Bipolar disorder, which used to be called manic-depressive disorder, is a mood disorder involving emotional highs and lows. The emotional highs are called manic episodes or hypomania (hypomania means below mania or almost mania). During a manic episode someone may act and feel much the way some- one would after consuming a stimulant like cocaine or methamphetamine, except that they have not taken any drugs. People experiencing this are in exceptionally and unrealistically good moods that are extreme enough to impair judgment and cause risky and aberrant behavior. They typically feel little or no need for sleep, and may stay awake for days without feeling sleepy. They are overly enthused about minor things, express grandiose thoughts, often have rapid or pressured speech, have a diminished sense of risk, and are more likely to go on spending sprees and drug or alcohol binges, and to be sexually impulsive. Manic episodes can be dangerous, both to the person experiencing them and to those around him or her.
