Question sent in from a reader:

I’m writing a book. Anyone have any experience with living with a parent/loved one with bipolar disorder? I’m particularly interested in the mania stage of the disease. The mother in my book has it and rarely, if ever (I’m in planning stages) goes through the depressive stage. Mainly just mania. Any comments/anything I need to know?

I may describe the depressive side, but it isn’t actually required to have the disorder. I do know a little bit of what’s required for diagnosis, but I don’t know what it’s like to be around someone who has the disorder.