Casey,      Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that is characterized by episodes of depression and/or mania.   Mania is an elevated mood. It used to be called manic-depressive disorder. This disorder affects how a person feels and acts.  People with bipolar disorder will have times when their mood is "normal" or near normal, but aloso have time when their mood changes can be extreme.      There are actually many different types and stages of bipolar disoder.  Some people cycle between depression and mania quickly and others more slowly.  Some people have periods of depression with few periods of mania.      For more information go to the National Institute of Mental Health website at www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder/complete-publication.shtml Gerald Tarlow, Ph.D.