Bipolar Disorder: The Struggle in Finding Harmony Between Mania and Depression
             Bipolar disorder can be a very confusing phenomenon to manage, for a victim can be extremely stressed when trying to cope with the intense difficulties this disorder forces upon them. Bipolar disorder (also called manic-depressive disorder) is a "medical condition that causes a person to have extreme mood changes that alternate between depression and mania" (Rowelt). Approximately 4 million Americans will suffer from bipolar disorder in their lifetimes and if bipolar disorder is not treated, it can lead to serious illness, the need for longer treatment, and even death due to suicide or reckless or risky behavior (Rowelt).
             The disorder is characterized by alternating periods of extreme moods. A person with Bipolar disorder experiences cycling of moods that usually swing from being overly elated or irritable (mania) to sad and hopeless (depression) and then back again, with periods of normal mood in between. For those who have this disorder, it can be extremely distressing and disruptive. The frequency of the swings between these two states, and the duration of the mood, varies from person to person. Bipolar disorder typically begins in adolescence or early adulthood and continues throughout life. It is often not recognized at first as a serious disorder, and people who have it may suffer needlessly for years or even decades. It is a serious mood disorder that affects a person's ability to function in every day activities. It affects one's work, one's family, and one's social life (Dombeck & Perring). In addition, in her article "Bipolar Disorder", Rowelt also explains that in relation to changes in moods "some people with bipolar disorder also have symptoms of anxiety (such as worrying, not sleeping, or having difficulty concentrating), panic attacks, or symptoms of psychosis".
             The cause of bipolar disorder is not wel...