Bipolar Defined
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder causing unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and inhibiting the ability to carry out daily tasks. Bipolar disorder symptoms can damage relationships, impede job or school performance, and may even result in suicide.
Those with bipolar disorder experience what are known as “mood episodes” – intense emotional states that occur in distinct periods, and at times, the symptoms may seem like separate problems rather than indicators of a greater problem. Overly joyful or over excited states are termed manic episodes, extremely sad or hopeless states are called depressive episodes. Times, when symptoms of both situations occur, are termed a mixed state.