You Won’t Believe These 20 Physical Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

When most people think about bipolar disorder, they picture extreme mood swings—feeling very high one day and very low the next. But did you know that bipolar disorder can also cause physical symptoms that affect your body as much as your mind?

From muscle pain to stomach problems, the body often shows signs that are easy to miss or misunderstand. Some of these symptoms appear during manic episodes, while others come during depressive ones. And in some cases, they show up even when your mood seems stable.

You might ask, “Why does this happen?” According to experts, the brain changes linked to bipolar disorder affect many systems in the body, not just mood. These effects can lead to serious physical discomfort and health issues if left untreated.

In this article, we’ll explore 20 surprising physical symptoms of bipolar disorder. You may find yourself saying, “I had no idea that it was connected.”

1. Unusual Sleep Patterns

Sleep changes are often one of the first signs that something is off. In bipolar disorder, these changes are more extreme than typical insomnia or tiredness. The body may behave in surprising ways, depending on whether the person is in a manic or depressive state.

Common sleep-related symptoms include:

• Sleeping only a few hours but still feeling wired or energetic
• Going several nights without sleep during manic episodes
• Sleeping much longer than usual but still feeling exhausted
• Trouble falling asleep or waking up frequently during the night
• Sudden shifts in sleep patterns without obvious reason

According to research, these patterns reflect deeper brain changes tied to the disorder. Tracking these shifts can help prevent more serious episodes and guide better treatment.

2. Fatigue and Low Energy

Even when someone with bipolar disorder seems well-rested, they may still feel drained. Fatigue can be overwhelming, showing up without warning and making daily tasks feel impossible. This isn’t just being tired it’s a deep, physical exhaustion that won’t go away with sleep.

Some common signs of bipolar-related fatigue include:

• Feeling physically heavy or slow
• Needing more effort than usual to do basic activities
• Experiencing muscle weakness or body aches without clear cause
• Having little motivation or interest in things once enjoyed
• Struggling to get out of bed or leave the house

According to studies, this kind of exhaustion often stems from how bipolar disorder affects brain chemistry and sleep quality. It’s not laziness, it’s a real, physical response to mental distress.

3. Unexplained Aches and Pains

Bipolar disorder doesn’t just affect your emotions—it can show up as real physical discomfort too. Many people report body pain that isn’t caused by injury or illness. Physical pain is especially common during depressive episodes. The brain and body are closely connected, so emotional distress often triggers physical tension and inflammation.

Typical pain-related symptoms include:

• Headaches or migraines without a clear cause
• Back, shoulder, or neck pain that feels tense or sore
• Muscle pain even when you haven’t exercised
• Stomach cramps or digestive discomfortBody aches that seem to come and go randomly

According to experts, these pains may result from long-term stress, changes in brain chemicals, or even side effects of mood swings. The body reacts to emotional suffering in very real ways.

4. Changes in Appetite and Weight

Bipolar disorder can cause sudden shifts in eating habits, which may lead to noticeable weight changes. These changes aren't always tied to lifestyle or willpower. Instead, they're often part of the body’s response to extreme mood swings.

Physical signs to watch for include:

• Eating far more or far less than usual
• Sudden weight gain or loss over a short time
• Intense cravings, especially during manic states
• Skipping meals or overeating without thinking
• Feeling guilty or ashamed about food choices

According to research, these patterns are common because bipolar disorder affects the brain’s reward system and metabolism. Medications used to manage symptoms may also influence appetite and body weight.

5. Racing Heart or Chest Tightness

Sometimes, the body reacts to emotional highs and lows with intense physical sensations—especially in the chest. People with bipolar disorder may feel like their heart is beating too fast or that their chest is tight, even when they’re not in danger.

Common symptoms include:

• Rapid heartbeat or heart palpitations
• Chest tightness or pressure
• Feeling short of breath without exertion
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Cold sweats or trembling

According to experts, these symptoms are linked to the body’s stress response and shifts in mood-related brain chemicals. While they may feel alarming, they’re often not caused by heart disease, but it’s important to get checked to rule out other conditions.

6. Gastrointestinal Problems

Bipolar disorder can affect more than just your mood, it can throw off your entire digestive system. Many people living with bipolar disorder report frequent stomach issues that come and go with changes in their mental state.

Some common symptoms include:

• Nausea or queasiness without illness
• Bloating or stomach pain after eating
• Diarrhea or constipation that isn’t explained by diet
• Loss of appetite tied to digestive discomfor
• A general feeling of “butterflies” or tightness in the gut

According to research, mood disorders like bipolar disorder can disrupt the gut-brain axis, leading to inflammation and irregular digestion. These physical symptoms often go unnoticed or misdiagnosed.

7. Chronic Fatigue or Low Energy

Bipolar disorder doesn’t only affect emotional highs and lows—it can also drain your body of energy. Many people experience intense fatigue that makes it hard to function, even after a full night’s sleep.

Physical signs of bipolar-related fatigue include:

• Needing excessive sleep but still waking up tired
• Feeling physically weak or slow
• Struggling to focus or think clearly
• Moving more slowly than usual
• A strong need to rest throughout the day

According to experts, changes in brain chemistry, disrupted sleep, and emotional stress all contribute to this deep sense of fatigue. Certain medications used for mood stabilization may also cause drowsiness.

8. Muscle Tension and Body Aches

Bipolar disorder doesn’t just weigh on the mind—it can weigh on the body, too. People with bipolar disorder often report stiffness, soreness, or tension in their muscles, especially during times of emotional strain.

Watch for these signs:

• Tightness in the neck, shoulders, or jaw
• Frequent back pain or muscle soreness
• Clenching muscles without realizing it
• Headaches linked to physical tension
• Feeling physically “worn down” or achy

According to studies, emotional dysregulation can activate the nervous system, causing the body to remain in a state of physical tension. This tension builds up over time, leading to discomfort and pain.

9. Rapid or Pressured Speech

One of the more noticeable physical signs of bipolar disorder, especially during manic or hypomanic episodes, is a change in how you speak. Many people talk faster than usual, sometimes jumping quickly from one idea to another, making it hard for others to follow.

Key speech-related signs include:

• Speaking rapidly and loudly
• Jumping between unrelated topics
• Interrupting others or talking over them
• Feeling unable to slow down speech even when trying
• Becoming easily distracted mid-conversation

According to experts, these speech patterns are tied to brain activity changes during mood episodes. They can signal the onset of mania or hypomania and affect social and work relationships.

10. Changes in Sexual Drive

Bipolar disorder can cause surprising shifts in sexual desire that many don’t expect. During manic or hypomanic phases, people often experience a heightened libido, feeling more interested in sex than usual. This increase can lead to impulsive or risky behaviors.

Some common physical signs related to sexual drive include:

• Feeling unusually sexually energetic or restless
• Engaging in sexual activity more frequently or impulsively
• Decreased desire or avoidance of sexual contact
• Emotional confusion related to changing libido
• Impact on personal relationships due to these fluctuations

According to studies, these changes are tied to fluctuations in brain chemicals like dopamine and serotonin, which regulate mood and desire. Medications for bipolar disorder can also influence sexual function.

11. Coordination and Clumsiness

Bipolar disorder can affect your body’s ability to move smoothly and precisely. During mood episodes, some people notice they become more clumsy or uncoordinated than usual. Tasks that once felt simple may suddenly require extra effort or focus.

Signs to watch for include:

• Frequent stumbling or dropping things
• Difficulty with fine motor skills, like writing or buttoning clothes
• Feeling off-balance or dizzy
• Slow or awkward movements during episodes
• Increased risk of minor accidents

According to research, these motor changes are linked to how bipolar disorder affects brain regions controlling movement and coordination.

12. Sweating and Flushed Skin

Mood changes in bipolar disorder can cause your body temperature to fluctuate, leading to excessive sweating or flushed skin. These physical symptoms often occur during manic or anxious states when your nervous system is highly activated.

You might notice:

• Sudden sweating without physical exertion
• Reddening or warmth in the face and neck
• Feeling overheated or flushed during mood episodes
• Night sweats that disrupt sleep
• Episodes of skin sensitivity or irritation

According to experts, these symptoms result from the body's stress response system reacting to emotional highs. The autonomic nervous system becomes overactive, which can cause your body to sweat or flush even when you’re at rest.

13. Blurred Vision and Dizziness

Physical symptoms like blurred vision and dizziness can accompany bipolar disorder, especially during intense mood episodes or as side effects of medications. These sensations can be disorienting and may make simple activities feel challenging.

People with bipolar disorder might experience:

• Difficulty focusing or seeing clearly
• Lightheadedness when standing or moving quickly
• A spinning sensation or feeling off-balance
• Sensitivity to bright lights or visual disturbances
• Episodes of nausea linked to dizziness

According to research, these symptoms may result from disruptions in the nervous system during mood swings or from medication impacts on the body. It’s important to discuss these physical changes with a healthcare provider to ensure they’re properly managed.

14. Cognitive Fog and Difficulty Concentrating

Bipolar disorder often affects the brain in ways that make it hard to think clearly. Many people experience cognitive fog, where concentration, memory, and decision-making become challenging—even during periods when mood seems stable.

This fog can feel like:

• Difficulty focusing on tasks or conversations
• Forgetting important details or appointments
• Struggling to make decisions, even simple ones
• Feeling mentally “slowed down” or spaced out
• Trouble organizing thoughts or staying on track

According to experts, these cognitive symptoms stem from changes in brain function linked to bipolar disorder and are sometimes worsened by sleep disruption or medication side effects.

15. Frequent Illness or Weakened Immunity

Living with bipolar disorder can sometimes affect your immune system, making you more vulnerable to infections and illnesses. The ongoing stress and emotional turmoil associated with the disorder may weaken your body’s natural defenses.

Signs that your immune system might be compromised include:

• Catching colds or flu more often than usual
• Taking longer to recover from common illnesses
• Frequent sore throats, headaches, or respiratory infections
• Feeling physically run-down without obvious cause
• Increased sensitivity to allergens or irritants

According to studies, chronic stress from mood swings and inflammation in the body can suppress immune function, leaving people with bipolar disorder more susceptible to sickness.

16. Sensory Sensitivity

Bipolar disorder can heighten your body’s response to sensory information. This means that sights, sounds, smells, or touch may feel more intense or overwhelming than usual. This increased sensitivity often occurs during mood episodes, especially mania or mixed states.

Common experiences include:

• Being easily startled by loud noises or bright lights
• Feeling discomfort from textures or clothing that didn’t bother you before
• Heightened awareness of smells or tastes
• Difficulty concentrating due to distracting sensory input
• Feeling overwhelmed in busy or noisy environments

According to research, these sensory changes arise because bipolar disorder affects brain regions that process sensory signals, amplifying the body’s reaction to everyday stimuli.

17. Speech Strain and Throat Tightness

Physical changes in how your voice feels can be surprising signs of bipolar disorder. During periods of high energy or anxiety, many people notice tension or tightness in their throat that affects speech.

This strain may cause:

• A hoarse or shaky voice
• Difficulty speaking clearly or projecting your voice
• Sensation of a lump or tightness in the throat
• Feeling like you’re straining to talk or swallow
• Voice fatigue after prolonged talking or socializing

According to experts, this throat tension often results from muscle tightening linked to stress or emotional agitation during mood episodes.

18. Psychosomatic Symptoms

Bipolar disorder can cause the body to express emotional distress as physical pain or discomfort, known as psychosomatic symptoms. These symptoms are very real, even though they don’t stem from a clear medical cause.

Common psychosomatic experiences include:

• Unexplained headaches or migraines
• Stomachaches or digestive pain with no physical explanation
• Muscle pain or stiffness linked to emotional tension
• Fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest
• Sensations of tightness or pressure in various body parts

According to research, the mind and body are deeply connected. Emotional struggles, like those from bipolar disorder, can trigger physical symptoms as the nervous system responds to stress.

19. Clumsiness and Coordination Problems

Bipolar disorder can sometimes affect your motor skills, leading to increased clumsiness or coordination difficulties. This physical symptom often goes unnoticed but can impact daily activities and safety.

Signs to look for include:

• Frequent dropping of objects
• Difficulty with tasks requiring fine motor skills, like writing or buttoning clothes
• Unsteady gait or balance problems
• Feeling awkward or slow in movements
• Increased risk of minor falls or accidents

According to experts, these motor difficulties may stem from changes in brain areas responsible for movement and coordination, or side effects of medications used to treat bipolar disorder.

20. Physical Restlessness and Agitation

Bipolar disorder can cause a powerful urge to move or be active, often without a clear reason. This physical restlessness may feel like you can’t sit still, pace constantly, or fidget uncontrollably.

Signs of physical restlessness include:

• Inability to stay seated or relaxed
• Frequent pacing or shifting positions
• Fidgeting with hands or feet
• Feeling tense or “on edge” physically
• Difficulty calming down even when tired

According to research, this restlessness reflects the brain’s heightened arousal state during mood episodes, causing the body to mirror mental tension.

Wrap Up

Bipolar disorder affects more than just your mood—it can show up in many surprising ways in your body. From changes in sleep and energy to aches, heart symptoms, and even coordination issues, these physical signs often go unnoticed.

Have you experienced any of these symptoms without knowing why? Understanding how bipolar disorder impacts your body can help you and your healthcare provider find better ways to manage it. Paying attention to both mind and body is key to living well with this condition. What new insights did you find most surprising?