What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?!

What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?

I think my husband might have this. He can be calm and happy for awhile and an hour later be moody and irratable even abusive over the smallest things, also very aggressive . He becomes very obsessed with things he gets into, taking hobbies or interests to the extreme. He has a lot of nightmares and even sleep walking where he is screaming and shouting, it's really frightening and I don't know what to do for him in those situations. What is the best thing to do when a sleepwalker is out of control so that you yourself do not get hurt, sometimes he is swinging or kicking at things. He said he was hospitalized in his early 20's for this (he is now 44), but they did not diagnose him with anything specifically, just put him on clonopin for awhile. We have only been married just about 3 years and I've been noticing these changes in mood and behavior more and more as time goes on especially the abusive behavior toward myself and physical every so often, what should I do?

Thanks!

1 week ago
Also, if he will see a therapist, what are best meds for this disorder, he currently takes lexapro but I really don't think that's doing a thing.

the person above is wrong I have rapid cycling bipolar and yes your moods can change through out the day.
Bipolar disorder is also called manic-depression. People with bipolar disorder experience mood swings from "high" episodes of mania to "low" periods of depression. When between these "highs" and "lows", people with BP often have the normal range of moods. In most cases, people with bipolar disorder experience more periods of depression than periods of mania. Bipolar disorder can be either severe or mild, and can have either frequent or infrequent mood swings. Depending upon their symptoms, bipolars are diagnosed as having bipolar I, bipolar II, or cyclothymic disorder.

Most people with bipolar I have episodes of both depression and mania. In very rare cases, they experience only mania. Bipolar I is distinguished from bipolar II by the severity and duration of the manic phase, which can last anywhere from a week to several months, and the experience of delusions. Risky behavior is common in manic episodes and patients often require hospitalization for their own safety.
The symptoms of mania can include rapid speech, insomnia, disconnected thoughts, grandiose ideas, hallucinations, extreme irritability, feelings of omnipotence, paranoia, violent behavior, a marked increase in strength, and openly promiscuous activity.

People with bipolar II suffer primarily from episodes of severe depression with occasional episode of "mild" mania, called hypomania. Hypomania differs from mania in that no delusions are experienced.
Like mania, hypomania can cause severely impaired functioning. The hypomanic episode often feels so good that bipolar patients often discontinue their medication in quest of a hypomanic episode. This is especially problematic because symptoms that come back after stopping drug treatment are often much harder to get back under control a second time.
While Bipolar II has sometimes been described as a "milder" form of bipolar disorder than Bipolar I, the suicide rate among people suffering form Bipolar II is actually higher than that for those suffering from Bipolar I.

People with cyclothymic disorder alternate between hypomania and mild depression. It is not as severe as bipolar I and II, but persists for longer periods with no break in symptoms. Cyclothymic disorder can later become full-blown bipolar disorder in some people, or can continue as a low-grade chronic condition.

Most people with bipolar disorder have an average of 8 to 10 manic or depressive episodes over a lifetime. Some, however, experience much more severe symptoms called rapid cycling. They can swing (cycle) between "highs" and "lows" many times in one day. To be considered a rapid cycler, you must have at leat 4 mood swings in a year.

During a Mixed Episode, symptoms of both mania and depression occur at the same time. The excitability and agitation of mania is coupled with depression and irritability. This combination of high energy and agitation along with depression makes the mixed episode the most dangerous for risk of suicide.