Bipolar disorder, also commonly known as manic depression, is an illness that affects many people all around the world. The defining characteristics of this disorder are extreme highs and lows with possible periods of normalcy in between. While everyone can experience mood swings at some point, those with manic depression do so in a way that can negatively affect their lives and make normal functioning difficult or even impossible. The first step towards effectively dealing with manic depression is to learn as much as possible about this condition.