It is often not recognized as an illness, and people who have it may suffer needlessly for years or even decades. Effective treatments are available that greatly alleviate the suffering caused by bipolar disorder and can usually prevent its devastating complications. Bipolar disorder involves cycles of mania and depression. Major depression, on the other hand, involves only the feelings of depression, with none of the manic symptoms. That is the primary difference between these two disorders.
Infectious humor ceases to amuse.
Bipolar disorder often goes unrecognized in its earliest stages because the mania may take a milder form, which doctors call hypomania . Thus, even when family and friends learn to recognize the mood swings, the individual often will deny that anything is wrong. In its early stages, bipolar disorder may masquerade as a problem other than mental illness. For example, it may first appear as alcohol or drug abuse, or poor school or work performance. If left untreated, bipolar disorder tends to worsen, and the person experiences episodes of full-fledged mania and clinical depression.