What Are the Symptoms of Manic Depression in Adults?

Symptoms of manic depression, or bipolar disorder, are sometimes hard to diagnose. If a person is in a manic state, a doctor may diagnose him as hyper or manic. But when he crashes and is depressed, he may be diagnosed as clinically depressed. Be sure to give the entire history to doctors so they can make an accurate diagnosis.

Manic--Extended Highs

• One of the manic symptoms is being overly happy or "high" for an extended period of time.

Manic--Impulsive Behaviors

• Impulsive and high-risk behaviors such as promiscuous sex and excessive shopping sprees are symptoms of a manic episode.

Manic--Racing Thoughts

• A person in a manic episode may have a hard time concentrating because of their racing thoughts.

Depression--Extended Sadness

• Any long period of sadness or worry may be a sign of a depressive swing.

Depression--Loss of Interest

• When a person is in a depressive episode, she tends to lose interest in things that she used to enjoy.

Depression--Thoughts of Suicide

• Any talk of suicide or death is a very definite sign that something is wrong. Contact your doctor or an emergency room immediately.