What are some signs and symptoms of being bi polar?

Multiple symptoms: Bipolar disorder may be associated with easy irritability, periods of elation varying w/ periods of sadness (as one matures there may be less elation and more periods of sadness), insomnia, lack of impulse control (ex:shopping spree, hypersexuality). People may self-medicate in order to sleep or feel happier. There may be rapid, tangential speech (jumping from one subject to another).

Bipolar and drugs: Bipolar may be masked if the person has a substance use disorder (sud). The co-occurrence of bipolar disorders and suds is well-documented. Nearly 60% of individuals with bipolar disorder have a co-occurring sud. Also approximately 41% of individuals with an alcohol use disorder and 60% of individuals with a drug use disorder have a co-occurring mood disorder. So drug abuse is the alert.

Bipolar: Bipolar I and bipolar II, In the first, manic phases are more severe, and in the second, depressive phases are more severe. There is also cyclothymia which is a low grade version of bipolar disorder in general, where mood swings are not as severe in either direction, manic or depressive.