Bipolar disorder is a long term illness which is characterized by the cyclic mood swings. The person who suffers from bipolar disorder usually oscillates between the extremes of sadness and the extremes of happiness.

The symptoms of the bipolar disorder include dramatic mood swings. The person can experience a condition of sadness and hopelessness but also can have a time of normal period in between the different types of these moods too. There can be severe changes in the energy of the person and also in his behavior.

There can be the periods of highs and lows in the mood of a person who suffers from the bipolar disorder. These periods of highs and lows are called the episodes of 'mania' and 'depression'. As the name reveals, bipolar means having the two poles of extremities of happiness or an elevation and sadness.

Mania:

The first symptom of having a mania is hyper excitability - an increased level in the energy and activities. The person can feel that he is excessively good or overly supreme as he will be going through a euphoric mood. But the elevated mood of the person can finally lead to irritability and depression. He or She may talk fast and often can be unrealistic in their own ability or power. Their judgment and decision making power will be poor. They also have racing thoughts but will find unable to concentrate on anything they do. They also feel a decreased want for sleep. The tendency to spend more also can be there. The sexual drive for these people can also decrease. They also acquire an exaggerated level of optimism. Behavior becomes more aggressive and can have a tendency to deny anything and everything.

If any three or more symptoms mentioned above occurs nearly everyday for one week or more than that, beware you too can have bipolar disorder...

Hypomania is the moderate level of the mania which might be feeling good to the person who experiences it. He can find it only as a normal condition. But if not diagnosed properly, hypomania can also lead to the severe maniac episodes which can again change to depression.

Depression:

Sadness, mood swings, irritability, empty mood, restlessness, helplessness and a guilty consciousness or worthlessness all comes for those who suffer with depression. They can lose the pleasure or interest in the daily activities and entertainments. They will be tearful and feel some anxiety, but often are not aware of the reason for that tension. They too feel the distractibility in the things they do. The worst thing a person who suffers from depression suffers can be the predominant suicidal thoughts. He may attempt suicide or deliberately put himself in the things which can cause death or injuries.

So if you have any five or more symptoms remain most of the day for two weeks or more than that, you can also think if you are depressed or not.

Any person who thinks or talk about suicide, or attempts suicide requires proper attention and diagnosis as he may be suffering from a bipolar disorder.