Bipolar disorder, also known as “manic depression,” is a brain disorder that causes abnormal changes in mood, energy, activity level, and ability to perform daily tasks. Unlike the emotional ups and downs that we all experience, people with bipolar disorder experience unusually intense emotional states during different “episodes”: states of excessive happiness and excitement are called “manic episodes,” and states of extreme depression and hopelessness are called “depressive episodes. states of extreme depression and hopelessness are called “depressive episodes”. Episodes with both manic and depressive symptoms are called “mixed states”. As the state of mind changes, so do the extremes of energy, activity, sleep, and behavior. Patients with manic episodes may experience increased thought associations, inattention, increased planning and activity, decreased need for sleep, and impulsive behavior. Patients with depressive episodes may exhibit fatigue, “sluggishness,” indecision, changes in habits such as sleeping and eating, and suicidal thoughts or attempts. Bipolar disorder may also manifest itself in less extreme mood swings Some people with bipolar disorder experience hypomania, which is a mild form of mania. During a manic episode, you may feel good, do things efficiently as well as be super competent. You may not feel that anything is wrong, but family and friends may recognize this mood swing as a disease state. Without proper treatment, people with hypomania may progress to severe mania or depression. Other patients do not experience significant emotional highs, excitement, or cheerfulness during the episodes, but they are easily provoked by small things, have a hotter-than-usual temper, and even have violent tendencies. For example, a middle-aged female patient with bipolar disorder came to the clinic. She had been taking medication, but found that she had been losing her temper with her family lately, scolding her children for trivial matters, and was prone to verbal altercations with others when she went out to run errands. During this visit, the patient became agitated, scolded the doctor, and pulled the office mouse to prevent the doctor from seeing other patients because the time granted for sick leave did not meet the patient’s requirements. This patient’s behavior suggested that she was likely experiencing fluctuations in her condition. Another young female patient, believing that her disease was “stabilizing,” asked for a reduction in her medication. The doctor evaluated the patient and found that she was speaking rapidly, with a high pitch, still irritable, irritable with her mother, and difficult to relate to, so he recommended that she stay on her current dose and not reduce it. The patient was suddenly furious, thinking that today’s visit “achieved nothing” (in fact, he did not get permission to reduce the medication). The above two cases show that when the surrounding environment fails to meet the patient’s demands or does not match his or her wishes, the unstable patient is prone to display irritability and even impulsive behavior. In addition, patients with bipolar disorder may also exhibit alcohol and drug abuse, interpersonal relationship problems, and poor performance at school or work, but it is often difficult for people to associate these problems with serious mental illness. This is why, in clinical practice, bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed as depression, to the point where some patients go an average of 8-10 years before receiving a correct diagnosis, and delays in diagnosis lead to worsening of the condition. But the good news is: bipolar disorder is treatable, and people can live colorful lives with it. Therefore, when we find ourselves or our family members suffering from the above mentioned obvious and persistent mood swings, we should consult a psychiatrist in a timely manner to have the condition evaluated and, if necessary, receive treatment. If patients who have been clearly diagnosed with “bipolar disorder” find themselves experiencing the above mood changes, they need to be vigilant about whether their condition is fluctuating, and should consult a psychiatrist to see if they need to adjust their treatment. It is important to consult a psychiatrist to ensure that the disease is diagnosed and treated in a timely and appropriate manner.