Bipolar disorder, once known as manic depression, features extreme mood swings that include both emotional highs and lows.
It is a long-term condition that can disrupt a person's ability to function in the workplace and in daily life.
Bipolar is also a spectrum disorder, meaning that it includes a group of linked conditions or types that have similar appearances but slight differences between them. 

What is the bipolar spectrum?

There is a range of a types of bipolar disorder. Symptoms differ between them.

Bipolar disorder is a spectrum disorder. This means it involves cycling moods or mood swings that vary in degree. However, there is a wide range of other symptoms, and these can vary between individuals.
Diagnosis of the condition often refers to where an individual falls on the bipolar spectrum.
The bipolar spectrum runs from bipolar I at one end to cyclothymia and not otherwise specified (NOS) at the other.
Doctors diagnose bipolar disorder according to new edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association.
Diagnosis is based on the specific type of disorder.

• Bipolar I disorder: A person will have had at least one manic episode. This episode generally lasts at least 1 week, or less is the person is hospitalized, and is generally preceded or followed major depressive episodes. People with this type of bipolar typically experience severe manic episodes that can cause significant impairment in their life. Some people may need to be hospitalized due to psychosis - a serious condition where the individual loses all sense of reality.
• Bipolar II disorder: A person will experience at least one major depressive episode that lasts at least 2 weeks, and at least one hypomanic episode that lasts at least 4 days. Hypomania is where the highs are not as high as those experienced during mania. People with bipolar II disorder will never experience a manic episode.
• Cyclothymic disorder: Adults who are diagnosed with this condition have experienced 2 years of numerous periods of hypomania symptoms and periods of depressive symptoms. Children or teenagers will have experienced these symptoms for 1 year. During this period, symptoms are present at least half of the time, and they never go away for more than 2 months.
• NOS is used to describe bipolar disorders that do not fall exactly within the spectrum.

Causes of bipolar disorder

The exact cause of bipolar disorder remains unknown, but several factors may be involved.
These include:

• Biological differences, as physical changes may occur in the brain
• Imbalance in naturally occurring neurotransmitters in the brain
• Inherited traits are likely, since a person with bipolar disorder often has a relative with the condition, such as sibling or a parent

Sometimes, the condition is difficult to identify because there are different types of bipolar disorder. There are also other mood disorders with similar symptoms, which can cause confusion when making a diagnosis.
The symptoms of bipolar disorder can vary between individuals.

DSM-5 criteria

Each of these types of bipolar disorder can cause significant problems in an individual's daily life.
As specified by the DSM-5, the criteria for the diagnosis of manic and hypomanic episodes are as follows:

• A manic episode is a period of constant, elevated, irritable mood that lasts for at least 1 week. Persistently increased goal-directed activity or energy is also present.
• A hypomanic episode is a period of constant irritable mood that lasts for at least 4 consecutive days.

A manic period may involve:

• Heightened mood, exaggerated optimism, and self-confidence
• Excessive irritability or aggressive behavior
• Decreased need for sleep
• Racing speech or thoughts
• Impulsiveness or poor judgment
• Reckless behavior
• In severe cases, delusions and hallucinations

A period of depression may feature:

• Prolonged sadness or unexpected, unexplained crying spells
• Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns
• Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety
• Loss of energy
• Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
• Inability to concentrate
• Unexplained aches and pains
• Recurring thoughts of death or suicide

Diagnosis

Diagnosing bipolar disorder is further complicated because a number of conditions have similar symptoms.
These include:

Several other disorders share symptoms with bipolar, which can make diagnosis difficult for clinicians.

• Thyroid conditions
• Substance abuse
• Attention deficient hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Borderline personality disorder (BPD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

These disorders, and especially personality disorders, can complicate a diagnosis.
The antidepressants that are often used to treat obsessive-compulsive disorders, as well as the stimulants used to treat ADHD, can make the symptoms of bipolar disorder worse. They can trigger a manic episode.
Diagnosis of bipolar disorder includes a physical examination, an interview, and possibly lab tests.
Mood charting with mood questionnaires is commonly used to help identify moods, sleep patterns, and other changes.
Blood tests can rule out other conditions, such as hyperthyroidism, but these tests cannot identify bipolar disorder.
The DSM-5 criteria are used to identify the presence of bipolar disorder.
Some people may not display all of the symptoms, but they must have at least one episode of mania or hypomania, which lasts for a specific period of time.

Treatment

Bipolar disorder is a serious and complicated condition. Treatment needs to be handled by a trained psychiatrist.
Bipolar disorder can be treated in several ways.
These include:

• Medications such as mood stabilizers, antipsychotic medications, and antidepressants
• Psychotherapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or family therapy
• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), in which electric currents are passed through the brain
• Self-management strategies and education

Not every person will respond in the same way to medications, and some medications produce side effects. This is why it is important to be under the care of a doctor for treatment. 
People with bipolar can join support groups to talk to other people with the condition. Taking up hobbies and learning ways to relax and manage stress can also help.
According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, bipolar disorder affects 5.7 million American adults, or about 2.6 percent of the United States adult population every year.
The median age of onset is 25 years, but symptoms can emerge early in childhood or as late as the 40s or 50s.
If a person has at least one parent with bipolar disorder, they are between 15-30 percent more likely to develop the condition.
It is also believed that 1 in 3 children and adolescents diagnosed with depression in the U.S. may be experiencing the early onset of bipolar disorder.
With so many variations on the bipolar spectrum, it is important to pay attention to mood changes.
Bipolar disorder is often confused for depression, but it is a more complex condition.
Left untreated, it can increase the risk of suicide or suicide attempts, relationship problems, legal problems, loneliness, and an overall inability to function and lead a normal life.
Bipolar disorder is a life-long disorder, but with proper treatment and a focus on staying healthy, it can be manageable. 

Highlights

1. Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are different conditions.
2. You can manage either of these conditions with treatment.
3. Treatment for these conditions usually involves psychotherapy and medication.

Bipolar disorder and schizophrenia are two different chronic mental disorders. People can sometimes mistake the symptoms of bipolar disorder for schizophrenia symptoms.
Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder. It causes sudden and strong shifts in energy, mood, and activity levels. A person with bipolar disorder will switch between extreme excitement, or mania, and depression. These shifts can affect your ability to perform daily activities.

People with bipolar disorder require psychiatric treatment and psychotherapy. They can usually manage the symptoms with little interruption to their daily life.

Did you know?

The symptoms of schizophrenia often appear earlier in men than in women.

Schizophrenia isn’t as common as bipolar disorder. The symptoms are more severe than the symptoms of bipolar disorder, but it’s highly treatable. People with schizophrenia experience hallucinations and delusions. Hallucinations involve seeing or hearing things that aren’t there. Delusions are beliefs in things that aren’t true.
Bipolar disorder affects approximately 2.2 percent of people in the United States. It usually first appears between the late teen years and early adulthood. Children can also show signs of bipolar disorder.
Schizophrenia affects 1.1 percent of the population. People usually find out they have it between the ages of 16 and 30. Schizophrenia isn’t usually seen in children.

Part 2 of 6

Symptoms of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia

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Symptoms of bipolar disorder

People with bipolar disorder experience episodes of intense emotions. Some people only experience manic episodes. Other people experience only depressive episodes. Some people experience both manic and depressive episodes.
You have to have at least one episode of depression that meets the criteria for a major depressive episode to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder. You must also have at least one episode that meets the criteria for a manic or hypomanic episode.
The types of bipolar disorder include:

• bipolar 1 disorder, which can involve episodes severe enough to require hospitalization
• bipolar 2 disorder, which involves mild, alternating depressive and hypomanic episodes
• bipolar disorder not otherwise specified, or bipolar disorder with symptoms different from type 1 or 2
• cyclothymic disorder, or cyclothymia, which involves mild episodes that last for at least two years

Rapid cycling occurs when you have four or more mild or full-blown episodes during one year.
People with bipolar disorder experience manic and depressive episodes. A manic episode can make you feel extremely happy or elated, or extremely irritable. A person experiencing a depressive episode will feel severe depression and lose interest in activities that they used to enjoy
Other behavioral changes that may be symptoms of bipolar disorder include:

• restlessness
• hyperactivity
• tiredness
• difficulty staying focused
• irritability
• altered lifestyle patterns
• extreme self-confidence and impulsivity in the case of a manic episode
• suicidal thoughts in the case of a depressive episode

People with bipolar disorder can also experience psychotic episodes during a manic or depressive episode. Because of this, people may mistake their symptoms for those of schizophrenia.

Symptoms of schizophrenia

The symptoms of schizophrenia are either positive or negative. These types aren’t based on whether a symptom is good or bad but on whether the symptoms involve adding or removing a behavior. Positive symptoms are symptoms that involve adding a behavior. They include delusions and hallucinations. Negative symptoms involve removing behavior. They include apathy and social withdrawal.
Some of the early warning signs of schizophrenia may include:

• social isolation
• a loss of interest in activities
• moodiness
• a lack of any feelings
• making irrational statements
• bizarre behavior
• an altered sleep schedule
• getting either too much or too little sleep
• an inability to express emotions
• inappropriate laughter
• violent outbursts
• acts of violence towards yourself, such as cutting yourself
• hypersensitivity to smells, touches, tastes, and sounds
• hallucinations, which can often manifest as threatening or condemning voices that may tell you to act in violent ways
• delusions

Part 3 of 6

Risk factors

No one knows what causes bipolar disorder or schizophrenia.
They’re both likely to run in families. This doesn’t mean that you’ll definitely inherit the disorder if your parent or sibling has it. Your risk increases, however, if multiple family members have the disorder. Knowing there’s a risk increases the chance of early detection and treatment.
Environmental factors can also contribute, but this connection isn’t entirely understood yet.

Part 4 of 6

Diagnosis

There are no blood tests for bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Instead, your doctor will do a physical and psychological exam. During the exam, they’ll ask you about any family history of mental disorders and your symptoms.
Your doctor may want to do a complete blood test to help rule out other conditions. They may also request an MRI or CT scan. Finally, they make ask you to agree to a drug and alcohol screening.
You may need to return for several visits so that your doctor can fully understand your symptoms before they can make a diagnosis. They may ask you to keep a daily record of your mood and sleep patterns. This can help your doctor see if any patterns emerge, such as manic and depressive episodes.
Learn more: Diagnosis for bipolar disorder »

Part 5 of 6

How are bipolar disorder and schizophrenia treated?

Treating bipolar Disorder

Treatment for bipolar disorder often includes both psychotherapy and medication. Psychotherapy may include:

• learning about mood swings and how to effectively manage them
• educating family members about how the disorder manifests so they can be supportive and help with overcoming episodes
• helping you improve your relationships with friends and coworkers
• learning to manage your days to avoid possible triggers, such as a lack of sleep or stress

Your doctor may prescribe medications to control mood swings and related symptoms, such as:

• mood stabilizers
• atypical antipsychotics
• antidepressants

People with bipolar disorder often have trouble sleeping. Your doctor may also prescribe sleep medication.

Treating schizophrenia

Treatment for schizophrenia includes antipsychotics and psychotherapy. Some of the more common antipsychotics used to treat schizophrenia include:

• risperidone (Risperdal)
• aripiprazole (Abilify)
• haloperidol injection (Haldol)
• paliperidone (Invega)
• ziprasidone (Geodon)
• olanzapine (Zyprexa)

Psychotherapy approaches may include cognitive behavioral therapy.
It’s possible to have an initial schizophrenic episode and never experience another one. You may find a coordinated specialty care program called Recovery After an Initial Schizophrenia Episode (RAISE) to be helpful if you’ve experienced one episode only. This program includes:

• psychotherapy
• medication
• family education and support
• work or education support, depending on each situation

Part 6 of 6

What you can do

People can often manage the symptoms of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia with medication and therapy. Having a support system in place will increase your chances of successfully managing your symptoms. A support system may include family, friends, and the people in your workplace.
If you have either bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, you have an increased risk of suicide. See your doctor if you have thoughts of suicide. They can provide treatment. Support groups can help to reduce the risk of suicide. You should also avoid alcohol and drugs to reduce your risk further.
If you have bipolar disorder, you should do the following:

• Follow a relatively stable lifestyle.
• Get an adequate amount of sleep.
• Maintain a healthy diet.
• Use techniques to manage stress.

Identifying episode triggers may also help you to manage the condition.
If you have schizophrenia, you should follow your treatment plan. That includes taking medication as prescribed. This will help you to control symptoms and reduce your chances of a relapse.
Talk to your doctor if you think you may have either bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. Early diagnosis is an important first step toward returning to a symptom-free life.

Carrie Fisher was a powerful force for lifting the stigma against mental illness. The beloved "Star Wars" actress, who died Tuesday after suffering a heart attack, was courageously open about her lifelong troubles with bipolar disorder, depression and addiction.
In her last "Ask Carrie Fisher" advice column published Nov. 30 in The Guardian, Fisher responded to a question about bipolar disorder, also known as manic depressive illness, from someone named Alex, who asked: "Have you found a way to feel at peace when even your brain seesaws constantly? I can’t see very far down the line from here and I hope that you can give me some insight." 

Fisher's response was compassionate, kind and characteristically self-deprecating:
"We have been given a challenging illness, and there is no other option than to meet those challenges. Think of it as an opportunity to be heroic — not 'I survived living in Mosul during an attack' heroic, but an emotional survival. An opportunity to be a good example to others who might share our disorder. That’s why it’s important to find a community — however small — of other bipolar people to share experiences and find comfort in the similarities."
Her honesty about her mental illness gave many people hope, said Natasha Tracy, a mental health blogger and author of “Lost Marbles: Insights into My Life with Depression and Bipolar.”
“Carrie Fisher coming out and saying she had bipolar disorder was almost like a bright light for people, showing them that they could achieve their goals even with a mental illness like bipolar disorder," Tracy told TODAY.
"There’s a feeling that all you are is the disorder. You can feel like a freak, like you’re the craziest person in the whole world and then someone comes out and dramatically talks about having bipolar disorder. You can start seeing your own experiences echoed in someone you really identify with.” 

Fisher said in interviews that she was told she had a form of bipolar disorder at age 24, but didn't "accept" the diagnosis until her late 20s, after she had survived a drug overdose and alcohol addiction.
She chronicled her mental health struggles in several books, including her best-seller "Postcards from the Edge." She was unsuccessfully treated with numerous drugs, including Lithium, until she underwent electroconvulsive therapy for depression.
While promoting her 2011 book, "Shockoholic," Fisher told TODAY, "There was a hopeless quality going on. I wanted to deal with it."
As much as Fisher did as a mental health advocate, many people still didn't realize her battles, Tracy said.
“When I give talks one of the things I generally do is to put up a picture of Carrie Fisher because everyone recognizes her face as Princess Leia,” Tracy told TODAY. “Then I tell them she has bipolar disorder and it’s almost like the crowd gasps when they hear it. They think that no normal or successful person could have such a severe mental illness.”
The causes of bipolar disorder — a combination of genetic and environmental factors — aren't clearly understood. Research indicates that bipolar disorder is associated with an imbalance in the brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. About 2.5 percent of Americans, or 6 million people are diagnosed with bipolar. It can run in familes; Fisher said her father, singer Eddie Fisher, was manic depressive, too.
Related: Fisher: I wish I'd turned down 'Star Wars'
While Fisher's many friends and other stars throughout Hollywood mourned her passing, some expressed gratitude for her bravery in speaking out about mental illness. 

When someone like Carrie Fisher speaks about their experiences with a mental illness, “it demystifies it,” said Dr. Dean MacKinnon, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and author of “Still Down: What to Do When Antidepressants Fail.”
“It can make it a lot less frightening to go to see a psychiatrist for the first time,” MacKinnon added. “Having it out there that it’s OK to have a mental illness and that it’s not your fault can make a difference.”
Fisher's closing words in the Guardian column were supportive and hopeful for anyone suffering from mental illness:
"Move through those feelings and meet me on the other side. As your bipolar sister, I’ll be watching. Now get out there and show me and you what you can do." 

You just failed a big test and are pretty bummed about it. Or, you’re going through a bad breakup and feeling pretty down. We’ve all been there. In day-to-day life, everyone experiences ups and downs every now and then. Eventually, time passes on and our mood becomes better and we become “ourselves” again. Unlike the normal population, individuals living with bipolar disorder cycle through extreme mood swings that cause disruption to daily life.
Bipolar Disorder. Manic Depression. Bipolar Affective Disorder. All three terms are synonymous with each other and the name of a mental health disorder affecting approximately 3% of the American population. The classic symptoms of bipolar disorder are the periodic changes in mood, alternating between periods of elevated mood (mania or hypomania) and periods of depression. If you are living with bipolar disorder, you may feel energetic, abnormally happy, and make reckless decisions during manic states. During depressive states, you may feel the overwhelming urge to cry, experience feelings of hopelessness, and have a negative outlook on life. Hypomania is a less severe form of mania, where you generally feel  pretty good – with a better sense of well-being and productivity.
With bipolar disorder, you don’t just feel “down in the dumps;” your depressive state may lead to suicidal thoughts that change over to feelings of euphoria  and endless energy. These extreme mood swings can occur more frequently – such as every week – or show up more sporadically – maybe just twice a year. There is also no defined pattern to the mood swings. One does not always occur before the other – and the length of time you are in one state or the other varies as well. The good news is that there are a number of treatments that can keep your moods in check – allowing you to live a productive life.
Rates of bipolar disorder in men and women are about equal and the typical onset of symptoms occur around 25 years of age. There are many types of bipolar disorder; three of the most common include Bipolar I Disorder, Bipolar II Disorder, and Cyclothymic Disorder. Bipolar I Disorder is characterized by the occurrence of at least one manic episode, preceded or followed by a hypomanic or major depressive episode. Manic episodes may be so severe they significantly disrupt your daily functioning or may trigger a break from reality (psychosis). If you are suffering from Bipolar I Disorder, you may require hospitalization. If you are living with Bipolar II Disorder, you experience at least one major depressive episode lasting two weeks or more and at least one hypomanic episode lasting at least four days. But, you will not have experienced a manic episode.  Cyclothymic disorder is characterized by at least two years of multiple occurrences of hypomania symptoms and depressive symptoms – these symptoms are less severe than hypomanic episodes and major depressive episodes. During this time, symptoms present themselves at least half of the time and are constant for at least two months.

Signs and Symptoms

Because there are many different stages of bipolar disorder, the signs and symptoms vary from person to person and from type to type. Presented below are the most common signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder, categorized by emotional state.

Manic Symptoms

According to the DSM-5, a manic episode is characterized by a distinct and abnormal state of elevated, expansive, or irritable mood occurring for at least one week. The manic episode is persistently driven by a goal-directed behavior or energy. A hypomanic episode is a distinct and abnormal state of elevated, expansive, or irritable mood that lasts for at least four consecutive days.
If you have been diagnosed as suffering from bipolar disorder, you may experience any of the signs and symptoms during a manic period:

• long period of feeling “high” – an overly elated, happy, and outgoing mood
• feeling extremely irritable
• being easily distracted
• having racing thoughts
• talking very fast
• jumping from one thought to another when talking
• taking on a lot of new projects
• restlessness
• boundless energy
• sleeping very little
• not feeling tired
• unrealistically believing you can do something
• engaging in impulsive, pleasurable, and high-risk behaviors (e.g., poor financial investments, sexual indiscretions, shopping sprees)
• inflated self-esteem
• feelings of grandiosity
• increased agitation
• increased goal-directed activity
• high sex drive
• making grand and unattainable plans
• detachment from reality – psychosis that may include delusions or hallucinations

Manic behaviors interfere with functioning at school or work, in social situations, and in relationships. These behaviors occur on their own – they do not occur due to alcohol or drug use, a medical illness, or a side effect of a medication.

Depressive Symptoms

The depressive side of bipolar disorder is characterized by a major depressive episode resulting in a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in life. If you are living with bipolar disorder, during depressive states, you may experience some of the following signs and symptoms:

• feeling sad, tearful, hopeless, or empty for the majority of the day on a daily basis
• no pleasure or interest in day to day activities
• weight fluctuations – including significant weight loss or weight gain
• sleep disturbances – sleeping too much or other sleep problems, such as insomnia
• restlessness or slowed behaviors
• suicidal thoughts, planning, or attempts
• feelings of guilt and worthlessness
• inability to concentrate
• indecisiveness
• loss of energy
• feelings of fatigue
• psychosis – being detached from reality; delusions or hallucinations
• loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed
• anxiety
• uncontrollable crying

Depressive behaviors can interfere with school or work, family or personal relationships, and social functioning. If you are suffering from bipolar disorder and undergoing a depressive episode, it is not the result of substance abuse, medications, an underlying medical condition, or stressful situation – such as grieving the loss of a loved one.

What is Causing It? How is it Diagnosed?

If you are suffering from bipolar depression, you may be wondering what it is that caused this condition. What are the risk factors? Like most mental illnesses, there is not one single cause that scientists can pinpoint to tell you why you are suffering from bipolar disorder. But, it appears genetics are likely to account for around 60-80% of the risk for developing bipolar disorder – indicating the key role heredity plays in this condition. Your risk of developing bipolar disorder is also increased significantly if you have a first-degree relative suffering from this mental state.
Environmental factors also have shown a connection to bipolar disorder – and they likely interact with genetic predispositions to catapult the onset of the disorder. What this means is that if you are living with bipolar disorder, it was probably a mixture of genes and a life event that triggered the disorder to present itself in your everyday life. You may have suffered from some type of traumatic event or abuse or a troubling and/or stressful interpersonal relationship of some type.
If you believe you are experiencing signs and symptoms of mania or depression, go see your doctor. Oftentimes, it is  your family or co-workers who are first to recognize signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder. If you are suffering from this condition, you may be reluctant to seek help at first – mostly because you are not able to notice how disruptive the disorder is on your life. And, you may enjoy feeling euphoric. However, it is important to treat this condition so you can manage your emotional states and live a productive, full life. Bipolar disorder will not go away on its own and you are likely to live with this condition for the rest of your life. However, with the right treatment plan, you can live a good life.
Your doctor or mental health provider will assess you physically to rule out any underlying medical conditions that may be causing your manic or depressive states. If no underlying medical conditions present themselves, you are likely to be referred to a mental health provider for further diagnosis.
Your mental health provider will  perform a series of psychological assessments to gather additional information about your condition. These assessments will aid your mental health provider in diagnosing the presence of this condition in your life and also determine which type of bipolar disorder you may be suffering from.

What are the Treatment Options?

Medications and psychotherapy are the most commonly prescribed treatment plans for people suffering from bipolar disorder. And the success rate of these treatment plans are great if followed correctly and consistently.

If you are living with bipolar disorder, you have likely been prescribed a number of different medications. The most common medications used to treat this condition include mood stabilizers, antidepressants, and atypical antipsychotics. The most often first course of drug therapy is the prescription of mood stabilizers. Lithium is one of the most well-known and effective mood stabilizers for individuals affected with bipolar disorder. You may also be prescribed an anticonvulsant for use as a mood stabilizer. Atypical antipsychotics are often combined with antidepressants to treat bipolar disorder. Because the use of antidepressants can trigger hypomanic or manic states, you will likely take an antidepressant with a mood stabilizer to even out emotions.
Psychotherapy has also been an effective tool for people living with bipolar disorder. Cognitive behavioral therapy will help you learn how to change negative or harmful thoughts or behaviors. Family-focused therapies involve your family members and focus on teaching coping strategies, communication counseling, and problem-solving techniques. Psychoeducation has also been a powerful therapy tool to teach individuals living with bipolar disorder about their condition and how to treat it. This education allows you to notice trigger points and impending mood swings so you can seek treatment before a full-blown episode occurs. Interpersonal and social rhythm therapy (IPSRT) is used often in treating bipolar disorder as well – as this form of psychotherapy focuses on the stabilization of daily rhythms – sleep, wake, mealtimes – to introduce consistent routines to better manage moods.
In severe cases, you may need to be hospitalized for your own safety and well-being. This may result from severe states of mania or depression leading to psychosis, risky behaviors, or thoughts of suicide.
If you are living with bipolar depression, it is important to follow your treatment plan. Pay attention to warning signs or triggers – this can help you seek additional treatment, talk with your counselor or mental health provider, and prevent the onset of a full attack. Avoid drugs and alcohol, and take your medication as prescribed – even on days you feel fine. Following your treatment plan, educating yourself about your disorder, and engaging in prevention techniques will positively contribute to your overall well-being and life satisfaction.

Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental illness that involves the sufferer having at least one manic (overly excited or irritable mood) or nearly manic (hypomanic) episode. The mood swings of this condition can last for weeks at a time and cause significant work and relationship problems. This illness affects up to 5% of adults in the United States, afflicting men and women equally.Depressive Phase Symptoms

The depressive symptoms that may be experienced in bipolar disorder are those of any major depressive episode, including significant sadness, irritability, hopelessness, and an increase or decrease in appetite, weight, or sleep. Bipolar depression can result in sufferers wanting, planning, or attempting to kill themselves or someone else.

Manic Phase Symptoms

The manic symptoms of bipolar disorder can include the sufferer having a grossly excessive sense of well-being or abilities, racing thoughts, decreased sleep, and speech that is rapid to the point of being hard to decipher. Manic individuals may also engage in unwise activities such as excessive sexual behaviors or spending.

Bipolar I vs. Bipolar II

In order to receive the diagnosis of bipolar I disorder, a person must experience at least one full-blown manic episode in their lifetime. Individuals with bipolar II disorder experience at least one hypomanic episode, in that they have symptoms less severe than fully manic symptoms.

Mixed Features

Many people with bipolar disorder also have mixed features associated with their mood swings. This involves experiencing symptoms of depression during manic or hypomanic episodes.

Causes of Bipolar Disorder

While no single cause of bipolar disorder has been identified, there are a number of factors that contribute to the development of this illness. Decreases in the activity of different parts of the brain have been observed when individuals with bipolar disorder are having depressive or manic episodes.

Bipolar Disorder: Who's at Risk?

The symptoms of bipolar disorder tend to have two peaks of when they begin: between 15 and 25 and from 45-54 years of age. Other risk factors for bipolar disorder include having a close family history of depression or bipolar disorder (mood disorder) or a family history of substance-abuse disorder. Life stressors such as abuse may also trigger the onset of bipolar disorder.

Bipolar Disorder and Daily Life

The symptoms of bipolar disorder can interfere with a person's ability to work, achieve in school, and maintain relationships. People with this disorder are also at risk for having other medical and mental-health problems.

Bipolar Disorder and Substance Abuse

Having bipolar disorder can increase the likelihood of the sufferer developing a substance-abuse problem from 22% to more than 50%. Some people with bipolar disorder may drink to numb their manic or depressive symptoms, a behavior often referred to as self-medicating.

Bipolar Disorder and Suicide

Up to 10% of people with bipolar disorder commit suicide, 10 times the risk of people who have no mental-health disorder. Possible signs someone is planning to commit suicide include giving away belongings and otherwise putting affairs in order. If you or a loved one has thoughts of suicide, immediately contact a suicide hotline at 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) and 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). Anyone who has planned or attempted to commit suicide should immediately be taken to the closest hospital emergency room.

Diagnosing Bipolar Disorder

When mental-health professionals assess a person for bipolar disorder, they gather a detailed history and conduct a mental-status examination. The history will explore the possibility that the person's symptoms are caused by a medical condition such as a neurological or endocrine problem, medication side effect, or exposure to a toxin. The professional will also seek to distinguish symptoms of bipolar disorder from other mental-health problems, such as a substance-use disorder, depression, anxiety, or schizophrenia.

Medications for Bipolar Disorder

Medications are an important and effective part of treating bipolar disorder and include mood stabilizers, antipsychotics, and antiseizure medications. All these medications have been found to help even out and prevent the mood swings suffered by bipolar disordered individuals. Antidepressant medication may trigger mood swings in people with this disorder.

Talk Therapy for Bipolar Disorder

When done in conjunction with medication treatment, talk therapy (psychotherapy) can significantly help prevent the recurrence of depression or mania of bipolar disorder, as well as decrease the symptoms and problems caused by those symptoms when they do occur. Cognitive behavioral therapy seeks to help the individual change ways of thinking from self-defeating to more productive ways of thinking. Family focused therapy uses mental-health education, improving communication, and problem-solving skills for the bipolar-disordered individual and their family.

Lifestyle Tips for Bipolar Disorder

As is the case with other mental disorders, good self-care is an essential part of getting optimal results from talk therapy and medications. People with bipolar disorder should work on getting at least eight hours of sleep per night, exercising regularly, maintaining good nutrition, and avoiding alcohol or drug abuse. When bipolar-disordered individuals learn their warning signs for the onset of a manic or depressive episode, they are more able to prevent full-blown mood swings.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) can be a very effective treatment for any mood state of bipolar disorder (depressive, manic, or mixed) and involves inducing seizures by sending an electrical current through parts of the brain. ECT can bring relief of symptoms to people who have not received relief from psychotherapy or medications. It can also be an effective maintenance treatment, preventing mood swings from returning.

Educating Friends and Family

Given the important role family members can play in the recovery and long-term progress of their loved ones with bipolar disorder, educating family members and helping them improve communication and problem-solving skills is an important part of improving the life of people with this disorder.

When Someone Needs Help

If you are concerned a family member or loved one may be suffering from bipolar disorder, speak openly with them and seek help from a trusted health-care professional. Often, educating your loved one that many people who have this disorder lead highly productive, satisfying lives with treatment can go a long way toward helping them accept help for themselves.