Bipolar mood disorder is characterized by significant fluctuations in a person's mood, oscillating between extreme highs and deep lows, akin to a relentless emotional roller coaster. Individuals might experience phases where they are overwhelmingly happy, bursting with energy (a state referred to as a manic episode) followed by periods of intense sadness or hopelessness (recognized as depressive episodes). There are also instances where they undergo episodes with mixed features, bipolar disorder symptoms of both mania and depression simultaneously, feeling incredibly down yet extremely energized. It is essential to note that bipolar mood disorder has a prevalence rate of around 4-5% in the population, highlighting its common occurrence in the mental health spectrum.