Calvin is completing his internship at Quest Clinical as he pursues his degree in Counseling.

Jane Pauley,  former co-anchor of “Today” and “Dateline NBC” recently revealed that she was treated for bipolar disorder in her new memoir “Skywriting: A Life Out of the Blue”. Pauley, age 53 stated “If you didn’t know me well, you might not have noticed anything strange; I was strange only for me. My tides were fluctuating back and forth sometimes so fast they seemed to be spinning.”

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder, which in the past was commonly referred to as manic depression, and can affect children, adolescents and adults. It is a disorder characterized by mood swings between states of extreme elation (mania) and severe depression. Bipolar disorder is relatively uncommon, with an estimated prevalence rate between .5% to 1.5% of the population.

Manic episodes typically begin abruptly, gathering force within days. Manic episodes typically last between a few weeks to several months, and are generally shorter in duration and end more abruptly than the depressive episodes. During this time, the person experiences sudden elevation and expansion of mood, feels unusually cheerful, optimistic and social and seems to have boundless energy. People in this phase often sleep very little, and generally experience an inflated sense of self esteem that may range from extreme self confidence and risk taking to full-scale delusions of grandeur.

The other side of the coin is the accompanying major depressive episode, which typically lasts longer than the manic episode. Characteristics are depressed mood during most of the day, greatly reduced sense of pleasure or interest in almost all activities, significant gain or loss of weight in a short period of time, and insomnia or hypersomnia (oversleeping). Other characteristics include nearly every day feelings of fatigue and loss and energy, reduced ability to concentrate, think clearly and make decisions and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

The usual pattern of bipolar disorder is one of increasing intensity and duration of symptoms that progresses slowly over many years. However, symptoms and severity may vary significantly between individuals. Bipolar disorder can be severe and long-term, or it can be mild with infrequent episodes. People can also experience periods of mixed symptoms.

Many people might suspect that they, like everyone else, have ups and downs. This is normal, and the difference in bipolar and other mood disorders is the severity and duration of the symptoms.

Some famous people who have had this disorder include artists Michelangelo and Van Gogh, composers Shuman and Tchaikovsky, novelists Virginia Woolf and Ernest Hemingway and poets Emily Dickenson , Walt Whitman, and Sylvia Plath.

 It is estimated that only 1 out of 3 with the disorder seek treatment. It is important to seek consultation and treatment if you suspect that you may be suffering these symptoms. Treatment options are advancing steadily and many of the symptoms can be controlled.