Formerly called Manic Depressive Illness is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression).These shifts can make it difficult to carry out day-to-day tasks. There are three types of bipolar disorder. All three types involve clear changes in mood, energy, and activity levels. These moods range from periods of extremely “up,” elated, irritable, or energized behavior (known as manic episodes) to very “down,” sad, indifferent, or hopeless periods (known as depressive episodes). Less severe manic periods are known as hypomanic episodes.