Bipolar Disorder and Manic Depressive Illness

Generally, people with bipolar disorder do not swing evenly back and forth from manic to depressive states. More often than not, the cycles of mania and depression are unpredictable and can last for very different lengths of time. You can even experience both at the same time. Many people with bipolar disorder have extreme cycles only once every few years. Yet rapid cyclers go through four or more episodes of mania and depression each year. Ultrarapid cyclers have episodes within a week, and ultradian cyclers have distinct mood swings within just twenty-four hours.

At the same time, some manic-depressives may go for weeks, months, or even years without experiencing any extreme ups and downs. Instead, they have normal moods as does everyone around them. Psychiatrists call this euthymia. A milder form of bipolar disorder is called hypomania. A hypomanic episode will leave you feeling suddenly energized, outgoing, extremely happy, and enthusiastic. Hypomanic phases are never so severe that they will seriously disrupt your life. However, even though they feel good, they are eventually followed by depression.