What Is Manic Depression 2026

Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a pretty common and serious mental health issue that causes big mood swings. When someone with bipolar disorder is down, they feel depressed and low on energy. But when they’re up, they can be super energetic and feel really good, sometimes even irritable. It’s important to get a good mental health check-up to tell if someone has bipolar disorder or something else, like borderline personality disorder, bad depression, or ADHD. The good news is, bipolar disorder can be treated. Lots of people find that a mix of things, like medicine and therapy, helps them keep their moods stable.

People with bipolar disorder can have really intense mood changes, going from super high (manic) to super low (depressive). These changes can mess with how they feel, think, and act. If these mood shifts happen four or more times a year, it’s called rapid cycling. Some people even have mood swings daily. But rapid cycling doesn’t mean it’ll always be like that. Changing up the treatment for bipolar disorder, like adjusting medicine, can often help slow down rapid cycling and keep moods more even.

Depressive Episodes

Everyone feels sad sometimes, but for someone with bipolar disorder, depressive episodes are much more than just feeling blue. They’re periods of really negative thoughts that last a long time. One study of people with bipolar disorder found that it took about 11 weeks for them to get back to normal after depression started. When someone is going through a depressive episode, even a mild one, they might have some of these feelings:

Can’t focus
Low on energy or just don’t feel like doing anything
Having trouble sleeping, sleeping too much, or other sleep changes
Not enjoying things they used to love
Feeling lonely, worthless, or both
Changes in eating habits
Feeling sad or unhappy for a long time
Staying away from friends and family
Thoughts about suicide

Manic Episodes

While depressive episodes can make people with bipolar disorder feel like they have major depression, manic episodes are totally different.

Two people in long-sleeved shirts are sitting at a computer, looking for a mental health counselor online. They seem very focused.

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During a manic episode, someone might:

Make quick, risky decisions
Have thoughts racing through their head or talk really fast
Feel incredibly energetic
Think they’re super important or special
Do risky things
Feel overly confident, excited, or easily annoyed
Need less sleep
Hear or see things that aren’t there, or feel like people are out to get them

Even though the high energy of a manic episode might sound good, it can actually cause serious problems for many people with bipolar disorder. Feelings like being irritable, angry, and out of control can be tough to deal with. If someone has a manic episode, they’re usually diagnosed with Bipolar I disorder.

Getting a Diagnosis and Help for Bipolar Disorder

Psychosis is a term for things like hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there) and delusions (believing things that aren’t true). Studies show that about half of people with bipolar disorder might have some psychotic symptoms at some point in their lives. If someone has psychosis, they might get wrongly diagnosed with schizophrenia or similar conditions, and this seems to happen more often with Black and Hispanic individuals. A doctor needs to see you in person and really listen to your history to give you the right diagnosis. A big hint for doctors is family history: 80-90% of people with bipolar disorder have a family member who also has manic depression depression or bipolar disorder.

The way doctors check for bipolar disorder in adults and kids has gotten much better in the last ten years.

When you get checked, a medical doctor (like a psychiatrist) will look at your mood changes to see if you fit the criteria for any type of bipolar disorder. They might say you have Bipolar I (manic depression), Bipolar II (major depression with less intense high moods), or an unspecified type of bipolar disorder. Sometimes, a doctor might diagnose you with a milder form of bipolar disorder or another brain condition like ADHD. It’s harder to diagnose bipolar disorder in kids because they often have mixed episodes, meaning they show signs of both mania and depression at the same time. People with Bipolar II disorder might also have other mental health issues that make their bipolar symptoms worse.

Sometimes, bipolar disorder can get mixed up with other mental health or brain conditions. For example, ADHD symptoms can look a lot like a manic or hypomanic episode. A mental health pro might need to really sort out the two. Or, sometimes people have both bipolar disorder and ADHD. Research says that 10-20% of adults with bipolar disorder also have ADHD.

How Do Mood Swings Work?

Even though many people with bipolar disorder learn to spot the early signs of an episode, mood swings can still be surprising. They can come on slowly or suddenly, and they can last for hours, weeks, or even months. As Dr. David A. Merrill put it for Forbes Health, mood swings are the expectation, not the exception because they’re a key part of the disorder. A therapist can help you figure out what might trigger your episodes and how to deal with feeling too stimulated. Keeping a mood journal can also help you track how your emotions change. With the right treatment and support from groups like the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, people can better handle their condition and even stop episodes from happening.

Triggers for Bipolar and Mania

Sometimes a manic or depressive episode just happens, but often there can be a trigger. Things like changing jobs, moving, or other life changes can be triggers. Even certain medicines can set off mania. For example, studies suggest that stimulant medicines for ADHD can cause or make mania worse. Other things, like using drugs or alcohol, bad experiences, changes in relationships, not sleeping well, or anything that causes a lot of stress or excitement, can start an episode. Learning the common warning signs of a coming manic or hypomanic episode can help you better deal with them.

A person in a blue long-sleeved shirt is sitting on a couch in a bright room, explaining their symptoms to a counselor.

Therapy can make your mood better and help you feel good overall.
Work with a therapist to handle your symptoms.

What is Treatment for Manic Depression, and How Does It Connect to Bipolar and Mania?

Bipolar disorder is a long-term condition that comes and goes in cycles, so most people need long-term treatment. Manic and depressive episodes each need their own specific treatment plans. Usually, it’s a mix of talking therapy and medicines like mood stabilizers.

Medicine needs to be carefully managed by a doctor who knows a lot about bipolar disorder. For example, some people might find it hard to stick to their medicine plan when their moods are all over the place. In those cases, there are different medicine approaches that can help stop breakthrough symptoms (symptoms that pop up even with medicine). Also, antidepressants aren’t usually recommended for people diagnosed with bipolar disorder. So, if you were diagnosed with depression before and given antidepressants, your doctor might want to change your medicines, or you can talk to them about it. A doctor or mental health professional can tell you all about how a specific medicine works, its side effects, and how long you’ll need to take it.

Therapy can be a really helpful tool for people with bipolar disorder to feel better and be happier with their lives. Through therapy, people can also deal with other mental health issues they might have, like ADHD. You might find types of therapy like interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) and family-focused therapy (FFT) helpful. If bipolar disorder symptoms are really stubborn and don’t respond to usual treatments, a doctor might suggest brain stimulation therapy, like electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

How Mental Health Care and Talk Therapy Can Help

An online therapist can teach you about your disorder and give you the skills to spot and handle your symptoms. Getting mental health help through talk therapy can offer great support and ways to cope. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is good at making mania less severe and helping people with bipolar disorder avoid relapses. A study from 2017 looked at online CBT, which you can find on sites like Shroom Homies, and found that it works well for managing bipolar disorder symptoms. Plus, online therapy can be cheaper for some people, and it’s often easier to stick with since it’s more convenient.

Takeaway

Bipolar disorder, once called manic depression, is quite common. If someone is having big mood swings and emotional instability, often going back and forth between feeling super high and super low, it’s really important to see a mental health professional. They can do a proper check-up, diagnose bipolar disorder, and get them started on treatment. The symptoms are mainly big mood swings, and a doctor can give you a diagnosis and a treatment plan to help you handle your condition. Online therapy can be a good part of your plan to manage your symptoms and catch early signs of a manic or depressive episode.

What Is Manic Depression And How Does It Relate To Mental Health?