Bipolar manic depression is a serious medical condition that causes alterations in a person's mood, energy, and ability to function. Unlike the typical mood swings a normal person experiences, the symptoms of bi polar manic depression are much more severe. It often attacks when a person experiences an unusually great deal of stress, whether from work, school or family. Research also suggest that Bipolar manic depression could be hereditary, or that there may be a physical problem with the brain systems that control our mood. For women, it can also be triggered by childbirth or during menopause.

Medical professionals also refer to manic-depressive illness as bipolar mood disorder. It is a disturbance in a person's mood characterized by extreme, often inappropriate and unpredictable mood swings. Mood swings can be mild, moderate or severe and are accompanied by changes in thinking and behavior. Symptoms are often subtle and unnoticeable, but increases with time. If a person exhibits an unusual change in mood or disposition that persists for longer than two weeks, it is almost certainly a sign of bipolar manic depression.

This term refers to the "two poles" of mood, with depression or feeling down at one end and mania or feeling high at the other end. The course of the illness varies from patient to patient, making the arrival at a single treatment for all those who suffer from it virtually impossible. Treating the medical condition involves recognizing the unique symptoms that the individual exhibits and prescribing the best treatment approach.

Manic-depression has been with human beings since the beginning of time. Though there is no known cure, most forms of bipolar disorder are eminently treatable with medication and supportive psychotherapy. If an individual begins to show signs of the disorder, it is imperative to seek professional help as early as possible. Without treatment, the frequency and severity of this recurring illness can increase over the years, which may ultimately lead to suicide, the leading cause of death for individuals suffering from manic-depression.

This illness affects both men and women, with 2% of the population in the U.S. suffering from this condition. Many cases have shown that women are more likely to have symptoms of depression, whereas men are more likely to have symptoms of mania. It is more common among people in upper socioeconomic classes and usually starts in early adult life, before the age of 35. However, a person may experience his/her first manic-depression episode at any age - cases of the illness occurring in the elderly and even children have been reported.

Cyclothymic disorder, on the other hand, is a less severe form of manic-depression. It is characterized by less intense episodes of excitement and sadness lasting for only a few days and recurs at irregular intervals. Although its symptoms may persist throughout adult life, it does not completely impair a person's social or personal functioning. Rather it may even contribute to the person's success in many aspects of his or her career or personal life.