Mood Disorders
Mood Disorders
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that affects your moods, which can swing from 1 extreme to another. It used to be known as manic depression.
Symptoms of bipolar disorder
People with bipolar disorder have episodes of:
- depression – feeling very low and lethargic
- mania – feeling very high and overactive
Symptoms of bipolar disorder depend on which mood you’re experiencing.
Unlike simple mood swings, each extreme episode of bipolar disorder can last for several weeks (or even longer).
Depression
It’s possible to be diagnosed with clinical depression first before you go on to have a manic episode (sometimes years later), after which you’re diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
You may feel worthless during an episode of depression, which could potentially lead to suicidal thoughts.
If you’re feeling suicidal, read about where to get urgent help for mental health.
Overview – Borderline personality disorder
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a disorder of mood and how a person interacts with others. It’s the most commonly recognised personality disorder.
In general, someone with a personality disorder will differ significantly from an average person regarding how they think, perceive, feel, or relate to others.
Symptoms of borderline personality disorder (BPD)
The symptoms of BPD can be grouped into four main areas:
- emotional instability – the psychological term for this is effective dysregulation
- disturbed patterns of thinking or perception – cognitive distortions or perceptual distortions
- impulsive behaviour
- intense but unstable relationships with others
The symptoms of a personality disorder may range from mild to severe and usually emerge in adolescence, persisting into adulthood.