Depression is characterized by on-going sadness; loss of interest in things you normally enjoy; difficulty sleeping or oversleeping; changes in body weight; physical slowing or agitation; loss of energy; feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt; difficulty thinking or concentrating; and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide.

(March 30, http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolarrestfact.cfm)

Hypomania is not as intense or overwhelming a feeling as mania, but it shares many of the same characteristics with actual mania. It can be summarized by the following quote: "At first when I'm high, it's tremendous...ideas are fast...like shooting stars you follow until brighter ones appear....all shyness disappears, the rig

ht words and gestures are suddenly there...uninteresting people, things, become intensely interesting. Sensuality is pervasive; the desire to seduce and be seduced is irresistible. Your marrow is infused with unbelievable feelings of ease, power, well-being, omnipotence, euphoria....you can do anything...but, somewhere this changes." (March 15, 2002,

An increasingly asked question concerning bi-polar disorder is whether there is a link between the illness and creativity. Many creative people, both historically and currently, are known to have bi-polar disorder. Vincent Van Gogh, who produced all of his artistic works in a 10 year period, was hospitalized numerous times for the illness and eventually shot himself to death at the age of 37. During one of his manic episodes, Van Gogh cut off his ear. Many people remember this as a part of who he was but probably did not know the cause of his mania. There are many others, such as Edgar Allan Poe - who attempted suicide in his lifetime; Georgia O'Keefe - who was hospitalized for her illness; Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain - both who died of suicide. The list is long and growing. Today, there are numerous celebrities, artists and musicians who are doing interviews, writing articles and writing books to talk about their experiences with the illness.

These studies have shown a strong correlation to the theory that there is a link between bi-polar illness and creativity. Historically, the behaviors and words of many great artisans, musicians and writers help to add to the evidence of a link between the two. There are also more persons in the creative fields who are willing to openly discuss their struggles and experiences with the disorder.

Patty Duke, a well-known actress, co-wrote a book with Gloria Hochman in July of 1992 entitled "A Brilliant Madness - Living with Manic-Depressive Illness". In this book, Patty relates her story of her symptoms, diagnosis and day-to-day living with the disorder. Patty says, in her book, "I have known from a very young age that there was something very wrong with me, but I thought it was just that I was not a good person, that I didn't try hard enough. As with many people, the overt symptoms of manic-depressive illness didn't show themselves until my late teens. And that was with a manic episode. From that time on, until I was diagnosed at the age of thirty-five, I rode a wild roller coaster, from agitated, out-of-control highs to disabling, often suicidal lows" (Duke, 1)

"Mixed" state is where symptoms of mania and depression are present at the same time. The symptom picture frequently includes agitation, trouble sleeping, significant change in appetite, psychosis, and suicidal thinking. Depressed mood accompanies manic activation.

In 1983, Kay Redfield Jamison also did a study to examine the link. Ms. Jamison, then at the University of California at Los Angeles, surv

Some common words found in the essay are:
, Bi-polar II, University Kentucky, Traina Nick, Los Angeles, Van Gogh, University Iowa, Manic-Depressive Illness, Hopkins University, Redfield Jamison, bi-polar disorder, mood disorders, mania depression, van gogh, march 30, writers experienced, treatment mood disorders, treatment mood, 15 2002, march 15, march 30 2002, artists writers, kay redfield jamison, march 15 2002, 15 2002 http//wwwmolbioprincetonedu/courses/mb427/2000/projects/0002/index3html,
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