☐ Care Folder

Many people with bipolar disorder are first misdiagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)—and for good reason. The symptoms of PTSD can look remarkably like those of bipolar disorder: intense mood swings, irritability, flashbacks, panic attacks, emotional numbing, and periods of hyper-arousal. The symptoms of PTSD and bipolar disorder can overlap, making it challenging to diagnose and treat both conditions simultaneously. Here are some of the symptoms that may co-occur in individuals with both conditions:

The symptoms of PTSD and bipolar disorder can overlap, making it challenging to diagnose and treat both conditions simultaneously. Here are some of the symptoms that may co-occur in individuals with both conditions:

• Mood instability: Both conditions involve rapid mood changes and emotional dysregulation.

• Sleep disturbances: Insomnia and nightmares are common in both disorders

• Irritability and anger: These emotions can be prominent in both manic episodes and PTSD hyperarousal

• Difficulty concentrating: Cognitive impairments are often reported in both conditions

• Impulsivity: This can be a feature of manic episodes in bipolar disorder and a symptom of PTSD

Understanding these symptoms is crucial for effective management and treatment of both PTSD and bipolar disorder. It is important to seek professional help for accurate diagnosis and tailored treatment plans.

• Panic disorder and bipolar disorder
• Anxiety Sensitivity: Individuals with bipolar disorder often experience heightened anxiety sensitivity, which can lead to panic attacks during manic episodes
• Comorbidity: Panic disorder is frequently comorbid with bipolar disorder, making it challenging to diagnose the latter when the former is presentr
• Misdiagnosis: Many people with anxiety disorders may not receive proper diagnosis and treatment, which can exacerbate symptoms and lead to further complications
• Intensified Symptoms: Anxiety can exacerbate the symptoms of bipolar disorder, making it harder for individuals to identify the disorder

• Are my mood swings triggered by trauma reminders or do they appear randomly?
• Have I ever felt euphoric, invincible, or overly energized (not just anxious)?
• Have I ever been told I’m “overreacting” emotionally but don’t know why?
• Do I have intrusive memories and flashbacks—or more racing thoughts?
• Do I feel numb or disconnected after trauma—or cycle between highs and lows?
• Has anyone in my family been diagnosed with bipolar disorder or other mood disorders?
• Do medications for PTSD help—or do they sometimes make things worse?

Sharing this checklist and your history with your therapy team may help reveal if panic attacks are a symptom and not the whole diagnosis.

Misdiagnosing bipolar disorder as PTSD (or vice versa) can delay the right treatment. In some cases, trauma-focused therapy can trigger manic symptoms or deepen depression if the underlying mood instability isn’t stabilized first.

Understanding whether you have both—as many do—is key to creating a treatment plan that works.

• Flashbacks and dissociation in PTSD can resemble manic or psychotic symptoms.c or anxiety attacks that appear out of nowhere, without clear triggers.

• Hypervigilance and anxiety mimic early manic warning signs

• Emotional shutdown and numbness can look like depression.

• Mood swings in PTSD (especially in complex trauma or C-PTSD) may appear bipolar.

• Survivors of trauma often develop coping behaviors that resemble hypomania (overachieving, risk-taking, compulsive productivity)

Symptom	PTSD	Bipolar Disorder
Triggered episodes	Often triggered by trauma reminders	Can happen without external triggers
Flashbacks	Re-living specific past events	Rare, unless psychotic features are present
Sleep disturbances	From nightmares or hypervigilance	From manic energy or depressive insomnia
Mood cycles	Trigger-based, often reactive	Cyclical, even without obvious stressors
Emotional extremes	Often fear, panic, anger	Includes euphoria, grandiosity, or despair

Figure 1

Distinguishing PTSD from Bipolar Disorder

Note. Adapted from Chopra, A., Matta, S. E., Vyas, C. M., et al. (2024). Comorbid bipolar disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder: Clinical implications and management, Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders, 26(6), 24f03768. https://www.psychiatrist.com/pcc/comorbid-bipolar-disorder-posttraumatic-stress-disorder/ . © Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc. Used with permission or under fair use for educational purposes.

Why Getting the Right Diagnosis Matters, treating Panic Attacks alone without addressing an underlying mood disorder can lead to:

• Repeated relapses

• Worsening depression or anxiety

• Missed medication opportunities (e.g., mood stabilizers)”

• Increased risk of suicide or dangerous behavior

Getting the correct bipolar diagnosis allows for proper treatment, safer medication use, and better long-term outcomes. It also lets families understand patterns that may go back generations.

Personal Red Flags to Watch For

• Anxiety paired with chronic insomnia, racing thoughts, or impulsive behavior.

• Feeling “charged” or “over-revved” instead of just nervous.

• Anxiety meds helping only temporarily—or make things worse.”

• Frequent cycling between restlessness and exhaustion

Getting the correct bipolar diagnosis allows for proper treatment, safer medication use, and better long-term outcomes. It also lets families understand patterns that may go back generations.

📚 Resources

• Cerimele, J. M., Bauer, A. M., Fortney, J. C., & Bauer, M. S. (2017). Patients with co-occurring bipolar disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder: A rapid review of the literature. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 78(5), e506–e514. https://doi.org/10.4088/JCP.16r10897
• Chopra, A., Matta, S. E., Vyas, C. M., et al. (2024). Comorbid bipolar disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder: Clinical implications and management. Primary Care Companion for CNS Disorders, 26(6), 24f03768.
• Flory, J. D., & Yehuda, R. (2015). Comorbidity between post-traumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder: Alternative explanations and treatment considerations. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 17(2), 141–150.
• Leverich, G. S., & Post, R. M. (2006). Course of bipolar illness after history of childhood trauma. The Lancet, 367(9516), 1040–1042. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68450-X
• Raypole, C. (2021, September 30). Can PTSD and bipolar disorder be connected? Healthline. N. Simay Gökbayrak, PhD (Medical Reviewer).
• van der Kolk, B. A. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Viking.

Sections and individual appendices with checklists and other tools are available as both PDFs and interactive HTMLs at themisfittoyproject.com. The website offers features the book cannot — such as the ability to create a personalized Care Folder to share with healthcare professionals, psychiatrists, advocates, loved ones, or hospital teams.

These tools help capture important needs, concerns, and patterns — especially when memory is impacted by illness. Bringing a companion or using these tools during appointments can help ensure symptoms and questions are addressed effectively.

Tools will be updated regularly based on feedback from readers, professionals, advocates, and families. Suggestions, corrections, or collaborations can be submitted via the Contact page.

These materials are adapted from The Misfit Toy – A Long Winding Story to Get Help and Healing! by Ted Livernois. While the author does not hold clinical credentials, the insights shared come from lived experience with bipolar disorder and neurodivergence.