Bipolar

Bipolar disorder, which is also know as manic depressive illness, is where a person will alternately experience periods of emotional upswings and excitability (mania) and downswings (depression). A bipolar individual may even experience a state involving both mania and depression, which is known as a mixed state. Bipolar disorder is a long-term illness that can be difficult to diagnose. There are a few different types of the disorder: Bipolar I is where a person experiences manic or mixed episodes for more than one week. Additionally, these mood swings may be so severe that the person requires hospitalization. Additionally, Bipolar II disorder is marked by a series of episodes, involving depression, that will cycle back and forth between hypomanic episodes.