Having bipolar disorder means living with challenges most other people don’t face, like needing to regularly manage bipolar triggers to make sure you don’t have dramatic mood changes. Bipolar triggers are individual, and the way you react to those triggers can depend on the form of bipolar disorder you have. Some people may be prone to manic episodes, where they feel excited, irritable, or energized, while others experience more depressive episodes, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) explains. It’s also possible to have milder manic periods, known as hypomanic episodes, or to have mixed episodes that involve both manic and depressive symptoms.