- aka "manic depression."

Someone suffering from bipolar disorder has periods of mania or hypomania alternating with periods of depression.

Mania is persistently elevated, expansive or irritable mood. To be diagnosed with bipolar disorder, this mood either must last one week or the person must be hospitalized with over three of the following symptoms:

• inflated self-esteem or grandiosity
• decreased need for sleep
• more talkative or pressure to keep talking
• flight of ideas or racing thoughts
• distractibility
• increased goal-directed activity or agitation
• pleasurable activities leading to painful consequences.

A: Hypomania can be thought of as a "little mania" (hypo- means "beneath or below"). Hypomania can be a period of extreme productivity for artists, entrepreneurs, and workers. The elevated and expansive mood coupled with a decreased need for sleep and increase in goal-oriented activities can lead to terrific output. Hypomanic people can make great sales-people. Unfortunately, hypomania often develops into full-blown mania if untreated.