Bipolar Disorder

We all have our bad days and our share of mood swings.  However, there are some people who have such extreme shifts in moods that it actually affects their quality of life.  Such is the case with bipolar disorder.

Simply put, bipolar disorder is a medical condition which affects the mind, wherein the person affected experiences bouts of severe depression and extreme elation.  The states of depression are called depressive episodes while the states of elation are called manic episodes.  These two – depression and mania – are the two “poles” of bipolar disorder.  There is a middle ground between the two poles, called hypomania.  This is a state much like mania but with lesser intensity.  Bipolar disorder is also more commonly known as manic-depressive disorder.

Bipolar disorder may focus on the mind but more than affecting how a person thinks, it also affects his feelings, perceptions, and behavior.  A person with bipolar disorder may not be able to function normally during a bout of depression.  A case in point would be someone who would wake up and feel totally useless and not be able to go through the day’s normal activities.  In severe cases, people around a person with bipolar disorder are also indirectly affected because of the patient’s behavior.