Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is a mental illness characterized by significant mood fluctuations that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). You may feel gloomy or hopeless when you are depressed, and you may lose interest or pleasure in most activities. When your mood switches to mania or hypomania (a milder form of mania), you may feel ecstatic, energized, or particularly irritated. Sleep, energy, activity, judgement, conduct, and the capacity to think clearly can all be affected by mood fluctuations. Mood swings might occur infrequently or frequently throughout the year. While most people will have some emotional symptoms in between bouts, some will not. Although bipolar disorder is a chronic illness, you may control your mood swings and other symptoms by adhering to a treatment plan. Bipolar illness is often treated with medicines and psychological treatment (psychotherapy).
Symptoms
There are several forms of bipolar disorder and associated conditions. Mania or hypomania, as well as depression, may be present. Symptoms can cause abrupt changes in mood and behaviour, causing severe distress and trouble in daily living.
Bipolar Disorder I: You've experienced at least one manic episode, which may or may not have been preceded or followed by hypomanic or significant depressive bouts. Mania can cause a break from reality in certain people (psychosis).
Bipolar Disorder II: You've experienced at least one severe depressive episode and one hypomanic episode, but no manic episodes.
Cyclothymic disorder: You've experienced at least two years of many times of hypomania symptoms and periods of depressed symptoms (or one year in adolescents and teens) (though less severe than major depression).
Other types: These include bipolar and similar diseases caused by drugs or alcohol, as well as physical conditions such as Cushing's disease, multiple sclerosis, or stroke.
Bipolar II disorder is a distinct diagnosis, not a lesser variant of bipolar I condition. While manic episodes in bipolar I disease can be severe and dangerous, people with bipolar II illness can be depressed for extended periods of time, causing significant impairment.
Although bipolar disorder can occur at any age, it is most typically diagnosed in adolescence or early adolescence. Symptoms might vary from person to person and alter over time.
Mania and hypomania are two separate types of episodes with similar characteristics. Mania is more severe than hypomania and creates more obvious issues at job, school, and social activities, as well as relationship problems. Mania can sometimes cause a loss of consciousness (psychosis) and necessitate hospitalization.
A manic or hypomanic episode both comprise three or more of the following symptoms:
• Abnormally upbeat, jumpy or wired
• Increased activity, energy or agitation
• Exaggerated sense of well-being and self-confidence (euphoria)
• Decreased need for sleep
Unusual talkativeness
• Racing thoughts
• Distractibility
• Poor decision-making — for example, going on buying sprees, taking sexual risks or making foolish investments
Major depressive episode A major depressive episode is defined by symptoms that are severe enough to interfere with daily activities such as job, school, social activities, or relationships. An episode consists of five or more of the following symptoms:
• Depressed mood, such as feeling sad, empty, hopeless or tearful (in children and teens, depressed mood can appear as irritability)
• Marked loss of interest or feeling no pleasure in all — or almost all — activities • Significant weight loss when not dieting, weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite (in children, failure to gain weight as expected can be a sign of depression)
• Either insomnia or sleeping too much
• Either restlessness or slowed behavior
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt
• Decreased ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness
• Thinking about, planning or attempting suicide

A medical practitioner who specializes in diagnosing and treating mental health illnesses (psychiatrist) who is experienced in treating bipolar and related disorders is most suited to guide treatment. A psychologist, social worker, and psychiatric nurse may be part of your therapy team.
Bipolar disorder is a chronic illness. Treatment focuses on symptom management. Treatment may involve the following, depending on your needs:
Medications: To regulate your moods, you may need to start taking drugs straight away.
Continued treatment: Even when you are feeling better, bipolar illness necessitates lifetime drug therapy. People who do not receive maintenance therapy are at a greater risk of experiencing a recurrence of symptoms or having modest mood changes progress to full-blown mania or depression.
Day treatment programs: A day treatment programme may be recommended by your doctor. These programmes give the necessary assistance and counselling while you work to reduce your symptoms.
Substance abuse treatment: If you have a drinking or drug problem, you will also require substance addiction therapy. Otherwise, managing bipolar illness can be extremely tough.
Hospitalization: Your doctor may recommend hospitalization if you're behaving dangerously, you feel suicidal or you become detached from reality (psychotic).
Getting psychiatric treatment at a hospital can help keep you calm and safe and stabilize your mood, whether you're having a manic or major depressive episode.