Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that affects mood. With bipolar disorder, people experience episodes of depression and episodes of mania. An episode of depression in bipolar disorder is the same as other types of depression.

Mania is an unusually high mood for the person. People may feel like their thoughts are racing and may feel hyperactive. They may feel unrealistically confident, happy, or very powerful. Many people don’t sleep much when they experience mania. They may act without thinking and do risky things they wouldn’t normally do. Counselling such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can be helpful for mood disorders, and can help you learn how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours work together.