Common Manic Stage Behavior:
  *  Unusual amounts of energy that effect mood and/or sleep
  *  Uncharacteristic participation in high-risk activities that are likely to lead to
      painful results, such as spending sprees, foolish investments:
  *  Disconnected, racing thoughts

Common Depressive Stage Behaviors:
   *  Excessive crying; constant fatigue and inertia
   *  Loss of interest in normally pleasurable activities
   *  Overwhelming feelings of despair, hopelessness, and helplessness

• The moods of a person with bipolar disorder, which is also called manic depression, swing from periods of intense elation to periods of intense sadness
• Bipolar disorder typically develops in late adolescence or early adulthood
• Unlike other forms of depression, bipolar disorder affects men and women equally. Nearly one in every 100 people will experience the disorder at some time in their lives
• The psychological basis for bipolar disorder is better understood than other forms of depression, making the illness one of the most effectively treated
• Because of the genetic susceptibility to bipolar disorder, people who have a close relative with the condition are 10-20 times more likely to develop either depression or bipolar disorder than the general population
• There is help: 70% or more of those patients with bipolar disorder respond well to medication that helps reduce the frequency and intensity of manic episodes. A combination of professional counseling and medication helps most patients return to productive and fulfilling lives.

Mental Health
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