Bipolar illness is a devastating condition, affecting about 1% of the population (Menniger Clinic 64). Bipolar Disorder, also known as manic-depression, is a mood disorder whose main symptoms is an abnormality in mood. Mood is defined as a conscious state of mind or preominan feeling, which includes happiness, sadness, patience, and content. Bipolar disorder occurs when a person’s mood changes from being overly high or irritable to feeling sad, hopeless, and back to an irritable high …showed first 75 words of 479 total…

…showed last 75 words of 479 total…is no present cure for the disease. It has been estimated that two and a half million Americans have bipolar disorder. It is important to realize that a person suffering from the disease perceives the world differently. The bipolar individual can make ordinary life decisions seem complex and overwhelming. With the help of mood-stabilizing medications and proper therapy, it would help stabilize the patient’s mood and have the ability to cope with reality (Discovery, 1998).