It is therefore important that victims of bipolar, parents, friends and co-workers know how to recognize the eight groups of bipolar symptoms in a depressive mood. To seek help at the appropriate time for your friend or a loved one, be certain to educate yourself so you can have an early diagnosis which is critical with this mental disease.
Decrease in Energy: There is nothing mysterious about this bipolar symptom. It is simply not having much energy when compared to the previous week or month. A month ago you still felt good and strong enough after work. Most nights you can go out for a run and a dinner, but now you notice that you have run out of steam every day say at 3:00 p.m. Other members of the family, your friends or those working with you have noticed the loss of energy. You have actually stopped what you used to do.
Fatigue ” fatigued both physically and mentally: Depression can cause physical fatigue and a decrease in energy level. Usually after sleep we feel refreshed, but bipolar victims instead become tired and fatigued. Trying to get up in the morning can take a lot of effort. Some experiences are, during the day they are full of energy but, once they get home they feel really worn out.
Lethargy – state of being drowsy and dull, listless and unenergetic, or indifferent and lazy: It is a very serious symptom. They are unusually drowsy or lethargic – spending hours just sitting in a place and totally unresponsive and simply uninterested in doing anything because their feeling and mind is quite heavy.
Diminished Activity ” Feeling of less important: This is usually caused by the loss of energy, being tired and listless. In other cases it may occur independently of those symptoms. If their level of activity begins to drop or non existence” an example will be she leaves her washing undone, or unable to do the simple things like raking the garden then, you know they have a symptom of bipolar.
Insomnia – inability to obtain sufficient sleep: Lying awake worrying, unable to get comfortable, feeling tensed or just having too many going on in the mind. Sleeping is a big task.
Hypersomnia – too much sleeping: People in depressive episodes have been known to sleep and sleep and sleep some more than 24 hours.
Loss of Interest in Activities you used to Love: You normally love the sea, but now you are turning down your friends invitation to go and enjoy the day out in the sea. Marian loves to relax by walking but, now she wants to be left alone. Your son Bob has season tickets to the zoo but has been staying home, and when you ask, he just shrugs and says, “I am bored.” The problem with this symptom is, it may be easier for others to spot the problem than for those with the symptom.
Social Withdrawal: Because a lot will depend on the bipolar person’s personality, it may be easier to describe bipolar symptom, than to notice it. You may be able to notice the symptom when they stop going to social functions, this if the person is an outgoing person. No one will be able to realize that the withdrawal symptom is more serious if the person is a well known “loner.”
Other Changes to look out for
There may be other changes in activity not listed above which may also come with depression, but the eight listed above are those that are most commonly associated with the depressive episodes of depression.