Mental Health and Wellbeing Information
Bipolar Disorder
What is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder (manic depression) can involve repeated changes in mood. People with bipolar disorder will have episodes of depression and mania which can last for several weeks or months.
- Depression - where a person feels very low and lethargic
- Mania – where a person feels very high and overactive
During a period of depression symptoms may include:
- Feeling sad and hopeless
- Lacking energy
- Difficulty concentrating and remembering things
- Loss of interest in everyday activities
- Feelings of emptiness or worthlessness
- Feelings of guilt and despair
- Feeling pessimistic about everything
- Self-doubt
- Being delusional, having hallucinations and disturbed or illogical thinking
- Lack of appetite
- Difficulty sleeping
- Waking up early
- Suicidal thoughts
During a manic phase symptoms may include:
- Feeling very happy, elated or overjoyed
- Being very talkative and talking very quickly
- Being overconfident and feeling full of energy
- Rapid thinking
- Feeling self-important
- Feeling full of great new ideas and having important plans
- Find it difficult to stick to one subject in conversation
- Being easily distracted
- Being easily irritated or agitated
- Being delusional, having hallucinations and disturbed or illogical thinking
- Not feeling like sleeping, having less need for sleep
- Not eating
- Lack of inhibitions
- Lack of insight
- Having a different sense of reality to others
- Making decisions that are out of character and others see as being risky or harmful
Possible Impacts in the Workplace
Depressive Episode
- Being withdrawn, avoiding people
- Timekeeping issues
- Misusing drugs or alcohol
- Performance Issues
- Sickness absence
Manic Episode
- Talking a lot and speaking very quickly or not making sense.
- Easily distracted
- Being very friendly
- Saying or doing things that are inappropriate or are out of character
- Losing inhibitions, wearing inappropriate clothing
- Being rude or aggressive
- Sleeping very little or not at all
- Take on committments or responsibilities that are unmanageable
- Timekeeping issues
- Sickness absence
- Performance issues
How can I help myself?
If you think you have symptoms of Bipolar Disorder, contact your GP or have a discussion with your line manager who may refer you to Occupational Health.
You can access our self help page for advice and tips; how to maintain positive mental health and wellbeing.