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Mood & emotions · Understand your experience

Bipolar disorder

If your mood, sleep or energy has changed in ways that feel unusual for you, you may be trying to make sense of the pattern. Here you can understand bipolar disorder and prepare for a conversation about what you need.

Prepare a conversation Your tools & next steps
Your history matters more than a snapshot of how you feel today.
01 / Get a clearer picture

Look at the pattern, not just the highs and lows.

Bipolar disorder involves episodes of depression, mania or hypomania that change your mood, energy and activity. These changes are different from your usual experience and can affect your everyday life. Feeling happy and then sad in an ordinary day does not, on its own, mean bipolar disorder.

You may have periods when your mood feels more settled. Episodes do not have to alternate neatly, and depressive and elevated symptoms can occur together. A clinician considers your history, how changes develop and their impact, rather than expecting a predictable cycle.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · NHS · American Psychiatric Association

Your history matters more than a snapshot of how you feel today.
A visual explanation

Four parts of the wider picture.

  • Mood & energy

    What felt different from your usual self

  • Sleep

    Changes in sleep and how rested you felt

  • Timing & history

    When it happened and what came between

  • Your daily life

    Changes in relationships, decisions and responsibilities

Areas to discuss across your history, not a diagnostic checklist, mood score or expected cycle. Your clinician also considers other possible explanations. Source: National Institute of Mental Health
A closer look

An episode involves more than a change of mood.

Assessment considers changes in energy, activity, sleep, thinking and functioning alongside mood. An elevated period can involve irritability as well as feeling unusually upbeat. Depression and elevated symptoms can also occur together; an experience does not have to resemble two opposite cartoon emotions.

Mania and hypomania differ in their clinical features and consequences, not simply in where a point sits on a mood scale. The type explanations below are an orientation for a professional conversation, rather than a way to assign yourself a diagnosis.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · American Psychiatric Association

Your history can be discussed as separate experiences, with room for uncertainty and your own priorities.
A closer look

Cyclothymia: an ongoing pattern needs a longer view.

Cyclothymia, or cyclothymic disorder, involves recurrent hypomanic and depressive symptoms that do not meet the full intensity or duration requirements for hypomanic or major depressive episodes. It is distinct from simply feeling happy and sad in the same day.

Assessment considers a longer history, the frequency of changes, more settled periods and their effect on your life. Your clinician also considers other health conditions, medicines and substances. A PHQ-9 or ASRM snapshot cannot establish this pattern.

The distinction does not mean the impact is unimportant. You can ask for support now, without waiting for a diagnostic time requirement. A professional can discuss appropriate treatment and follow-up; this page does not identify a subtype from a mood chart.

Recurring symptoms below full episode criteria can still affect daily life. A clinician considers the longer history and impact, rather than reading a same-day mood chart as a diagnosis. You can ask for help with current difficulties without waiting to satisfy a duration rule yourself.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · NHS

Understand the names

Two patterns. Your own experience.

These names describe clinical patterns. They are not a comparison of whose experience matters more.

Mania is central

Bipolar I disorder

A manic episode is central to bipolar I. Mania is a marked change in mood, energy and activity that can seriously disrupt your life; some people need hospital care. You may also experience depression or hypomania.

An elevated mood can feel irritable or agitated, rather than happy. A professional considers how different the episode was from your usual self and whether you needed urgent care.

An assessment explores the history of mania and its impact, alongside other periods and possible explanations. Ask how the diagnosis was reached and which parts of the care plan respond to your own history. Having this label does not tell a clinician everything about your current needs.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · American Psychiatric Association

What assessment considers
Depression & hypomania

Bipolar II disorder

Bipolar II involves episodes of major depression and hypomania. Hypomania is a less severe elevation in mood and activity than mania, but it is still a noticeable change from your usual experience.

The word hypomania does not mean the whole condition is mild. Depression can have a substantial impact. You do not need to choose a subtype before asking for help.

The distinction concerns a history of hypomanic and major depressive episodes; it does not rank someone's life as less affected. Assessment needs more than depression plus an energetic day. You can ask how past experiences, functioning and other explanations have been considered.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · American Psychiatric Association

What assessment considers
02 / Make sense of what has changed

What you might notice

Changes can show up in different parts of your life, and other conditions can cause similar experiences.

Energy & thoughts

Periods of unusually high energy, feeling very upbeat or irritable, talking faster, or finding your thoughts difficult to slow down.

Your sleep

Needing much less sleep while still feeling energized. This is different from wanting to sleep but being unable to, although sleep problems can have many causes.

Periods of depression

During depression, losing interest, feeling low or hopeless, having less energy, or struggling to concentrate and manage your day.

Your everyday choices

Changes in spending, risk-taking, relationships or responsibilities that feel out of character. It can help to hear what someone you trust has noticed.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · NHS · American Psychiatric Association

In everyday life

A history is not a repeating wave.

In this fictional example, Morgan remembers separate periods with different difficulties and a long stretch they cannot describe precisely. A clinician would need more information before classifying any period. These observations do not establish bipolar disorder.

The spaces between the cards are intentional. They do not represent equal intervals, a required order or a prediction. An ordinary good day, tired week or change in productivity cannot be labeled from this strip.

Fictional examples to explain an experience. They are not a checklist or a diagnosis.

  1. An earlier period

    “My energy and sleep were different from usual. I struggled with decisions.”

  2. An uncertain interval

    “I do not remember the timing clearly. Some things felt more settled.”

  3. A later period

    “I felt low and ordinary tasks became harder. I would like to explain that change.”

Fictional history fragments, with unequal and unspecified intervals. No clinical episodes are identified.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · NHS

03 / Put your experience into context

Bring your whole history to the conversation.

A doctor or mental health professional asks about past and present changes, how long they lasted, what happened between them, and their effect on your life. Mention periods of unusually high energy as well as low mood, even if the high-energy periods did not feel like a problem at the time.

The assessment can also consider physical health, sleep, medicines, alcohol or other substances and other possible explanations. With your agreement, someone who knows you well may be able to add useful observations. Notes can help, but they are not required to access help.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · NHS · NICE

Your experience, in three prompts
  1. 1
    What was different for you?

    Describe a period of low mood or unusually high energy, including what others noticed.

  2. 2
    When did it happen?

    Approximate timing, sleep changes and how you felt between periods.

  3. 3
    What changed in your life?

    Your work, relationships, spending, safety or ability to look after yourself.

Make a few notes
Room for your questions

Today's experience is one part of the assessment.

If you seek help when feeling depressed, it can still be useful to discuss previous periods of unusual energy or reduced need for sleep. A specialist can ask about duration, impact and other explanations, including physical health, medicines or substances.

You can say when a memory is approximate. With your agreement, someone you choose may add observations, but their account should be considered alongside yours. The optional notes on this page are a communication aid; you do not need a completed diary before contacting care.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · NHS

Optional / Prepare in your own words

A few observations, in your own words.

One example is enough to begin. There is no required number of days and no score.

If it feels useful, record an example or a period you remember: your sleep, mood and energy, and what changed in daily life. Use approximate dates if that is easier. These observations help you explain your experience; they do not identify an episode or diagnose bipolar disorder.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · NICE

Make your observation notes Optional · No score or result

Your entries stay in this open page. They are not sent to Selfmora or saved to browser storage. Closing or refreshing clears them. Copying puts them in your device clipboard; choose somewhere private to paste them.

This tool is not monitored and does not offer care or interpret your entries. If you need urgent help, contact a professional or emergency service now; do not wait to collect more notes.

Observation 1
Up to three examples · Every field is optional

Make everyday life more workable

Support you can plan together.

If you have a care team, make the plan specific to you and easy to find when things change.

Your early signs

Talk about changes that have mattered for you before, including sleep, energy and behavior. Agree when to contact your team.

Your everyday anchors

Discuss a manageable sleep routine and the practical help you want. If you may be manic or hypomanic, seek care and postpone major decisions where possible.

Your people & contacts

Choose who you want involved and keep your care and urgent-support contacts accessible. Ask your team to explain the plan in words that work for you.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · NHS · NICE

04 / Explore your support options

Your support options

You and your clinician can discuss what fits your needs, preferences and health.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · NHS · NICE · American Psychiatric Association

Professional care

Care can include prescribed medicines, psychological therapy and a plan for staying well and responding to changes. Your clinician can discuss benefits, side effects and any monitoring you need. Do not stop or change prescribed medicines on your own.

Support in your daily life

A regular sleep routine and support with daily responsibilities can be useful alongside professional care. Work with your care team on early warning signs, who to contact and what to do if your mood changes. A trusted person can help if you want them involved.

Understand your options

A care plan can address today and the longer term.

Treatment can combine medicines and psychological care, tailored to your circumstances. Ask what each part is intended to help, how benefits and unwanted effects will be reviewed, and who coordinates physical-health checks and follow-up.

A shared plan can also make it clearer what to do if familiar changes return. Agree contact arrangements with your team rather than changing medication according to an online mood record. Tell your prescriber promptly about pregnancy or pregnancy plans so the relevant treatment discussion can happen.

  • Purpose

    What is this part of care intended to help?

  • Review

    How will we discuss progress, side effects and physical health?

  • Changes

    Who should I contact if sleep, energy or functioning changes?

Questions for an individualized care plan, rather than a treatment schedule.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · NHS · American Psychiatric Association

Make room for what helps

Support can be practical and agreed with you.

You might want help attending an appointment, keeping an agreed routine or explaining a concern to your team. A supporter can ask what feels useful rather than treating every emotion as a warning sign.

If urgent changes occur, use the help information at the top of this page or your agreed crisis plan. Support does not require proving a particular subtype first. Between appointments, you can discuss how work, relationships and the things you value fit into ongoing care.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · NHS

05 / Choose your next step

A little clarity. A place to start.

Explore a tool, prepare a conversation or find someone to talk to. Choose what feels useful to you.

Wondering about a bipolar test?

Selfmora does not currently offer a bipolar identification questionnaire. A score cannot replace a professional assessment of your history and the wider context.

NICE guidance specifically recommends that questionnaires should not be used in adult primary care to identify bipolar disorder. This recommendation concerns that identification setting; it is not a blanket statement about all questionnaires used in specialist care or monitoring. If you already have a diagnosis, ask your care team whether a monitoring tool fits your care plan.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · NICE

Make optional observation notes
Practical guideYour words

Prepare for a conversation

A few prompts to help you explain what you have noticed and what you would like help with.

  • A simple notes builder
  • Copy your notes to keep
  • No account needed

You decide how much to write and share.

Find your words
Support directorySomeone beside you

Find your next kind of support

Explore where to begin with everyday support, professional help or an urgent conversation.

  • Ways to ask for help
  • Country-specific crisis contacts
  • Support at your own pace

If you need urgent help, go straight to support.

Find support
You can start right here

Your first sentence does not need to be perfect.

You can begin with one example and what you want help understanding. If you are already receiving care, contact your team about changes that concern you and follow your agreed care plan. If changes are intense or you feel unsafe, seek urgent support rather than waiting to record more examples.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · NHS · NICE

“I've noticed periods when my mood, sleep and energy are quite different from usual. Can we talk through my history and what might explain it?”
Make it sound like you
Things you may be wondering

Your questions, with room for nuance.

You can read just the answer you need.

Does bipolar disorder mean my mood changes every day?

The clinical assessment concerns episodes and their course, not a requirement to alternate between high and low moods each day. Patterns vary, with intervals that can be very different in length.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · NHS

Is hypomania simply feeling productive?

No. A professional considers a distinct change from usual functioning and the wider clinical pattern. Productivity or enthusiasm alone cannot establish hypomania.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · American Psychiatric Association

Can I seek help without a mood diary?

Yes. You can begin with the concerns you remember. A record can sometimes support discussion, but urgent or routine care should not depend on completing one here.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · NHS

Should I change treatment when I notice a pattern?

Contact your treating professional and follow your agreed care plan. A pattern in optional notes does not provide instructions to start, stop or adjust medication.

Based on National Institute of Mental Health · NHS

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Where this information comes from.

Use this hub to learn and prepare questions. It does not diagnose you or recommend a personal treatment plan. By Selfmora editorial; sources checked . Updated .

Additional explanations and examples: sources consulted . Examples illustrate ideas; they do not assess your personal health. Your questions

Our editorial approach