You’ve probably heard about depression and bipolar disorder, two common mood disorders. Mood disorders are mental illnesses that affect how a person thinks and feels, both physically and emotionally. They affect how a person sees herself and the other people and things around her. Mood disorders involve more than occasionally feeling sad or bummed out or experiencing occasional “swings” from happy to sad. Their symptoms can be severe and can last for long periods of time. They can make it difficult for a person to do even very simple stuff like getting out of bed in the morning or falling asleep at night. These disorders are diagnosed based on certain specific factors, like the types of symptoms a person has, how long the symptoms last, and how well the person is able to function each day.

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that causes intense shifts in mood, from deeply depressed to extremely agitated and energetic. It can happen to anyone, male or female, young or old, but typically develops in the late teens or early adulthood. More than 2 million Americans have the illness. There is no cure, but with treatment, people with bipolar disorder can live normal, productive lives.