Knowledge is powerful medicine

You can improve the chances for successful treatment by learning as much as you can about bipolar disorder. First of all know that bipolar disorder causes severe mood swings that can make it very difficult to function in daily life. These mood swings are much more extreme than the normal ups and downs experienced by most people. In addition, they can last for days, weeks, or even months.

People with bipolar disorder have reported that they feel intense bursts of energy, joy (what a doctor might call euphoria), or constantly feel edgy (irritability). These upward swings are many times followed by periods of deep sadness. Some people with bipolar disorder experience mood swings that are less dramatic. Doctors often refer to these periods of mood swings as episodes.

A period when you feel overly "high" is called an episode of mania or hypomania. (Hypomania is a less intense form of mania.) A period when you feel "low" or sad is called an episode of depression.

Illustration 1: Mood Simulation