Skip to main navigation Skip to main content Skip to footer
  • For Medicare
  • For Providers
  • For Brokers
  • For Employers
  • Search
    Search
    Español
  • For Individuals & Families:
  • For Individuals & Families:
  • Shop for Plans

    Shop for Plans

    • Plans through your employer
    • Learn about the medical, dental, pharmacy, behavioral, and voluntary benefits your employer may offer.
    • Explore coverage through work
  • Log in to myCigna
  • Log in to myCigna
  • Shop for Plans

    Shop for Plans

  • Member Guide
  • Find a Doctor
  • Home Knowledge Center Understanding Bipolar Disorder

    Understanding Bipolar Disorder

    Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness. People who have bipolar disorder experience dramatic mood swings. They have times when they feel overly energetic. At other times, they feel sad and hopeless. Their moods can fluctuate by going up or down. The up feeling is called mania. The down feeling is depression.

    Bipolar disorder can run in families. It usually starts in late adolescence or early adulthood. If you think you may have it, tell your health care provider. A medical check-up can rule out other illnesses that might cause your mood changes.

    What are the symptoms?

    The symptoms depend on whether you're in a manic or depressive phase.

    During a manic high, you may feel:

    • Very happy, energetic, or on edge
    • Needing little sleep
    • Overly self-confident

    Some people spend a lot of money or take risks when they're manic. After a manic episode, your mood may return to normal. Or you may swing to a depressive state.

    During a depressive episode, you may have:

    • Trouble thinking and making decisions
    • Memory problems
    • Less interest in things you've enjoyed in the past
    • Thoughts about killing yourself

    Bipolar mood swings can be mild or extreme. They may come on slowly over several days, or they might happen suddenly over a few hours or minutes. Mood swings can last for a few hours or several months.

    How is it diagnosed?

    Bipolar can be tricky to diagnose. Your doctor or therapist will ask detailed questions about your symptoms. You may need blood and urine tests to rule out other problems.

    There are two types of bipolar disorder—I and II. To be diagnosed with bipolar I disorder, you must have had:

    • A manic episode lasting at least a week (or less, if you had to be hospitalized).
    • During that episode, three or more symptoms of mania.

    For bipolar II disorder, your doctor will look for the same symptoms, but the manic high may be less severe and shorter.

    How is it treated?

    Bipolar disorder can be treated. The right medicines and therapy can help you feel better.

    Medicines

    You may need to try several medicines to find the right ones for you.

    • Most people need to take a medicine called a mood stabilizer each day.
    • Medicines called antipsychotics can help get a manic phase under control.
    • Antidepressants can be used for depressive episodes. But they can cause some people to swing into a manic phase, so they're used carefully.

    Therapy

    Counseling for you and your family is important too. It can help you cope with some of the issues that bipolar can cause as it may disrupt your work and relationships.

    Lifestyle Changes

    You can also make healthy changes to help you deal with bipolar disorder. Getting regular exercise and enough sleep can help. Learning to recognize the early signs of highs and lows may help you stay in control.

    People often stop taking their medicine during a manic phase because they feel good, but this is a mistake. You need to take your medicine regularly, even if you feel better.

    Cigna HealthcareSM has years of experience working with health care providers and people with this disorder. We've learned that there are two keys to successfully managing bipolar.

    1. Education and understanding
    2. Sticking to your treatment

    If you have questions or need support, call the number on your Cigna Healthcare ID card.

    Tags

  • Therapy
  • Mood Swings
  • This material is provided by Cigna Healthcare for informational/educational purposes only. It is not medical/clinical advice. Only a health care provider can make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment plan. For more information about your behavioral health benefits, you can call the member services or behavioral health telephone number listed on your health care ID card.

    I want to...
  • Get an ID card
  • File a claim
  • View my claims and EOBs
  • Check coverage under my plan
  • See prescription drug list
  • Find an in-network doctor, dentist, or facility
  • Find a form
  • Find 1095-B tax form information
  • View the Cigna Healthcare Glossary
  • Contact Cigna Healthcare
  • Audiences
  • Individuals and Families
  • Medicare
  • Employers
  • Brokers
  • Providers
  • Secure Member Sites
  • myCigna member portal
  • Health Care Provider portal
  • Cigna for Employers
  • Client Resource Portal
  • Cigna for Brokers
  • The Cigna Group Information
  • About Cigna Healthcare
  • The Cigna Group
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Investors
  • Suppliers
  • Third Party Administrators
  • International
  • Evernorth Health Services
  • Cigna Healthcare. All rights reserved.
  • Privacy
  • Legal
  • Product Disclosures
  • Company Names
  • Customer Rights
  • Accessibility
  • Non-Discrimination Notice
  • Language Assistance [PDF]
  • Report Fraud
  • Sitemap
  • Cookie Settings
  • Disclaimer

    Individual and family medical and dental insurance plans are insured by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc., and Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc. Group health insurance and health benefit plans are insured or administered by CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC), or their affiliates (see a listing of the legal entities that insure or administer group HMO, dental HMO, and other products or services in your state). Accidental Injury, Critical Illness, and Hospital Care plans or insurance policies are distributed exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of The Cigna Group Corporation, are administered by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, and are insured by either (i) Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (Bloomfield, CT); (ii) Life Insurance Company of North America (“LINA”) (Philadelphia, PA); or (iii) New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY (“NYLGICNY”) (New York, NY), formerly known as Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. The Cigna Healthcare name, logo, and other Cigna Healthcare marks are owned by The Cigna Group Intellectual Property, Inc. LINA and NYLGICNY are not affiliates of The Cigna Group.

    All insurance policies and group benefit plans contain exclusions and limitations. For availability, costs and complete details of coverage, contact a licensed agent or Cigna Healthcare sales representative. This website is not intended for residents of New Mexico.

    Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna.com to another website, which may be a non-Cigna Healthcare website. Cigna Healthcare may not control the content or links of non-Cigna Healthcare websites. Details