Bipolar Disorder: The Roller Coaster Ride From Hell Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that is often misdiagnosed, untreated, and misunderstood by the patient, family, and from friends. Its treatment varies between different types of disorder. Forms of bipolar are characterized by the patient's symptoms and the symptoms are treated according to the patient's needs. However, many symptoms are often misdiagnosed and untreated. This mistreatment or lack of treatment can lead to devastating results. However, proper treatment and support allows the patient to lead a fuller and more productive life. There are four main forms of bipolar disorder. The first form is bipolar I disorder. Bipolar I is characterized by its episodes of mania (Fink 26). The second form is bipolar II disorder. Bipolar II disorder has some elements of major depression mixed with an episode of hypomania (Fink 27). Often referred to as “bipolar law,” the third form is called cyclothymic disorder (Fink 27). It is called Bipolar Lite because its symptoms are not as severe as other forms of Bipolar. The final form of bipolar disorder is bipolar NAS. Patients diagnosed with this form of bipolar disorder exhibit symptoms that do not fit into any other category of bipolar disorder, hence the name bipolar NOS, meaning bipolar not otherwise specified (Fink 28). The characteristics of bipolar disorder are major depression, mania, hypomania. and mixed mania (Fink 29). Burgess explains why it is called bipolar: “Bipolar refers to the two psychological states of mania and depression associated with the illness” (Burgess 1). According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, depression is defined as “a state of sadness or a psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder… half of the article… The Bipolar Support Alliance conducted a research study that indicated more than 2.5 million of people suffer from bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression (Fawcett 3). The many faces of this disease are treated and stabilized with various types of drugs and therapies. Additionally, the patient's family will most likely benefit from seeking therapy in an effort to help the patient stabilize and live with this disease. Everyone involved in the patient's life is invaluable in this process. Recovery strategies include medications, visits with psychiatrists and other health care providers as needed, psychotherapy, and family support. These strategies can help people live emotionally with this disease. No matter the type, bipolar is an illness and should be viewed and treated as such. People are more than their illness and should be treated accordingly.