Well my old Dad is back, sort of, but now I recognize it as his manic state. He is talking 10,001 miles a minute, is super-energetic, and gets pissy/irritable at anyone who will not go along with his plans. He was bouncing all over the place during our Christmas festivities, refusing to let anyone get a word in edgewise and snapping at anyone who said anything contrary to his opinion. Yesterday he went to the salon with me. I gave him my credit card at the end to pay while I fixed a smudged nail. He paid with his instead and said, “It’s my daughter’s birthday; Dad should pay for this.” Um, okay. Fast forward two hours later and he’s making me pay for a $250 digital photo frame for my mother “in exchange” for the hair payment. He is suddenly obsessed with acquiring this frame and won’t stop talking about it, making me stop on my way to the party to pick it up. He calls me several times after the party to make sure I remember to get it out of the car and is up at 3 a.m. this morning to set it up (I’m not sure he slept at all). I won’t even tell you about the two friends of mine he literally TORTURED at my party by going on and on and ON.

This scares me. It scares me because the disorder is hereditary. It scares me because my Nana had it bad and I saw it get worse and worse in her (although she refused to take her lithium half the time). It scares me because my uncle has it, too. It scares me because I worry I will get it… or that I already have it (thank you, therapist, for planting that little seed). My mother told me to start “harassing Dad” at 8 a.m. tomorrow and continue every hour on the hour until I am certain he has called his psychiatrist about a medication dosage because he went from so depressed that he could barely get out of bed to so manic that we are wondering if he is even taking his meds at all. Prayers for Dad are always appreciated.

What Are the Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?

Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings—from overly “high” and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these changes in mood. The periods of highs and lows are called episodes of mania and depression.
Signs and symptoms of mania (or a manic episode) include:

* Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
* Excessively “high,” overly good, euphoric mood
* Extreme irritability
* Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
* Distractibility, can’t concentrate well
* Little sleep needed
* Unrealistic beliefs in one’s abilities and powers
* Poor judgment
* Spending sprees
* A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual
* Increased sexual drive
* Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
* Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
* Denial that anything is wrong

A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.
Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive episode) include:

* Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood
* Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
* Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex
* Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being “slowed down”
* Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
* Restlessness or irritability
* Sleeping too much, or can’t sleep
* Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain
* Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury
* Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

A depressive episode is diagnosed if five or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, for a period of 2 weeks or longer.

A mild to moderate level of mania is called hypomania. Hypomania may feel good to the person who experiences it and may even be associated with good functioning and enhanced productivity. Thus even when family and friends learn to recognize the mood swings as possible bipolar disorder, the person may deny that anything is wrong. Without proper treatment, however, hypomania can become severe mania in some people or can switch into depression.