A depressive episode is a period of lowered mood, with changes in thinking and behaviour that usually lasts for at least two weeks. It has a significant impact on a person’s day-to-day life.

Changes include:

• feeling in a low mood – sadness, irritability, tearfulness
  
  
• losing interest in enjoyable activities
  
  
• changes in appetite and weight – eating more or less than usual, gaining or losing weight rapidly
  
  
• changes in sleeping patterns – trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleeping much more than usual
  
  
• lowered energy and lack of motivation
  
  
• feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness
  
  
• poor concentration and memory problems
  
  
• thoughts about suicide.

A hypomanic episode is a milder form of mania that lasts for at least four days.

The symptoms are less severe and there are no psychotic symptoms. Hypomanic episodes may feel enjoyable (I.e., more confidence/elevated mood). Some individuals will manage to keep functioning without any significant difficulties, but others will progress to experience a full manic episode.

A manic episode is a period of constant and unusually elevated (‘high’) or irritable mood and a noticeable increase in energy or activity.

This generally lasts at least one week and is very different from someone’s normal state. It leads to a range of difficulties that have a big impact on a person’s daily life.

When someone is having a manic episode, they may experience:.

• Elevated mood. Feeling euphoric, ‘high’ or ‘on top of the world’, or very irritable.
  
  
• Less need for sleep. Sleeping very little without feeling tired.
  
  
• More energy, activity and drive. Having lots of projects or plans, walking long distances, being always ‘on the go’.
  
  
• Racing thoughts and rapid speech. Thoughts speeding around from topic to topic, speech that’s difficult for others to follow.
  
  
• Being disinhibited. Engaging in high-risk behaviours that are out of character and potentially harmful, like sexual risk-taking, driving too fast, abusing alcohol or other drugs, or spending large amounts of money.
  
  
• Inflated self-esteem. Ranging from uncritical self-confidence to ‘grandiose’ beliefs (e.g. the person saying they have special powers or talents).
  
  
• Psychotic symptoms. For example, hearing or seeing things that are not real (i.e. hallucinations) or having intensely strong beliefs about something that’s not real (i.e. delusions). These usually match the person’s elevated mood.