People with bipolar disorder feel tired due to the extreme energy shifts between manic highs and depressive lows, disrupted sleep patterns (insomnia or oversleeping), neurotransmitter imbalances affecting energy (serotonin, dopamine), and the sheer mental effort of managing intense emotions, leading to chronic fatigue even during "normal" periods, with mixed episodes being especially draining.
Here, mental health experts share seven common phrases to avoid saying to anyone with bipolar disorder — and the thoughtful, helpful things to say instead.
What is acute mania? Acute mania is the manic phase of bipolar I disorder. It is defined as an extremely unstable euphoric or irritable mood along with an excess activity or energy level, excessively rapid thought and speech, reckless behavior and feeling of invincibility.
Bipolar medication is necessary to manage mood swings and prevent a relapse of symptoms. Even if you are not currently experiencing mood swings associated with bipolar disorder, not getting the proper treatment increases your risk of complications when mania or depressive symptoms do occur.
The Takeaway. A poor diet can contribute to bipolar mood episodes, and certain food choices may help manage them. People with bipolar disorder should avoid or limit caffeine, alcohol, sugar, salt, and saturated fats.
Bipolar symptoms overlap with other mental health conditions, and when left untreated, they often give rise to new diagnoses. Anxiety disorders, eating disorders, or even psychosis can develop as the brain and body struggle under the weight of unmanaged symptoms.
Bipolar disorder is the most likely psychiatric disorder to be passed down from family. If one parent has bipolar disorder, there's a 10% chance that their child will develop the illness. If both parents have bipolar disorder, the likelihood of their child developing bipolar disorder rises to 40%.
Common Symptoms in the End Stage
People may have fast changes in mood. They may feel extreme sadness (depression), then switch to very high energy (mania or hypomania). These episodes may last longer and come more often.
If you have bipolar disorder, it's important to know what can trigger your high and low moods. This can include things like feeling stressed, not getting enough sleep or being too busy. There are some things you can do that can help to keep your moods stable.
You can also support your loved one by:
Stressful life events
Or it may make symptoms feel more intense or difficult to manage. Things that can cause stress include: A relationship breakdown. Money worries and poverty.
Living alone with bipolar disorder is possible with proper treatment adherence, support systems, and personalized safety plans. Managing medication independently requires strategic planning and the use of reminder tools to maintain consistency.
Fatigue can be a symptom of depression, mania, or hypomania (a less severe form of mania). People with mood disorders like bipolar 1 might feel more fatigue more severely than those without the condition. Fatigue can come from physical activity, stress, poor eating habits, or not getting enough sleep.
Thankfully, there are ways you can help manage, or work around your fatigue. The Four P's reminds us of some ways to help conserve and save energy for the things that are most important. The Four P's are Problem solving, Planning, Prioritising, and Pacing. You may even be doing these already without even noticing.
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.
We found that a history of bipolar disorder significantly increases the risk of dementia in older adults. Our results provide robust evidence that mood disorders in general, and not only major depressive disorders, are associated with increased risk of dementia (17,18).
Manic or Hypomanic Episodes: These can last from a few days to several weeks. Hypomanic episodes are generally shorter and less severe than manic episodes. Depressive Episodes: These typically last longer, from weeks to months, and can be more difficult to manage.
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.
In a study conducted with a large sample, the prevalence of disease was found to be higher in children of fathers with bipolar disorder than in the children of mothers with bipolar disorder (15). These results lead us to think that bipolar disorder may be a paternal disease.
Bipolar disorder often runs in families, and research suggests this is mostly explained by heredity—people with certain genes are more likely to develop bipolar disorder than others. Many genes are involved, and no one gene can cause the disorder. But genes are not the only factor.
According to the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM), there are six essential pillars of LM: diet, physical activity, avoiding substance use, stress management, restorative sleep, and social relationships (Katz and Karlsen, 2019).
Research shows bipolar disorder may damage the brain over time.
While some individuals may choose to manage their bipolar disorder without medication, this comes with significant risks. Untreated or unmedicated bipolar disorder can lead to severe consequences and dangerous behaviors.
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).