How ADHD Mood Swings Differ from Bipolar Disorder

Have you ever felt emotions so intense they were overwhelming? Maybe those emotions lasted far longer than you think they should have? Did they feel disproportionate to what was happening around you? Maybe they felt entirely inappropriate for what you were going through?

It’s not unusual to confuse ADHD mood swings and bipolar disorder. Both can be very similar in their intensity, not quite matching the events that are taking place. But if this is something that confuses you, that’s okay. There are ways to tell ADHD mood swings and bipolar disorder apart.

Bipolar Is a Mood Disorder

ADHD affects your attention and behaviour, first and foremost. Bipolar, on the other hand, affects your mood first. That’s why it’s called a mood disorder. It’s based entirely on those drastic mood changes that occur: from mania to depression to regular functioning.

Manic and depressive episodes are at the centre of bipolar disorder: episodes of mania, where you feel on an incredible high, and depressive episodes, where you feel incredibly sad, hopeless, and can even experience suicidal thoughts.

Mood swings are part of ADHD’s characteristic impulsivity. You have less control over your own emotions, less restraint, so everything can sometimes feel a little blown out of proportion.

Intensity Differs

While ADHD mood swings are intense in their own right, bipolar episodes of mania and depression are different.

Mania makes you feel invincible, like you’re on top of the world. Your thoughts are fast and wild, and you can’t sleep at all. You can engage in very reckless behaviors, and can either feel ecstatic or easy to anger in a very intense way. These episodes can last days, usually a week, or until hospitalisation is needed.

Depressive episodes are the opposite of mania: you feel intense fatigue and sadness. You lose interest in the activities you once loved, can’t concentrate on anything, not even things you used to like, and you may even experience suicidal thoughts.

ADHD happiness or anger might feel intense, and your thoughts might race all the time. This makes sleep difficult, but you won’t be kept awake for a full week. Difficulty concentrating is a core feature of ADHD, and any moment of sadness might be intense, but you don’t lose interest in the activities you love.

External Influences Vary

With bipolar disorder, manic or depressive episodes take place regardless of what’s happening around you. External events are not really a factor that triggers these episodes. There isn’t usually a pattern for them either, no way to prevent them.

ADHD mood swings, however, can often be impacted by things that happen around you. Maybe a small criticism that someone else might be able to ignore makes you feel sad or even angry for the rest of the day.

How Long They Last

ADHD is chronic. Mood swings are a constant. It’s something you have to deal with every day for the rest of your life, and with enough training and practice, you can get better at managing them.

But bipolar disorder is different. It’s a cycle, constantly alternating between regular functioning, manic episodes, and depressive episodes. They do not have patterns and these episodes can last several days, sometimes weeks, at a time. Episodes are longer than a mood swing, but they also don’t last forever.

Telling the Difference

Telling the difference between ADHD and bipolar is difficult. So, if you struggle to do so, if you feel you might have symptoms of ADHD or bipolar, but you’re not sure which, then don’t hesitate to talk to a professional.

Whether you have ADHD, bipolar, or something else, counseling can help you cope with the intense emotions you’re experiencing, and every struggle that comes with them. All you have to do is make an appointment with us, and we can get you the help you need.