| Antidepressants |
| Medicines used to treat depression and other illnesses. |
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| Bipolar I disorder |
| A type of bipolar disorder where a person has one or more episodes of mania or mixed mood episodes. The person also may have one or more episodes of major depression. |
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| Bipolar II disorder |
| A type of bipolar disorder where a person has one or more episodes of major depression and hypomania. |
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| Cognitive-behavioral therapy |
| A type of talk therapy that helps people identify and change ways of thinking that are not helpful to them. |
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| Cyclothymic disorder |
| A mood disturbance where there are repeated periods of mild depression and normal or slightly elevated moods. |
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| Depression (or depressive episode or major depressive episode) |
| A period of at least 2 weeks in which a person feels very sad, lacks energy, is not interested in usual activities, and may feel like things are hopeless. Often the person isn't able to function normally. |
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| Hypomania (or hypomanic episode) |
| A condition similar to mania, but not as severe. A person has a high mood and may behave strangely. But the person is able to function normally. |
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| Maintenance therapy |
| Treatment to prevent or delay the symptoms of a medical condition. Medicines can be a kind of maintenance therapy. People with bipolar disorder usually need to keep taking medicines even after they feel better. |
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| Manic depression |
| An older name for bipolar disorder. |
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| Mania (or manic episode) |
| A period of time where a person is very happy, irritable, or reckless. The person isn't able to function normally. In severe cases, the person may see or hear things that are not really there. |
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| Mixed episode |
| When symptoms of mania and depression happen every day for at least a week. |
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| Mood chart |
| A chart for recording your emotions and important events in your life. |
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| Mood disorder |
| A mental disorder connected with a disturbed mood, such as bipolar disorder. |
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| Mood stabilizers |
| Medicines that can help balance a person's mood. |
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| Neurotransmitter |
| A chemical that sends messages from one brain cell to another. |
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| Psychiatrist |
| A medical doctor who specializes in treating mental and emotional disorders. Psychiatrists can prescribe medicines and provide talk therapy. |
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| Psychiatry |
| A branch of medicine that deals with mental, emotional, or behavioral problems. |
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| Psychologist |
| A healthcare professional who treats mental or emotional disorders. |
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| Psychology |
| The scientific study of mind and behavior. |
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| Psychotherapy |
| A way of treating a mental or emotional disorder by regularly talking with a doctor or therapist. Also known as "talk therapy" or counseling. |
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| Rapid cycling |
| Having at least four episodes of manic, mixed, hypomanic, or depressive episodes in a year. |
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| Triggers |
| Events, either good or bad, that might cause a mood swing. Also called stressors. |
