorder.
Unlike the stereotypical picture of dramatic mood swings, high-functioning bipolar disorder often looks subtle. Many people develop strong coping strategies that mask symptoms, such as planning tasks around energy fluctuations or leaning on stimulants to stay productive.
A person with bipolar mania may experience pressured speech, where they feel as if they cannot get the words out fast enough to express their thoughts. This causes them to speak quickly, suddenly, or erratically. A person with bipolar disorder may experience pressured speech during manic periods.
Are all bipolar brains the same? No. While there does appear to be a link between bipolar disorders and certain structural changes in the brain, those changes can differ depending on other relevant health and lifestyle factors, such as medication use.
Finding Your Ideal Diet
Excessive amounts of sugar, caffeine, alcohol or chocolate may be more likely to contribute to mood disturbance. Foods such as such as vegetables, fruit, oil-rich fish and whole grains may be more likely help with stability.
Mood stabilizers like lithium are often considered the most effective treatment for bipolar disorder, particularly Bipolar I. Lithium not only helps manage manic episodes but also significantly reduces the risk of suicide, a common concern with bipolar patients.
In bipolar disorder, structural brain abnormalities in the prefrontal cortex have been confirmed in postmortem studies60,61 and with structural MRI. For example, the subgenual portion of the anterior cingulate cortex was reduced in volume in patients with bipolar disorder with a family history of affective disorder.
Only a mental health professional like a psychiatrist can give you a bipolar disorder diagnosis – not your GP. However, if you're experiencing bipolar moods and symptoms, discussing it with your GP can be a good first step. They can refer you to a psychiatrist, who will be able to assess you.
Relationships suffer, careers are lost, and physical health declines. Most importantly, untreated end-stage bipolar disorder symptoms can result in self-harm or suicidal actions. Even with treatment, about 37% of patients relapse into depression or mania within 1 year, and 60% within 2 years.
A person who appears to have high functioning bipolar disorder may have found ways to cope with masking their symptoms to make them seem less obvious. However, they will still experience the symptoms, and they can be just as difficult and stressful for that person to deal with.
The Big Five personality comprises independent traits of neuroticism, extraversion, openness to experience, agreeableness and conscientiousness (McCrae and John 1992) and forms the basis of several personality inventories (Costa and McCrae 1992).
Some people who have bipolar disorder will experience physical symptoms such as rapid heart rate or excessive sweating when experiencing periods of mania or hypomania (the “highs” of their illness).
You can use a 48 hour rule where you wait at least 2 full days with 2 nights sleep before acting on risky decisions. Review your decision to avoid a tempting, but risky, behaviour.
Introduction
About 25 percent of people with bipolar disorder have symptoms that follow a seasonal pattern. Most commonly, it manifests as an increased risk of depressive episodes in the winter and mania or hypomania in the spring and summer.
Five key signs of bipolar disorder involve extreme mood shifts, including manic symptoms like inflated energy, reduced need for sleep, racing thoughts, impulsivity (spending, risky behavior), and irritability, alongside depressive symptoms such as profound sadness, loss of interest, fatigue, significant sleep/appetite changes, and suicidal thoughts, all lasting for extended periods and impacting daily life.
Avoid Arguing or Raising Your Voice
Raising your voice or engaging in heated arguments with someone who has bipolar disorder can make the situation worse. During a manic episode, emotions are already heightened, and a raised tone or confrontation can escalate conflict and make it harder to manage.