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.
