Do you recognize the feeling of being energized? You sleep for just three hours yet get a lot done, make everyone laugh with your jokes, and have so many ideas that you can’t write them all down? These may be some of the bipolar signs to be aware of.
What if I told you that this “super productive” version of yourself can be one of the most hazardous signs of bipolar disorder?
Jess, a 28-year-old barista from Toronto, is the subject of this discussion. Her friends used to call her “the life of the party,” but that all changed one night when she bought tattoos and airline tickets on a whim and then crashed so hard she couldn’t get out of bed for weeks.
That’s when she realized the truth: her “high energy” wasn’t typical. It was crazy. And like 40% of Canadians with bipolar disorder (according to studies from UBC), she had been wrongly labeled with depression for years.
Please Enjoy Reading signs-of-depression
My Cousin’s Story: Bipolar Signs
The Accident That Changed Everything
I will always remember the night my cousin Raj contacted me from Vancouver at 3 AM. He had been up for 72 hours straight, sure that he was going to build “the next big tech startup.”
His communications were frenetic and full of big ideas, which was quite different from the worn-out, hollow-eyed guy I had met only a few months earlier when he was in his “low” period.
The following morning, when his roommate phoned me to tell me that Raj had been brought to St. Paul’s Hospital after having a psychotic episode, the physicians posed a question that no one had thought of before:
“Has he ever shown signs of being bipolar before?”
Yes, we simply didn’t know who they were.
The 5 Most Common Bipolar Signs That Canadians Miss
I’ve discovered through my work with CAMH (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) that people commonly confuse **bipolar signs** with personality features or “phases.” The following red signals are the ones that people most often miss:
1. The “Super Productivity” Trap:
You suddenly don’t require much sleep yet feel “better than ever.”
I prepared a 90-page business plan in one night. My doctor said it was hypomania. — Liam, 34, from Calgary
2. Emotional Whiplash: Bipolar Signs
Going from joyful to angry in a matter of minutes and taking risks that aren’t normal (such as driving recklessly or having an affair out of the blue).
3. The Spending Spiral
– Using up all your credit cards on weird things, like “I bought $8,000 worth of vintage lamps at 4 AM.” Still don’t know why. — Sophi.e., 29, from Montreal
4. Speech That Can’t Keep Up With Thoughts
– Talking so rapidly that others can’t interrupt
– Jumping from one subject to another
5. The Inevitable Crash
Manic moments frequently culminate in crushing sadness. “After my ‘best month ever,’ I couldn’t brush my teeth for two weeks.” — Derek, 41, from Halifax
Please Enjoy Reading depression-and-symptoms
Why Canada’s Healthcare System
Keeps Missing Signs of Bipolar Disorder
1. First, they find out they have depression
—People normally go for treatment when they’re down, not while they’re manic.
2. Mania Can Look Like “Success”
—Getting” promoted, having creative spurts, and having a lot of energy are all good things.
3. Stigma Keeps People Who Are Suffering Quiet
“I thought my ‘creative genius’ was just mania until I lost my job.” — Priya, 36, Ottawa
Late Diagnosis Stories from Real Canadian – Bipolar Signs
Sarah, 42, Edmonton
The nurse who “thrived” on night shifts
“My hospital enjoyed that I could work three shifts in a row without becoming tired. Then I was suspended for shouting at a patient, something I would never do ordinarily. My doctor indicated that not getting enough sleep made me manic.
The Student Who Lost His Scholarship
Jared, 21, London, ON
“I did great on my midterms when I was having a manic episode, but I failed my finals when I was depressed.” My dean assumed I was lazy, not that I had “bipolar signs” since high school.
Please Enjoy Reading bipolar-disease-signs-part
How to Get the Right Help in Canada – Bipolar Signs
If You Notice These Signs:
1. Keep track of your moods by using applications like eMoods or Daylio.
Ask the Right Questions: Could my ‘ups and downs’ be mood swing”s?
3. Access Specialists (Even Without a Family Doctor)
Ontario: CAMH’s Mood Disorders Clinic
– BC: Access the Mood Disorders Association of BC
– Alberta: The Bipolar Disorder Clinic in Calgary
For help in a crisis, call the Canada Suicide Prevention Service at 1-833-456-4566 or text CONNECT to 686868.
What I learned from Raj’s trip – Bipolar Signs
After he got the news, Raj told me something that broke my heart: “All those times I thought I was ‘finally happy,’ it wasn’t real happiness.” “Just sickness.”
But with the right care, he has discovered something better: stability. Not always feeling good or bad, just *being okay*. And it’s worth more than any “brilliance” that comes with being manic.
Please Enjoy Reading anhedonia-meaning
Your Turn: Is This Someone You Care About?
Be on the lookout for: Bipolar Signs
✔ Cycles of “too much” energy followed by collapses
✔ Taking risks that aren’t normal for you
✔ A family history of bipolar disorder
Leave a comment below (anonymity is welcome): Have you or someone you know had these bipolar signs? Your story might benefit other people.
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### **FAQ: Bipolar Disorder in Canada**
**Q: Can bipolar disorder start abruptly in your 30s?** A: Yes! Late-onset occurs, particularly after a lot of stress, although it usually happens in teens and twenties.
**Q: Does bipolar disorder run in families? **A:** 60–80% genetic link—if a parent has it, your risk goes up a lot.
**Q: What is the best province for bipolar treatment?** A: **BC and Ontario** have specialist facilities, although telehealth alternatives are available all around the country.
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**Last Thought:** Mania is not the same as creation. Depression is not the same as being lazy. **Bipolar signs** are medical conditions, not personality defects.
Being able to see them early might save a life.
