What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder involves episodes, where mood and activity level are significantly disturbed. These can manifest as elevated mood, heightened energy and increased activity (mania), or depressed mood, diminished energy and decreased activity (depression).
So sufferers may experience two opposing moods: on the one hand, euphoric and “on top of the world”, and on the other, a depressive, despondent mood, “sunk in despair”. They experience an emotional roller coaster.
The mood swings can be so strong that they make it impossible to live a normal, everyday life. Milder, less pronounced disturbances are also possible in addition to these extremes of mood and the associated changes in behaviour and thinking. Some sufferers also experience phases in which manic and depressive symptoms appear at the same time (known as mixed episodes).

Complete brochure in English

Infofolder in English

Brochure in other languages:

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Скачать брошюру (русский)

تحميل الكتيب (عربي)

You can access this website translated by google translate via this link:

DGBS Website in English or this service can be found on our home page at the top right.

Assistance in a crisis situation

In the event of an acute crisis:

Call your doctor. Your doctor can be the first step in getting help.

Seek immediate help from a doctor or the nearest hospital emergency room (Notaufnahme), if you or someone you know is in crisis or considering suicide. List of German hospitals

In an emergency:

• Call 112 to contact the ambulance / rescue service (Rettungsdienst)
• Call 110 to contact the police (Polizei)

On-call doctor service / medical service (Ärztlicher Bereitschaftsdienst):

• Call 116117, free of charge nationwide including from the mobile network

Self-help & support group

Currently there is only this English-speaking bipolar support group (Selbsthilfegruppe/SHG) which is located in Berlin and is also online via ZOOM. Please contact Daniel:

• bsgbipolaris-mail.de
• Phone/WhatsApp: 01525 97 28 049  (+49 1525 97 28 049)

Looking for a doctor

• Arztauskunft - Website translated by google translate

Looking for a therapist

• Psychotherapeutensuche - Website translated by google translate

More detailed information can be found inside the following PDF Paths to psychotherapy.

Further Information:

• International Bipolar Foundation (IBPF)
  http://ibpf.org/
• Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
  https://www.dbsalliance.org/
• International Society for Affective Disorders (ISAD)
  https://www.isad.org.uk/
• International Society for Bipolar Disorders (ISBD)
  https://www.isbd.org/
• European Alliance against Depression (EAAD)
  http://www.eaad.net/
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH, U.S.)
  https://www.nimh.nih.gov/