What is bipolar disorder? - Helen M. Farrell 

Moral of the story: The word "bipolar" is not just used as a *social media bio.*

gives middle finger to those who keep saying that they have bipolar without knowing the real meaning of it.

Psilocybin containing mushrooms saved my life. The drastically reduced my benzodiazepine withdrawal allowing me to quite illicit pill addiction after three years of heavy daily use before it would had became medically dangerous to quit. It has also helped me survive depression.

My aunt is 43, shes bipolar, she made some radical decision that left her on the streets with nothing to her name, my whole family went silent, not a peep from anyone, my mom, sister, and I took it upon ourselves to give her a second shot at life, as of now we found her a place to stay and good medication, its really important for them to know that they have someone, even if they’re not your blood, be there.

I wish psychology was a subject in schools just like math science etc.., it’s very important for people to know more about mental health issues

I've never seen so abstract images make so much sense

I am a 16 year old girl with bipolar disorder. I’ve been dealing with this since I was 10, but wasn’t properly medicated until a year ago. Everyday I wake up praying that nothing triggers a depressive or manic episode. This video has definitely made me feel better about who I am and why I shouldn’t give up on myself. My parents are still trying to process that I have this disorder and really does try to help me out but sometimes ends up saying the wrong things which cause me to go into a depressive episode. Although it is hard, I hope to find a person that I can completely let down my guard with and tell them about my disorder. Every time I try to open up to one of my friends, I immediately get judged and they look at me as if I’m a psycho. It really hurts me deeply. I have been hospitalized for months at a time because of how bad my depressive/manic episodes were. I’ve missed just about a whole semester a school but thankfully caught up with the help of my wonderful and caring teachers. I now find myself graduating a year early and heading off to college to become a news reporter. Yes, it takes dedication to cope and find ways to deal with these difficult emotions, but in the long run, everything will be okay.

I was diagnosed Bipolar 2 back in the year 2000, I am now 65. Medication and some talk therapy have helped me to do well. I have acquired many tools over the years to maintain good mental health. Thank you for this simple and informative video.

The animation is pretty fucking good.

The music combined with the visuals is actually terrifying.

I've finally been able to admit that I'm bipolar, after destroying several marriages, I wasn't socially acceptable at all. Now that I've admitted it to myself, everything changes. So that people know how it is in the head of a bipolar person, as if a personality that does not live up to your actual character is crawling out of you and you are constantly trying to fight it. Unfortunately, you lose the fight very often.

My youngest daughter was diagnosed when she was 23 after giving birth to her 1st child. She struggled along for 18mths, thinking to herself she was a bad mum, her little girl would be taken away, she was crying one minute then over excited the nxt.. She sought help from her GP who referred her for more in depth diagnosis. She's on meds to help balance her emotions out, but she still feels like she is fighting her own demons that only she knows about. But at least she got the help & we as a family support her all the way with so much to ease her anxiety..

My sister is bipolar. I once visited her apartment during one of her manic episodes. I walked in the door and there were hundreds of shopping bags full of stuff. She had gone out and maxed out all of her credit cards and then came home and didn't even look at any of the stuff she bought. She hadn't slept in days and was talking a mile a minute. That was when I finally realized how serious bipolar disorder is.

I had a bipolar gf. During a maniac episode she lost all her friends, her job, her college, broke up with me, indebted herself, had psychosis, went to a clinic... Completely destroyed her life and she never recovered. People have no idea how serious is this disease, it can completely incapacitate a person.

"bipolar disorder is a medical condition, not a person's fault". that's so true. cause i have bipolar disorder and when i have manics episode i always think that every crazy thing i do is my fault and that im hurting my family and friends. so when i go from a manic episode to a depression episode i think a lot about what i did in the manic episode and its horrible because the guilt becomes sbigger.

I'm bipolar and proud of it. I take my medication as prescribed and I manage it well. I've held a steady job. I'll admit my hardest weakness is the dark thoughts but I'm a workaholic until I shower and go to sleep. I keep busy as much as possible so I'm not alone with my thoughts.

I think the word bipolar is thrown around thoughtlessly too much, defining our sudden change in emotions

I hate how young teens call themselves bipolar just because they had a mood swing once

This girl I met has it so I’m trying to learn as much as I can about it in order to support her better.

My mom has this disorder and I feel like I can finally understand her feelings and thoughts,I struggled to understand her for a long time but now it's all over. I truly thank TEDED for their amazing work.Thank you very much ❤

Cried my eyes out the first time my psychiatrist told me I had Bipolar Depression. It used to make me feel broken and unfixable. I love at the end of this video the narrator says" Remember Bipolar Disorder is a medical condition, not a person's fault." I view my diagnosis the same way I view the eyeglasses I wear on my face everyday, my medication and therapy help me to see my life clearly.

I love how animation ties so perfectly into what he's saying, abstract as it is. It really helps to make this complex topic more approachable, especially for a visual learner like myself. Heheh, pretty too.

Another hardship of bipolar disorder: The tendency to self-medicate. It might be tough, but sobriety is one of the best mechanisms to keep the disorder under control.

I was diagnosed with ADHD, bipolar mania, and depression when I was 17. I'm 22 now, and never really understood it until I saw this video a couple years ago. I rewatch it sometimes and it helps being able to understand

As someone who has bipolar disorder, this video is pretty much perfect. It’s not “oH i waS sAD yESterdaY bUt iM HapPy nOw”, it’s like being thrown into a washing machine and being constantly shaken around bouncing between different things

I have bipolar disorder. This was a great video. Edit: I was diagnosed by a DOCTOR. Don't call yourself bipolar if you don't actually have it.

After years of therapy and different medications my psychiatrist and I found the right recipe so I can manage my condition. The key for me was when I discovered Stoicism and being exposed to Buddhist thought on trips to Thailand. The two keep me grounded and put life in a better perspective. I have gone over 4 years now without any depression and enjoy a slightly elevated mood which suits my creativity and personality. It’s all about acceptance. Love yourself. ❤️

My sister has bipolar and she was diagnosed about 12 years ago when she was 18 I guess. Her doctor at the time didnt believe she could study further so told my mom to find some simple occupations for my sister, my sister recently finished her thesis and master on child development. Its sad how even doctors dont understand that bipolar doesnt mean someone's life is over. Due to her being ill since I was little, I never got to create a strong bond with her and I feel terrible about it everyday. I hope I can force myself to spend more time with her and create a strong bond, I hope its not too late. I want to be there for my only sister. Those who have bipolar disorder and those who live or closely deal with people who do, hang in there folks.

That's why people shouldn't lightly say that they are bipolar. Also, great animation!

This also goes for OCD too. I really don't like it when people describe themselves as OCD without knowing what they undergo through. It's not that simple...

Thank you for shedding light on Bipolar Disorder. I have type 2 and it’s a costly thing to keep under control, and most people have no idea what it entails.

I have been diagnosed as bp1 months ago and this info is spot on. Makes a grown man cry. Now I notice my 15yo son has the traits😢

If I tell my friends about this, they would be like "yeah I definitely have that" :/

It's amazing how a few simple shapes and hues can synergise to explain so much. The creative in me is buzzing. Kudos to the educator and the animator for this video!

Got bipolar 2, diagnosed around 2000. Now on carbamazepine and olanzapine, no alcohol or caffeine, regular exercise and meditation. Held down this job for over a decade now, well paid for the first time in my life. All is good. 😁

I was diagnosed with bipolar back when it was called manic-depressive disorder. Through the years, I've been on so many meds. When I was young, my manic episodes were ridiculous. Back then I would get married, get divorced, by a new car, buy a new house, go out drinking with people I barely knew, paint my whole house, stay up for days, start fights. I still have the racing thoughts and recklessness, but not as bad. The depression episodes weren't as bad as they are now. Now, I can't hardly dig my way out the hole. I know the signs and kind of head them off at the pass, so to speak. I look back on my life and there's so many regrets for some of the things that I've done. It seems like all of them were during one of my manic episodes. I can't imagine how my life would have turned out without the meds to take the edge off. Wow.

Kudos to the animator. This is brilliant.

Please do Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Antisocial Personality Disorder!!!! Many people today claim they have these conditions or use it lightly without knowing what they actually are.

I have this and its really hard to describe to someone what it feels like, feeling good all day you talk to people you seem real happy then suddenly the all time low where I shut things down and feel like I shouldn't belong. Long feelings of negativity. You can fake a voice but you cant fake a face.

I love the use of colors and the sound effects in this video, as well as the narrative. It all ties together incredibly and is very informative. Thank you.

I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder during the beginning of my senior year of highschool. The summer prior to senior year is where I experienced the depressive side of bipolar disorder. I partied a lot during this time and used alcohol and weed to try and ease my pain but it did not help. I had recently lost my grandmother that summer and also totaled my car. It was the lowest point of my life and i came close to taking my life. I was prescribed anti-depressants when school started but it only made me feel numb and i was still having suicidal thoughts. I hated everything about my life and ignored my girlfriend and my family the entire month of September. I stayed in my room as much as i could to sleep because it was the only way i would feel relief from the pain. It got so bad i could barely speak. There would be so many thoughts racing in my mind but nothing would come out of my mouth as if was mute. Then one night in early October comes around and wow that is when everything changed. Something clicked in my brain and i was suddenly the most hyperactive kid in the world. I remember staying up that night blasting music and just singing my heart out Lol. The next day of school was awesome. I no longer felt any anxiety and was singing in the cafeteria with my bluetooth speaker Lol. During my english class i read a a couple pages of the book we were reading (Fahrenheit 451) and i swear i sounded like Eminem on Rap God haha. I felt so good and i thought i was cured from my depression because i thought that everything was finally clearing up for me. I was having conversations with everyone i saw and i remember being so talkative. (I was so happy i could speak again) after that i partied all weekend and had so much fun. The next week i was called to my guidance counsellors office just to update her on how i was feeling. My teachers and everyone noticed my mood switched so they let my guidance counsellor know. She calls my physician and lets my doctor know that i seem fine and that i was super happy, active and talkative. My doctor informs my counsellor to call my parents and bring me to emergency because i was having my manic episode. I was then admitted into a psyc-ward and was there for a while. I remember being the most talkative kid there and just having a good time with my nurses, caregivers and other patients. I was also very active and couldnt stop moving around just because i had so much energy. I was given lithium as a mood stabilizer and after a month i was released and was still able to graduate that year. It has been almost 3 years since then and i am so thankful for everyone who supported and took care of me during that time. My mom is also bipolar and it just gave me such a different perspective because i never understood her condition and how she felt. I love her so much, she is so strong and was a huge part of my recovery. Thanks for reading :) damn i wrote a lot Lol.

Mental conditions are so misunderstood. We all need to educate ourselves.

My fiance has it but no treatment and I was starting to lose it with her and didn't know how to help. We were each others support both being sober from alcoholism for over 5 years each. But I couldn't understand her constant emotional swings and unfortunately broke off the engagement which sent her into downward spiral resulting in her needing detox and inpatient. We truly love each other but I want her to get the proper help and treatment so I pray every day for her, I really hope she gets better over time I just had a hard time dealing with her having my own mental issues that are undiagnosed so I wanna get help too

One of my closest friends has bipolar disorder, and they struggle every day. I have major depressive disorder, so I kinda empathize with them in a way. We both help each other through the thick and thin times, and we always call each other every day to check in on the other.

I have a girlfriend with bipolar disorder, and I use this video regularly along with others to educate myself on the medical condition, so that I can use the proper words and emotions to help her whenever she has manic episodes. Even though I myself have autism, and finding the right words to say is difficult, I believe educating myself on bipolar disorder may be the step in the right direction. Thank you so much for this video.

Did anyone notice at around 2:55 the animator sneaked an illusion into the animation?

I have the second type of this disorder, so I am thankful you are helping me and other people understand it better

both my brother and father have bipolar disorder. This has helped a lot in understanding them as people and also processing the whole thing in general. Thanks : )

2:58 Looks like an optical illusion. When you concentrate on one circle, the others will get darker

5:13 'Remember bipolar disorder is a medical condition, not a persons fault''. So satisfying 2 hear sum1 say this

I have bipolar type 2 and the mood stabilizers definitely work so I’m not in bed all the time from depression but I’d definitely say I’m “sad” but it’s better than crushingly depressed to the point where I’d act on that. I’ve succumbed to the fact that im just a sad emo vibing through life

I have bipolar 2 and this was an excellent presentation. My own psychological care provider has difficulty expressing to me what it does. Please keep up the good work. I was undiagnosed for 30 years and with antipsychotic and antiseizuure medications, my life is so much better.

People don't usually understand just how bad bipolar one can get. My dad had to take early retirement at 35 because of his. Multiple hospital stays, having to get him sectioned etc, it's horrible. Now he has Parkinson's and has been in hospital almost 2 years because of how parkinsons medications interact with dopamine levels in the brain which makes his bipolar even worse. I really enjoyed this video. The explanations, animation and music all worked brilliantly together.

Smh those people who put "Bipolar" in their Instagram bios without really knowing what it is and showing it off like its some award...

Was diagnosed about a year ago with bipolar and manic depression needed to understand myself more thank you for the video.

This animation was so good! And I loved how informative the video was

As someone that has bipolar 2, I can tell you that I always look forward to the next time I get manic/hypomanic because it’s the only thing that brings me out of my depression.

my mom has bipolar type 2. Im 13 so ive been trying to learn about it to help her. This helped me understand lot thank u

The animations and visuals here do a great job at expressing feelings, even being as simple as they are! The video is also really informative which is nice :)

You really nailed it with this video, the visuals and the sounds were amazing. Top quality, thanks.

I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder four years ago. My family and close friends were extremely supportive (I am very lucky,) and I was hospitalized for a few months while they calibrated my medication. Now I have not had a manic or depressive episode in the last three years and am only taking small dosages of Abilify as treatment. I had to graduate very late from university and am still looking for a job, but I know I will get hired eventually and live as a fully functioning member of society. I hope anyone else with bipolar never give up and hang in there.

My bestfriend suffers from bipolar disorder. I have been trying to understand the illness and this video helped a lot♡

I really love the Ted ed animations that are geometric shapes, and a few years ago I knew what bipolar was but I didn’t really have a full picture of how it worked

I have this one from many years..But can't tell my family or anyone. The depression is so much...Ending life seems so much comfortable. Hope no one gets it..Stay healthy and happy🙏

I am *managing* my symptoms, not “controlling” them. I don’t say that to bum anyone. I simply don’t want anyone to get an idilic idea about treatment.

This actually brought tears to my eyes. I feel so understood watching this.

I hardly ever hear mention of the psychotic symptoms that can come along with bipolar disorder so I was pretty pleased by this video!

Great explanation. Wish the knowledge was more spread worldwide.

It's kinda of scary if you live in a family with a history of bipolar disorder like me. Every generation plays the waiting game to see how long it takes for the disorder to appear, or even if it will. You pray you got good genes from your other parent while you watch the impact the disorder has on the lives of your parents, grandparents, uncles,aunts, and cousins about your age.

Bipolar disorder is a medical condition , not a person's fault or their identity, I really felt that 🤧😭especially when people start treating you like an outcast, getting acceptance and empathy from family and friends does makes things much better.

I love how unsettling the visuals and the sounds are; it just goes to show how distressing this disorder is for people who have it.

Either I was excessively alert through out the video or the explanation was marvellous!

Can you please do a video on Borderline personality disorder or personality disorders in general?

as someone with a bipolar loved one, this helps me relax about helping them. thanks

Im bipolar. thank you for explaining this in such a simple and profound way. I will show it to my closest people, Im sure it will help them understand. well done!

I think this video should be shown to everyone. I have bi polar and it comes with such a stigma attached to it, my family don’t understand it and don’t really want too. It’s a difficult situation to be in and I feel really alone. This video gives me comfort tho

I came here after my younger brother’s recent diagnosis of bipolar disorder. Thank you for helping me understand what he’s going through better!

Ok the animation work on this is so mesmerizing

I recently lost a close friend who suffered from bi-polar disorder, and I can not emphasise enough to seek treatment, and to reach out to those close to you when things feel like they are becoming too much to handle.

Besides the content of this video, it was wonderfully animated. Really admire the use of abstract shapes and the colour palette!

The animations in this video are so visually pleasing

I hate being bipolar, it's fucking awesome!

The thing i love about ted ed is its intro kudos to the people who created this

I have bipolar 2 and bpd. I was in an unhealthy relationship, used and manipulated, cheated on. Being pushed to hurt myself, ECT. I eventually broke and when I did, I lost everyone and everything. I went on a rampage for months and months before getting sent to jail. I'm now on probation and facing homelessness. I once had a decent life, some money. All I will say is that if you know someone suffering from mental illness, and you can't quite understand what is happening to them, the least you can do is not break them more. GL.

Creator : How much geometry you want in the video? Ted Ex : yes

My dad has it and sometimes it's really hard to live with him. But my mum is a strong woman and i know she'll take care of us no matter what. 💕

I like being bipolar most the time. I was on meds but feeling normal made life seem so boring. Most the time I can contain myself but sometimes the disorder really messes with me.

This has to be the most beautiful video I’ve seen on this channel

2:50-3:06 Am I the only one who sees black dots appearing and disappearing inside the white ones?

I have a bipolar disorder but I will embrace it and survive.

this was on my recommended for some reason, but this was very informative! thank you!

12th man കണ്ടിട്ടു വരുന്ന വഴിയാ...അപ്പോഴേക്കും youtube algorithm ഇത് മുന്നിൽ കൊണ്ട് തന്നു

The most depressing thing is: people around you are not aware of the fact you are ill. They thought you are just lack of sleep or just think too much. It's deadly especially when you don't have loved ones at all,you have to struggle alone till last breath.

Please do more of these! I'm tired of hearing all of the negative stigmas associated with mental illness. People without any sort of issues still make a joke of it.

why this is suggested to me after I watching 12th man 👀

As someone that's bipolarThis is the only video thats ever made me sub to someone instantly

Every part of this video is worthy as a phone wallpaper

My mom was clinically diagnosed with bipolar and she was so hard to deal with. I had restless night because every night she's having the manic attack and she's screaming all over the house. It was bipolar 2 and she's very anxious everyday. Her bipolar was so extreme that it had even caused me depression. But I believed that she will be okay someday and through all of my hardships understanding her. Talking to her everyday so that she won't feel alone and lonely, she improved and I'm now happy to broadcast how happy I'am to see my mom being like a normal mom now. ❤

My birth mom was bipolar and I didn't understand it. Thanks for helping me understand what it is

My Wife was diagnosed with Bipolar years ago and being a your typical guy that he can fix everything and I know I can’t I understand now there’s nothing I can do besides be supportive and be understanding in one way or another we all have issues one way or another.