Bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive disorder, is a term used to define forms of irregular and intense mood swings that can make someone depressed one day and a complete manic the next After . Unlike other medical conditions, bipolar disorder not only affects a person's life, but can impact other individuals as well. Extreme mood swings can have major consequences on someone's social life and cause failure in their career or education. Even though bipolar is not the huge topic of discussion in medical disorders; it is still a dangerous condition that affects a multitude of individuals around the world. Many suffer from serious symptoms and dangers, but can still live fulfilling lives with treatments and therapies. The symptoms of bipolar disorder are what makes up the entire disorder. The two main symptoms are the manic phase and the depressive phase. Both can be very critical and have major effects on one's life. The manic phase causes you to have extremely high energy. Many people have high energy, but author Bloch states, “There is a profound contrast between high energy and bipolar disorder. And there are simple ways to tell the difference” (Bloch 4). Part of the manic phase is talking fast and almost talking nonsense. Obviously this is not a serious effect but it is the beginning of potentially lethal ones. Bipolar people also become overconfident and start acting in unusual ways. One might start spending money they don't have and gamble excessively. The biggest problem of the manic phase is the Booz 2 hallucinations that you may experience. These hallucinations can make you believe that something is happening when in reality it is not. This endangers the human being who is bi...... middle of paper ...... type of drug is a mood stabilizer and there are many different drugs that work like this one. A mood stabilizer is something that prevents episodes from occurring. It will decrease the effects of the manic phase and will also decrease the effects of the depressive phase. Lithium is a very effective mood stabilizer and can even prevent the risk of death by suicide. These mood stabilizers work well for treating bipolar disorder, but they also have side effects. Most side effects are physical, but they can be very dangerous. Energy loss accounts for a large part of the side effects, but it is not the only one. Side effects include liver damage, inflammation of the pancreas, seizures and many other physical disadvantages of the drugs. Medication is an important factor in the treatment of bipolar disorder, on the other hand therapy is a healthier way that also works very well..