What is Bipolar Disorder?
Manic Depression is known as bipolar disorder due to the opposing moods which accompany the mental illness. Bipolar disorder is defined as the occurrence of a major depressive episode in an individual who has had at least one manic episode (Bipolar I Disorder) or a milder hypomanic episode (Bipolar II Disorder). People with bipolar disorder experience great highs (manic stage) and great lows (depressive stage).

Bipolar illness often begins with a depression in adolescence or early adulthood, however the first manic episode may not occur until several years later.
·Bipolar disorder effects 1% of the population
·the first major depression usually occurs during a person's 20s
·depression is 4 - 5 times higher in people between ages 18 - 44
·if untreated, 20% of depressive episodes can last for up to two years

What Causes Bipolar Disorder?
There is no single cause of bipolar disorder, however researchers believe that biological factors such as the brain's chemistry seem to play a major role in producing the illness. One's personality and/or stresses in the environment may also play a part in bringing on an acute episode of mania or depression. Stress management along with medication has been very helpful in controlling manic and depressive episodes.

What Are the Symptoms?
An individual who has bipolar disorder experiences both mania and depression. Attacks of mania come on very quickly, sometimes within a single day, and can last an average of 4 months.

Symptoms of the manic phase:
·a sudden onset of exhilaration and giddiness that increases in a matter of days -- the individual's mood seems excessively good
·expressions of unwarranted optimism and lack of judgment - self confidence can reach the point of grandiose delusions, including beliefs i.e. having a special connection with God
·the individual may think that nothing, not even the laws of gravity can prevent the accomplishment of a goal - as a result, the person may think it possible to step off a building or out of a moving car without being hurt (hallucinations may occur)
·excessive plans or participation in numerous activities - the individual fails to recognize that there is not enough time in the day to complete all their tasks
·mania can result in reckless driving, spending sprees, foolish business investments or sexual behavior unusual for the person
·flight of ideas - thoughts race uncontrollably and words spill out in a nonstop rush
·ideas change abruptly from topic to topic - in a severe manic episode loud rapid speech becomes difficult to interpret because thoughts are so disorganized and incoherent
·decreased need for sleep - the individual can go for days with little or no sleep without feeling tired
·distractibility -- attention is easily diverted to inconsequential or unimportant details
·sudden irritability, rage, paranoia - when the individual's grandiose plans are thwarted or excessive social overtures are refused, an emotional outburst may ensue.

Without treatment the manic phase can last for about 4 months, the patient may have a period of normal mood and behaviour, however the depressive stage soon sets in. In some people the depressive mood occurs immediately or within a few months, with others a long interval of a few years may precede the next manic or depressive interval. Depressions come and go more slowly.