There may come a time when you need to determine if a loved one should seek help for his or her problems. In fact, there may come a time for many when it is important to be able to recognize the onset bipolar disorder symptoms.

Bipolar disorder symptoms have three main categories. These are manic, psychotic and depressive. If several of these symptoms are occurring, it may be time to see your doctor.

Manic bipolar disorder symptoms are many & varied. They all share a similar feeling, though. Everything is much faster, grander, and bigger than life. A person in a manic state may be more active than usual. They may think and talk faster than he or she usually does. Everything about that person is exaggerated, including their overwhelming feeling of self importance.

A person like this may have grand schemes and adventures in the works. When these plans don't pan out, that person will generally put the blame on some outside factor if, in fact, he or she takes the time to consider it at all. Usually, it's straight off to the next idea. This is not just whimsical behavior, but is actually bipolar disorder symptoms.

When manic, people can be very reckless. They can end up doing things that effect their personal relationships or may go so far as landing them in serious trouble. Without an alertness to bipolar disorder symptoms it appears as simply a problem with their behavior. The truth is that those people generally need treatment to get better. It isn't just a case of making up one's mind to do the right thing.

There are also physical bipolar disorder symptoms of mania that may also be very obvious. A person who feels little or no need for food or sleep may also be in a manic state. While some may be able to carry on this way, at least for a while, most of us need rest and sustenance to maintain ourselves.

Psychotic bipolar disorder symptoms arrive mostly with mania, but can often come with mixed moods and occasionally with depressive bipolar disorder symptoms. Psychosis just refers to a break with reality. This can be in the form of hallucinations, both auditory (hearing voices, etc.) and visual. Delusions or false beliefs, are also bipolar disorder symptoms. For example, a person may falsely believe that he or she is actually some famous historical figure or celebrity.

During depression, bipolar disorder symptoms can often be easily seen if you look carefully. Apathy is a sign of depression, but other clues are even more telling. Indecisiveness and low self esteem go hand in hand in depressive bipolar symptoms.

Physical bipolar disorder symptoms of depression include tiredness, weight gain or loss, and eating or sleeping more or less than usual. The person who is displaying bipolar disorder symptoms of depression is telling the world that they simply don't care enough take good physical care.

One should never look for trouble where it doesn't exist. There is no need to be afraid of any slight variations in the moods or habits of a friend or loved one. However, if things just don't seem right, it is advisable to be able to recognize bipolar disorder symptoms.