Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities.

People with bipolar disorder have episodes of:

• depression – feeling very low and lethargic
• mania – feeling very high and overactive

Symptoms of Bipolar disorder depend on which mood you’re experiencing. Unlike simple mood swings, each extreme episode of bipolar disorder can last for several weeks (or even longer).

The high and low phases of bipolar disorder are often so extreme that they interfere with everyday life. But there are several options for treating bipolar disorder that can make a difference. They aim to control the effects of an episode and help someone with bipolar disorder live life as normally as possible.

Therapy can help equip those who suffer with bipolar disorder with helpful coping mechanisms and guidance when navigating extreme emotions and much more.