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3 unusual behaviors may be early warning signs of bipolar disorder, says psychiatrist
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes extreme mood swings and shifts in energy, making it difficult to live a normal life. Lack of knowledge about the condition can result in delayed prognosis or lifelong suffering.
Bipolar disorder doesn’t have a cure, but the symptoms are manageable with medications, therapy, and the right support. A psychiatrist discusses the early warning signs of mental illness so it doesn’t go unnoticed.
3 early warning signs of bipolar disorder
The signs detailed by Dr. Agam Dhawan in his TikTok video may overlap with symptoms of other mental conditions, too. We suggest getting psychiatric help if you notice the following signs in yourself or your dear ones.
High energy on less sleep
One of the common signs of bipolar disorder is the ability to function on little or no sleep. People with the condition notice a gradual reduction in their sleep, yet enough energy to go about their day as usual.
“They can go multiple nights without it and they don’t feel like they need sleep. They feel energized in the morning with that,” Agam explains.
Talking too fast
Talking fast is not an unusual trait, but bipolar disorder results in rapid or racing thoughts prompting the person to talk non-stop. They talk without interruption and return to talking as fast after pausing for someone else to speak.
Impulsive decisions
The condition makes the person impulsive, often resulting in risky decisions that aren’t well thought-out. These are the things the same people wouldn’t normally do. Could be going on a shopping spree, driving fast, or getting involved with multiple sexual partners or strangers, says the psychiatrist.
Dr. Agam is a board-certified psychiatrist with a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama and an MD from Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama. He operates his own private practice at Level Up Psychiatry. He is a current child/adolescent psychiatry fellow at Northwell Health.
