The Polarbear Clothing Co. was established in 2020 during covide when Stephen (a creative T-shirt Design Artist and printer) decided during lockdown to create some innovative designs for sufferers (including partners) of Manic Depression.
Manic depression is an older term for bipolar disorder, a mental health condition characterized by extreme mood swings that include episodes of mania (high energy, euphoria) and depression (sadness, low energy). These episodes significantly impact a person's mood, energy, activity levels, and ability to function. Symptoms include periods of extreme happiness, irritability, and impulsivity (mania) followed by prolonged sadness, fatigue, and a loss of interest in activities (depression).
Manic episodes
- Feeling unusually happy, optimistic, or irritable
- Racing thoughts and talking very fast
- Decreased need for sleep, but still feeling energetic
- Increased energy and restlessness
- Poor judgment, impulsive behavior, and risky actions like overspending
- Making grand, unattainable plans
- In severe cases, experiencing psychosis (hallucinations or delusions)
Depressive episodes
- Deep sadness, hopelessness, and crying
- Fatigue and low energy
- Difficulty concentrating
- Changes in sleep patterns (too much or too little)
- Changes in appetite or weight
- Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities
- Thoughts of death or suicide
Our Designs offer people the opportunity to express aspects of the illness that are not always easy to express in other ways.
