Bipolar disorder, also known as “manic depression,” is a brain disorder that causes abnormal changes in a person’s state of mind, energy, activity level, and ability to perform daily tasks. Unlike the mood swings we all experience, people with bipolar disorder experience unusually intense mood states during different “mood episodes”: states of excessive happiness and excitement are called “manic episodes,” and states of extreme depression and hopelessness are called “depressive episodes. are called “depressive episodes”. Episodes with a combination of manic and depressive symptoms are called “mixed states. As the state of mind changes, the patient may experience extreme changes in energy, activity, sleep, and behavior. Patients with manic episodes may experience increased thought association, 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 sleep and eating, suicidal thoughts or attempts, etc. However, bipolar disorder may also manifest as less extreme mood swings. For example, some people with bipolar disorder will experience hypomania, which is a mild form of mania. During a mild manic episode, you may feel good, do things efficiently as well as be hyper-competent. You may not feel that anything is wrong, but family and friends may recognize the mood swings as a disease state. Without proper treatment, patients with hypomania may progress to severe mania or depression. Other patients do not experience significant mood elevation, excitement, or pleasantness during the episode, but are easily provoked by small things, have a more violent temper than usual, or 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 recently been losing her temper with her family, scolding her children over trivial matters, and getting into verbal altercations with people when she was out on business. During this visit, the patient became agitated, cursed the doctor and pulled the mouse in the office 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 believed her disease was in a “stable phase” and requested a reduction in medication. The physician evaluated the patient and found that she was fast-talking, high-pitched, still irritable, irritable with her mother, and had difficulty establishing relationships with people, so he recommended that the current dose be maintained and not reduced. The patient was furious and thought that he had gotten “nothing” from today’s visit (in fact, he did not get permission to reduce the dosage). The above two cases show that patients with unstable conditions are prone to irritability and even impulsive behavior when their surroundings do not meet the patient’s requirements or do not match their wishes. In addition, patients with bipolar disorder may also present with alcohol and drug abuse, relationship problems, and poor performance at school or work, but it is often difficult to associate these problems with serious mental illness. This is why in clinical practice, bipolar disorder is often misdiagnosed as depression, so much so that it takes an average of 8-10 years for some patients to be properly diagnosed, delaying the diagnosis and causing the condition to worsen. But the good news is: bipolar disorder is treatable, and people with the disorder can lead colorful lives. Therefore, when you notice any of these significant and persistent mood swings in yourself or a family member, you should see a psychiatrist for a timely consultation, evaluation and treatment if necessary. If a patient with a clear diagnosis of bipolar disorder finds himself or herself experiencing these mood changes, he or she should be alerted to the possibility of fluctuations and should consult a psychiatrist to see if treatment needs to be adjusted. This is to ensure that the disease is treated promptly and correctly.