Early Signs of Bipolar and Bipolar II You Shouldn’t Ignore

Catching the early signs of bipolar disorder can change a life. With the right support, many people go on to build meaningful, joyful, stable futures. Bipolar disorder affects mood, energy, and daily functioning and is marked by periods of depression and periods of elevated mood (mania or hypomania).

In this blog, we’ll walk through five early signs of bipolar and bipolar II, and how they can look in real life—especially in those early, confusing stages where something feels “off,” but there’s no diagnosis yet.

Start Here: Watch the Video

We have included a short, accessible video that walks through key early signs of bipolar and bipolar II in plain language, with real-world examples:

If you prefer to listen and watch rather than read, start with the video and then come back to this article to revisit the main points and share them with family and friends.

Bipolar vs. Bipolar II: What’s the Difference?

Before we talk about early signs, it helps to understand the basics:

• Bipolar I involves episodes of depression and at least one full manic episode—a period of abnormally elevated or irritable mood and energy that seriously affects work, relationships, or safety.
• Bipolar II involves episodes of depression and hypomania—a milder form of elevated mood where someone may feel unusually energetic, productive, or irritable, but not always “out of control.” Hypomania is often missed or misread as “just being in a good mood” or “finally feeling like myself.”

Both types are serious medical conditions. Neither is your fault. And in both, early recognition and treatment can reduce the impact on school, work, relationships, and long-term health.

1. Mood Swings That Are More Than “Ups and Downs”

Everyone’s mood changes. But with bipolar disorder, the shifts can be more intense, more frequent, and harder to explain.

Early signs might look like:

• Periods of very low mood: feeling empty, hopeless, or tearful for days or weeks at a time
• Followed by days where you suddenly feel “too good,” wired, or unusually irritable
• Loved ones commenting that you seem like a “different person” from one week to the next

In bipolar II, these ups might not look “dramatic” from the outside. They can show up as suddenly being more productive, talkative, or confident than usual—sometimes with a short temper or impatience.

If these mood shifts keep coming back, especially if they affect work, school, or relationships, it’s worth talking to a health professional.

2. Big Changes in Sleep and Energy

Sleep is one of the clearest early warning signs. Many people with emerging bipolar or bipolar II notice that their sleep and energy levels swing to extremes.

You might notice:

• Needing far less sleep (e.g., 3–4 hours) and still feeling wired or “on fire” the next day
• Going several nights with restless energy, pacing, cleaning, planning projects, or talking online late into the night
• Or the opposite: sleeping much more than usual, struggling to get out of bed, and feeling exhausted by simple tasks

In bipolar II, a person might go through stretches where they don’t feel tired even after very little sleep, and they suddenly take on big plans—renovations, business ideas, intense workouts—only to crash into profound exhaustion and low mood later.

3. Racing Thoughts, Impulsivity, and Feeling “Too Driven”

Periods of racing thoughts and impulsive choices can be another early sign—especially on the elevated side of bipolar and bipolar II.

This might feel like:

• Your mind jumping rapidly from idea to idea—you talk faster, interrupt more, or find it hard to sit still
• Starting lots of new projects, spending money quickly, or making big life decisions (quitting a job, ending a relationship, booking last-minute travel) without much sleep or planning
• Feeling unusually confident or powerful, like “nothing can go wrong”

In hypomania (more common in bipolar II), these changes can seem positive at first—more creativity, more social energy, more productivity. But they may come with irritability, overspending, or risk-taking that later causes guilt or consequences.

If you look back and notice several “high-energy” phases followed by crashes, you’re not imagining it. Patterns like these are important clues for a future diagnosis.

4. Repeated Episodes of Deep Depression

Most people with bipolar or bipolar II spend more time in depression than in elevated mood. Early stages often show up as repeated depressive episodes, sometimes misdiagnosed as “just depression” for years.

Common depressive signs include:

• Feeling sad, empty, or numb most of the day
• Losing interest in things that used to matter—friends, hobbies, activities
• Changes in appetite or weight
• Feeling slowed down, heavy, or exhausted
• Thoughts of death, self-harm, or suicide

Because bipolar depression looks very similar to other forms of depression, it can be missed—especially if nobody asks about past “up” phases. That’s why it’s so important to talk openly about both lows and highs with your doctor or mental health provider.

5. Mood Changes That Impact Work, School, and Relationships

Another early sign is when mood and energy changes start to interfere with daily life:

• Struggling to keep steady at work or school because of energy crashes or sleepless bursts
• Relationships becoming strained because loved ones are unsure which “version” of you they’ll get
• Friends or family quietly walking on eggshells around your moods or irritability
• Feeling ashamed or confused by behavior during “high” times, and then withdrawing during “low” times

The World Health Organization notes that bipolar disorder can be significantly disabling if left untreated, affecting work, relationships, and quality of life.

If you recognize this pattern in yourself or someone you love, it doesn’t mean anyone is “broken.” It means the brain needs care—just as it would if you had diabetes or a heart condition.

Why Early Recognition Matters

Early recognition and support can:

• Reduce the severity and frequency of future episodes
• Lower the risk of substance use and self-harm
• Improve chances of staying in school or work
• Give families tools to support their loved one with more understanding and less fear

Treatment often involves a combination of medication, therapy, lifestyle strategies, and family education from trained professionals.

You do not need to have everything “figured out” before asking for help. It’s okay to simply say, “My mood and energy feel out of control, and I’m worried it might be bipolar.”

How the Dakota Foundation Can Help

The Dakota Bipolar Awareness Foundation exists to honour Dakota Millen’s life by being a catalyst for bipolar awareness and support in the Okanagan. The foundation focuses on early detection, treatment pathways, family support, and reducing stigma in our community.

If you’re in the Okanagan and worried about the early signs of bipolar or bipolar II, you can:

• Learn more about the condition on our “What is Bipolar Disorder?” and related blog pages at dakotafoundation.ca
• Visit our Resources / Need Help? page to find local counselling services, including Okanagan Clinical Counselling and other mental health providers that we highlight for community support
• Explore other bipolar-specific articles on our site, such as “Watching for Signs of Bipolar in Children” and “20 Unexpected Signs of Bipolar Depression”, which offer more detailed guidance for families and caregivers

We also partner with organizations like the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and other community resources to help people find credible information and support across British Columbia and Canada.

You Don’t Have to Do This Alone

If some of these early signs of bipolar or bipolar II feel uncomfortably familiar, you are not alone—and you are not a burden.

Here are some next steps you can take today:

• Talk to your family doctor or nurse practitioner. Share both your highs and lows, and mention that you’re concerned about bipolar or bipolar II.
• Bring a trusted person. A partner, friend, or family member can help describe changes they’ve noticed over time.
• Write things down. Track your sleep, mood, and energy changes for a few weeks. This can give clinicians helpful clues.

For additional, evidence-based information on bipolar disorder, you can also visit:

• The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) bipolar disorder resource page
• The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) bipolar information guides

If You’re in Crisis Right Now

If you are thinking about harming yourself, or you’re worried about someone else’s immediate safety, please reach out for urgent help:

• In Canada: Call or text 9-8-8, the national Suicide Crisis Helpline, available 24/7 in English and French.
• If there is immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

You deserve support, safety, and care—today, not “when it gets worse.”

If this blog or the video has raised questions for you about bipolar or bipolar II, consider sharing it with someone you trust and starting a conversation. Awareness is the first step; you don’t have to walk the rest of the path alone.

DONATE

Share this post: