Is It Simply Mood Swings, or Is It Bipolar Disorder?

Have you ever heard someone say, “I’m so bipolar!” to describe their mood swings?

What Does It Mean to Have Mood Swings?

Shifts in your emotions and mood are a normal, common, and healthy way to react to events that take place in our lives, says Robert McFerren, a licensed clinical social worker and executive director of the Pathlight Mood & Anxiety Center in Austin, Texas.

Emotions may change quickly in response to a specific situation, says Hayden Center Jr., PhD, a licensed professional counselor and contributing faculty member at Walden University. For example, say you start the day feeling happy but then find out your friend lost her job. You might rapidly go from feeling happy to concerned or even sad.

On the other hand, mood swings last longer — hours or a day — and are not necessarily specific to a situation. “Someone may be in a dysphoric mood for several days, meaning they feel very down and depressed,” Dr. Center says.

“And mood swings can be more intense and don’t always have an obvious trigger,” says McFerren.

In addition, experiencing extreme stress, sleep deprivation, low blood sugar, or taking certain medications could lead to mood swings, Center says. Or they may be caused by hormones or traumatic experiences, McFerren says. In other words, the causes for mood swings vary from person to person.

When Might a Mood Swing Be a Symptom of Bipolar Disorder?

• Bipolar 1 In this form of bipolar disorder, a person has severe manic episodes that cause noticeable problems in everyday life and ultimately may require hospitalization. People with bipolar 1 sometimes (but not always) also have depressive episodes. In some cases, manic and depressive symptoms may occur simultaneously (mixed episodes).
• Bipolar 2 A person with this type of bipolar disorder experiences depressive episodes that may be frequent or last a long time, as well as hypomanic episodes, which involve milder symptoms of mania that, compared with full-blown manic episodes, typically impede their ability to function in subtler ways.
• Cyclothymia This form of bipolar disorder involves emotional ups and downs that are less severe than those of bipolar 1 or 2, though periods of steady moods (euthymia) may not last very long.

What’s the Difference Between a Manic Mood and a Depressive One?

• Inflated self-esteem and grandiosity (an exaggerated sense of self-worth or importance)
• Decreased need for sleep
• Distractedness
• Unusual talkativeness or fast talking
• Racing thoughts
• Engaging in high-risk activities (for example, taking sexual risks, going on shopping sprees, or making unwise financial investments)
• Increased goal-oriented behavior (at school, work, socially, or sexually) or movements that have no function

• Intense sadness or despair
• Loss of interest in activities one usually enjoys
• Fatigue
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Increased or decreased appetite
• Increased or decreased sleep
• Slowed speech or movement
• Movements that have no function
• Difficulty concentrating
• Frequent thoughts of death or suicide

How Can I Know if I Should Seek Treatment?

You don’t need to suspect a specific mental health condition to seek help. Whether you’re struggling with troublesome symptoms or would simply like to better manage your emotions and moods, talking to a medical professional could help you understand what you’re experiencing and inform you about potential treatments.

That said, if significant mood swings are affecting your ability to function as usual and causing problems with your relationships, work, social activities, or other important parts of your life, it’s important to get a proper diagnosis from a mental health professional based on the symptoms you’re experiencing, as well as your overall health history.

Untreated bipolar disorder can have serious consequences. For example, someone experiencing a manic episode may impulsively spend more money than they intended, McFerren says. Afterward, they may feel so depressed that they can’t get out of bed and miss work for several days as a result.

The consequences of mood episodes can even be life-threatening. “Not attending to moods that are out of the ordinary for long periods of time can lead to dangerous consequences such as suicide or drug misuse,” says Center.

Which Treatments Are Most Effective for Bipolar Disorder?

The most effective treatment for bipolar disorder is a combination of psychotherapy (also known as talk therapy) and medication, McFerren says.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy This form of therapy helps people with bipolar disorder identify triggers that may cause a mood episode and enables them to develop healthy thinking and behavioral patterns to better manage their mood.
• Interpersonal Social Rhythm Therapy This therapeutic technique involves developing regular daily routines that can help reduce the risk of future mood episodes, such as going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, eating meals at regular times, and decreasing stressful triggers in one’s surroundings.
• Family-Focused Therapy This includes both the person with bipolar disorder and the people closest to them, such as spouses or parents, so that everyone is well-informed about the condition and develops problem-solving skills.

• Mood stabilizers
• Antipsychotics
• Antidepressants (typically used alongside mood stabilizers)

If you are prescribed medication to treat bipolar disorder, don’t stop taking it without consulting your doctor first. Taking medication as directed reduces the likelihood of future mood episodes, and stopping and restarting medication abruptly can be dangerous.

“The most important thing in managing bipolar disorder is to maintain a consistent medication regime,” McFerren says. “Often, people who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder hit a point where they are regulated on medication and either miss the euphoria that can come with a manic episode, or they feel great after being on the medication for a period of time and feel they don’t need them anymore.”

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation, a depression treatment which uses a magnetic coil placed on your scalp
• Electroconvulsive therapy, which treats medication-resistant symptoms, uses a controlled electrical current to trigger a brief seizure while you’re under anesthesia
• Esketamine (Spravato), via nasal spray, for treatment-resistant depression or depression with suicidal thoughts or behaviors

• Keeping a consistent daily routine by taking your medication, eating meals, and going to sleep at the same times each day
• Minimizing stress by simplifying your life where you can and trying activities like exercise, meditation, tai chi, and yoga
• Keeping a daily mood journal in which you briefly note changes in your mood to help you recognize triggers and give your doctor feedback on how well treatment is working
• Maintaining a healthy support system by helping certain family members and friends learn about bipolar disorder and how best to support you; they can even help you recognize the symptoms of a mood episode

Also important: Steer clear of over-the-counter and illegal drugs that cause changes in your mood and thoughts, says Center. These include tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine, and heroin, among others.