What Is Bipolar Disorder? (And What It Isn’t)

15 May 2025 Lyndon

When people hear the phrase “bipolar disorder,” they often picture someone flipping from one extreme mood to another in seconds – laughing one moment, shouting the next, crying an hour later. But despite how this stereotype usually shows up in films on TV (cue the dramatic music and medics or police officers), that’s not how bipolar actually plays out in real life.

It’s not just unpredictable behaviour and severe mood swings, it’s about living with distinct mood states – each one deep, often overwhelming, and usually lasting far longer than people expect. It’s not just about waking up grumpy and cheering up by lunch, it’s more like being dragged into entirely different mental climates – sometimes scorching with energy and racing thoughts, sometimes cold, flat, and desolate – and often without warning or reason.

This blog series is for anyone trying to make sense of it – whether you’ve just been diagnosed, think you might be bipolar, are supporting someone who is, or work alongside someone who lives with it. (We’ll even have a dedicated post later in the series for employers and co-workers because trust me – understanding goes a long way in the workplace.)

At Managing Bipolar, we aim to offer a practical and honest insight – part anecdotally medical, part lived experience, part shared stories and more. Because while no two people experience bipolar in quite the same way, there are shared patterns and truths that can help you navigate it.

So, What Is Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is a mental health condition defined by episodes of mania (or slightly milder hypomania) and also episodes of depression. These aren’t your average mood swings – but major shifts in mood, energy, behaviour, thinking, sleep, motivation, and even your sense of who you are.

To put it simply: it can feel like sharing your body and mind with two completely different people, like housemates. One is buzzing with ideas, confidence, and energy – sometimes way too much. The other is heavy with sadness, self-doubt, fatigue and self-loathing.

The kicker?

You feel everything they feel – from their wild confidence and sense of invincibility to their darkest shame and overwhelming fatigue. You’re not just sharing space – you’re intimately affected by every impulse, emotion, and regret your “housemates” generate. It’s exhausting. It’s confusing. And it’s real.

The Main Types of Bipolar Disorder

There are a few recognised types of bipolar disorder, each with its own patterns and intensities:

Bipolar I involves at least one manic episode – which can be severe, may include psychosis, and sometimes requires hospitalisation. Depression often follows.
Bipolar II involves at least one hypomanic episode (a subtler, less extreme form of mania) and at least one major depressive episode. While the highs can be milder, the lows can be every bit as crushing – sometimes even more so than in Bipolar I.
Cyclothymia involves frequent fluctuations between lower-level symptoms of hypomania and depression that don’t quite meet the full diagnostic criteria for either, but still cause distress and disruption.

Some people experience long periods of stability between episodes. Others cycle more rapidly or unpredictably. There is no one-size-fits-all pattern – but with the right support, medication, and self-awareness, it can be managed.

What Bipolar Disorder Isn’t

Let’s gently debunk a few common myths:

It’s not just mood swings. Everyone has mood swings, that’s just normal life. Bipolar episodes can last days, weeks, or even months, and involve profound changes in thinking, behaviour, and functioning – not just emotion.
It’s not a character flaw. Bipolar isn’t about being “too emotional” or “unstable.” It’s a medical condition that affects how your brain regulates mood and energy – it’s not a personal failing.
It’s not your fault. You didn’t choose this. You are NOT lazy, dramatic, weak, or attention-seeking. Period!
It’s not just about you. Bipolar disorder can deeply affect partners, family members, children, friends, loved ones and co-workers; everyone in our lives! That doesn’t mean we should feel ashamed – but it does mean part of managing bipolar responsibly is recognising its ripple effects.

You’re someone managing something complex and often invisible. That takes a type of strength the world rarely applauds – but it’s real.

It counts.

And it’s worth recognising.

What Causes Bipolar Disorder?

There’s no single cause, but a few key factors play a role:

Genetics: Bipolar often runs in families. Having a close relative with the condition increases your chances, but it doesn’t guarantee you’ll develop it.
Brain structure and chemistry: Research has shown differences in how the brain processes emotional regulation, impulse control, and energy levels in those diagnosed with bipolar.
Environmental factors and trauma: Stress, trauma, sleep disruption, and even major life changes can all act as triggers – especially in those who are already vulnerable.

The best way to think about it might be as a perfect storm – part inherited wiring, part environmental spark.

The Company It Keeps: Co-morbid Conditions

Bipolar often doesn’t travel alone. Many people with bipolar also experience other mental or physical health conditions. These can complicate diagnosis and treatment – or make everyday life that bit more challenging.

Some common co-occurring conditions include:

B12 deficiency: B12 deficiency can worsen depressive symptoms and cause cognitive fog.
Fibromyalgia: a chronic condition involving pain and fatigue, is surprisingly common among people with bipolar.
Anxiety disorders, ADHD, thyroid issues, and substance misuse are also commonly reported alongside bipolar disorder.

Understanding these overlapping conditions is key to treating the whole person, not just the label.

Why It Can Take So Long to Get Diagnosed

If it took years for you to get a formal diagnosis, or even if you’re not yet diagnosed – you’re not alone and it can be frustrating.

According to Bipolar UK’s 2022 Commission in Wales, the average time to diagnosis after first reporting symptoms is 11.9 years. That’s over a decade of confusion, misdiagnosis, and often, unrecognised suffering. I had a 30+ year history of unipolar depression before finally being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

Some reasons include:

People often only seek help during depressive episodes. This can then look like unipolar (regular) depression
Hypomania often feels good – so it may be ignored, missed, or seen as “just your personality”. I was often called ‘the life and soul of the party”!
Symptoms can overlap with many other conditions, such as anxiety or ADHD
Stigma or embarrassment can stop people from sharing their full story
And unfortunately, even well-meaning professionals can miss it – especially when systems are under strain, you see a different doctor each time, or symptoms don’t follow a textbook pattern

Everyone’s Experience Is Different – But Patterns Exist

We’ll go deeper into this in a future post on diagnosis and misdiagnosis – and how to advocate for yourself (or others).

Bipolar is broad; some people have long, spaced-out episodes. Others shift rapidly. Some are mostly depressed. Some experience manic and depressive symptoms at the same time – a mixed episode, which can be an incredibly scary experience.

Your experience might not match anyone else’s – and that’s okay!

The important part is recognising your patterns, getting the right support, and building strategies to live your life to the fullest.

What This Blog Series Will Cover

This is the first in a full series of posts explaining what bipolar is, how it feels, how to manage it, and how to support others. Upcoming posts will include:

THIS POST – What is Bipolar Disorder (And What It Isn’t!)
Manic episodes – what they feel like, why they’re dangerous, and why they can also feel oddly brilliant
Depressive episodes – how bipolar depression differs from standard depression, and how to survive it
Mixed episodes – when mania and depression show up at the same time
Mood fluctuations – including rapid cycling and the “in-between” days
Diagnosis and misdiagnosis – getting clarity when things feel muddled
Co-morbidities – understanding what else might be going on
Medication and therapy – what helps, what doesn’t, and what takes time
Bipolar in the workplace – a special post for co-workers and employers
Relationships and identity – navigating love, parenting, and who you are
Hope and recovery – what long-term management really looks like
and more? Let me know what else you’d like to see…

This isn’t about miracle cures. It’s about understanding yourself and finding a way to live with bipolar – not just despite it.

You Are Not Alone!

Living with bipolar can feel like a constant tug-of-war between extremes. Your life can go from you feeling invincible and all-knowing to invisible and in pain in a short period. And your job? Just trying to get through the day.

Just remember: you are not alone!

Millions of people live with this condition. Many are thriving – even when things don’t always feel stable. You are not broken. You are not weak. You are navigating a condition that’s difficult, often invisible, and deeply misunderstood – and doing that takes quiet, persistent courage. Well done!

Let’s take it one post at a time.

Up next:

👉 The Highs – Understanding Manic Episodes

Subscribe or follow Managing Bipolar for future posts. And if this helped, share it with someone else who might be navigating the same storm.

Photo by taylor gregory on Unsplash