The "sad to glad" mood swings of bipolar disorder refer to the intense shifts between depression ("sad") and mania or hypomania ("glad"). These swings go beyond ordinary emotional ups and downs — they are extreme, can be disruptive, and are often out of sync with what's happening in a person’s life. Here's a breakdown:
1. "Sad" – Depressive Episodes
These episodes mirror clinical depression and can last weeks or months. Symptoms include:
Depressive episodes can feel crushing and make even simple daily tasks seem overwhelming.
2. "Glad" – Manic or Hypomanic Episodes
This is the "up" side of the swing, but it’s not just feeling happy — it's often an elevated, overly energized, or irritable state that can be destructive. The difference between mania and hypomania is mainly in severity and impact.
Hypomania (less severe, no psychosis):
The Swing
Impact
These swings can disrupt work, relationships, and health. People with bipolar disorder often struggle with understanding or predicting their own mood states, and those around them may feel confused or helpless.
