Well, in its most simplistic terms, we are talking about a repetitive cycle of brain chemistry, emotions, behavior and consciousness. These cycles can change in as little as an hour or so, or can go on for months. Manic depression is not a character weakness. There is no room for shame . . . or blame. That is a term that I sometimes find disturbing.
Depression is something that goes with the territory.
What goes up, must come down. Not many things can be more discouraging the having to consciously struggle with fighting off elongated periods of depression. For some, it is easy to to slip into repetitive negative thoughts and quickly find ourselvse depressed. This sort of depression is also quickly reversed by catching ourselves mentally, and changing directions. An important fact is that many bipolar people are highly creative, intellectual and extremely sensitive people.