I'm Not Crazy, I'm Just Bipolar

Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy Bipolar Disorder according to the Merck Manual: http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/psychiatric_disorders/mood_disorders/bipolar_disorders.html Definition: "Bipolar Disorder are characterized by episodes of mania and depression, which may alternate, although many patients have a predominance of one or the other." Definition of Depression: "characterized by sadness severe enough or persistent enough to interfere with function and often by decreased interest or pleasure in activities...feelings of pessimism and guilt. Sleeping and eating often increase. Delusions of guilt accompanied by self-loathing" Definition of Mania: "≥ 1 week of a persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood plus ≥ 3 additional symptoms: Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity...Decreased need for sleep...Greater talkativeness than usual...Persistent elevation of mood...Flight of ideas or racing of thoughts...Distractibility...Increased goal-directed activity." Statistics  Nati