Bipolar Disorder: The Roller Coaster From Hell Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that is often misdiagnosed, untreated, and poorly understood by the patient, their family, and friends. Its treatment varies depending on the different types of disorders. 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 has an element of major depression mixed with an episode of hypomania (Fink 27). Often called “mild bipolar,” 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 NOS. 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 Elsewhere 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... middle of article...... Bipolar Support Alliance conducted a research study that indicated more than 2.5 Millions of people suffer from bipolar, also known as manic depression (Fawcett 3). The many faces of this disease are treated and stabilized through various types of medications and therapies. Additionally, the patient's family will most likely benefit from seeking therapy with the goal of helping the patient stabilize and live with this illness. Everyone involved in the patient's life is valuable in this process. Recovery strategies include medication, visits to psychiatrists and other medical providers if necessary, psychotherapy, and family support. These strategies can help people live emotionally with this illness. Regardless of the type, bipolar is an illness and should be considered and treated as such. People are more than their illness and should be treated accordingly.