What does bipolar mean?

Answer by  Robbie37 (93)

Bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive disorder, is a mental illness in which marked fluctuations between depression and mania are observed. These fluctuations are often cyclical with periods of depression, of varying lengths of time alternating. Depression may involve sadness, withdrawal, or changes in normal eating and sleeping patterns. Mania present as periods of intense energy and extreme behavior.

Answer by  tinaaggarwal (14)

It's just another word for manic-depression. It is a disorder that causes people to experience at least one episode of mania or hypomania and possibly depression. It is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. The only thing to do for it is medications called mood stabilizers. They will lower the highs and raise the lows.

Answer by  tamarawilhite (17883)

Bipolar means that a person has a neuro-chemical imbalance. This chemical imbalance causes their emotional control to be almost gone. The brain then constantly shifts between two extremes, two poles, of depression and anxiety / mania / anger / rage. The afflicted are either very low or very high. It is also called manic-depressive disorder.

Answer by  John (9008)

Bipolar is a term used to refer to people who suffer from bipolar disorder, a mental illness which was formerly known and manic-depression. Basically, people who are bipolar go through cycles where they move from extremely happy and active moods (called manic states) into periods of deep depression. Medication is often effective in treating this illness.