What having bipolar feels like

Bipolar disorder is identified by two mood states: depression and mania. There is also hypomania, a milder form of mania and cyclothymia, a condition related to bipolar with milder symptoms.

Bipolar is classified by some psychiatrists as bipolar 1 and bipolar 2 with different balances of mood states. So people's experience of bipolar can differ with some alternating between moods over long intervals whilst others may experience mood swings in quick succession - this is called rapid cycling.

Check out our Frequently Asked Questions relating to this topic and read some personal stories below

Navigating a tough day

This short blog is a raw and candid explanation of how one man living with bipolar gets through a difficult day Read more

Bipolar: Surviving the Crash

Polly Riggs gives her account of what having bipolar feels like...When cars speed on the motorway, weaving expertly between their silver and black counterparts, burning tyre tracks into the sticky tarmac, no one is surprised when they burnout...This is bipolar. Read more

Flourishing Goddess

'Flourishing Goddess', Tania Chick's debut poetry collection, has been described as 'soothing for the soul'. In this blog, Tania explains why she loves to write... Read more

Why I made the film ‘Oscillations’

Michael Mendones shares his experiences of bipolar and explains how his film ‘Oscillations’ expresses what living with bipolar feels like for him Read more

Helping others understand bipolar on BBC Radio 4

Bipolar UK media volunteer Darren Clayton explains what it was like to make a programme for BBC radio 4 portraying what it’s like to live with bipolar Read more

The mighty bi bis

Bipolar UK ambassador April Kelley explores what it's like to be both bisexual and live with bipolar Read more

Bipolar Brenda Stage Play

Bipolar UK ambassador Natasha Rea brought her ‘Bipolar Brenda’ memoir to life by adapting it into a one-woman play. Watch the recording here Read more

Navigating an industry

In this blog Daniel Evans explains that one of the main frustrations of having an illness such as bipolar 1 is that, when particularly severe, a critical symptom is that you don’t feel like you have it. Read more

The mysterious world of psychosis

Lynn explores what can take a person from living a happy, fulfilled life, to the bottom dropping out of their world into a confusing world of psychosis. Read more

Diving suit of depression

In a descriptive and very immersive collection of scenarios Gordon delves into what it’s like living with bipolar, interacting with others and the inspiration that keeps his head above water. Read more

The tightrope of mania

Bipolar UK Ambassador, April Kelley, writes about her experiences of mania. Read more

Co-morbidity and bipolar disorder

In simple terms, co-morbidity refers to the presence of more than one disorder in the same person. Professor Guy Goodwin discusses other psychiatric conditions that can affect at least two-thirds of people with bipolar disorder and what may cause these to occur. Read more