And the list goes on and on. For a more extensive list of famous people with bipolar disease see here.

It is believed that creative people are likely to suffer from bipolar disorder. Studies show that during a manic episode those with the disease can be very creative, productive, highly energetic, hyperactive (need little or no sleep) and open to try anything. Many believe that there is a link between bipolar disorder and creativity. This is why there are more creative people in the list of personalities diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the latest of which is Catherine Zeta Jones, wife of famous Hollywood actor Michael Douglas.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar disorder symptoms manifest in an unpredictable cycle of episodes of mania and depression. At the beginning of a manic period they are “up.”, i.e.,  they are happy, energetic, productive and creative. They need less sleep and don’t feel tired at all.

The manic episodes are somewhat individualized in severity and they are often interspersed with episodes of depression. For some people, the manic-depressive periods can occur at the same time. For others, they can vary in frequency of manifestation. In one type of bipolar disorder known as rapid-cycling bipolar disorder, the person suffering from it has at least four periods of depressed and manic symptoms, or four mixed episodes within one year.

Combining Bipolar Disorder and Creativity

Those with bipolar disorder may feel prettier, funnier and smarter than they did before a manic episode. They can easily function even with only a few hours sleep. They tend to talk more, shop more, be sexually active and not worry about any what happens after that. Unfortunately, after each manic attack or episode their actions during the episode or attack could result to negative behavioral manifestation such as severe irritability and lack of patience. Sometimes, some actions result to legal problems, the break up of relationships and worst of all turning to  substance use.

The effects of the disease is far from glamorous. For popular movie personalities who are bipolar, we have seen public breakdown and embarrassing moments which they could not control and later on lead to the end of one’s career, marriage and life. We know of cases involving famous celebrities addicted to drugs and alcohol. Unable to function, bipolar people usually requires long period of confinement to hospitals or rehabilitation facilities for a long-term treatment program.

While some people, celebrities and famous people included, learn to control their bipolar disorder and function somewhat normally, there are some who just get through the rough cycle of productive and non-productive periods in their lives. When there are no episodes, they live a normal life. And when the symptoms manifest, it’s just brutally difficult.

Scientists have long wondered if the episodes in between manic and depressive states has something to do with the person’s creativity. Research in the fields of medicine and psychology has focused on finding this link. There has been some success in showing that even for non-celebrities, a disproportionate number of those with bipolar illness are likely doing work which requires artistic and creative abilities.

For some people with milder forms of bipolar disorder, it is believed that the mental disorder somehow triggers some nerves on that part of the brain for creativity and artistry. Hence, we see bipolar people  who are considered exceptionally creative and overly-artistic.

Causes of Bipolar Disorder

It hasn’t been determined yet what causes bipolar disorder. It is believed that it can run in families and thus has a genetic component. One group of researchers discovered that bipolar people sometimes have unusual brain anatomy which could have increased their propensity for being compulsive and unstable. Some believe there are nutritional or chemical ties to the disease.

Some question if there are external factors that contribute to having the disease. There is ongoing research to uncover if social conditions or circumstances and stress can trigger the disease as a whole or set off manic-depressive episodes.

Summary

While researchers and medical practitioners are searching for a cure for bipolar disorder, there is a growing concern on the possibility of the potential loss of truly creative minds once it is proven that genetics has no link whatsoever to the disease. If we learn to manipulate the genes that cause bipolar disorder, would we have made that choice and perhaps lose the gifted musical performances of Jimi Hendrix and Sting, the stunning sports abilities of Daryl Strawberry or the creative genius of Edger Allan Poe and Virginia Wolf? Some of these people never learned to deal with their disorder and while they were creative geniuses, they were often miserable and lonely and some even thrived under the aegis of the disease.

Typically, bipolar disorder appears in the teen and early adult years and will last throughout a woman’s childbearing years and throughout her life. Pregnancy and the potential after effects of bipolar medications can be of great concern to women. There are statistics that indicate that pregnant women and new mothers are seven times more likely to need hospitalization and two times more likely to have a recurrent episode, than those with bipolar disease who weren’t pregnant or haven’t delivered a child.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness or NAMI, has a list of places to go to for support if you have a mental illness such as bipolar disorder. Click here to see.

Preparing For Pregnancy

It is important for anyone planning a pregnancy to examine their lifestyle choices and make sure they are healthy long before conception. This is even more important for those who have bipolar disorder. In order to minimize the woman’s symptoms and risks to any children there should be careful planning which starts long before conception, continues through the pregnancy, breastfeeding, and through the postpartum period.

Any woman who has bipolar disorder should discuss birth control with their doctor and their psychiatrist. Because unplanned pregnancies happen despite tested preventive methods, women who have bipolar disorder should also talk about managing their illness if a pregnancy should occur, whether or not they plan to get pregnant in the near future.

Hormonal changes have been identified as a possible trigger for bipolar episodes and these hormonal shifts are common for women before, during, and after pregnancy.

The American Journal of Psychiatry published a study on the risks taken by those women who stopped taking their bipolar medications at the time of pregnancy. The results of this study showed:

• Those who stopped taking their medication from six months before conception to twelve weeks after conception had more than double the chance of suffering at least one recurring bipolar episode than those who continued to take their medication. (85.5% versus 37%)
• The above women had bipolar symptoms throughout 40% of their pregnancy versus less than 9% of the time for the women who did not forego taking their medications through the entire pregnancy.
• When the women stopped taking the medications abruptly, they were significantly more susceptible to relapse.

All knowledge about bipolar disorder is evolving. There are many unknowns when it comes to what triggers a relapse, what happens when a woman who has untreated bipolar disease gets pregnant and the risks and benefits of specific bipolar disorder medication.

Common Bipolar Medications

Individual treatment for bipolar disorder can vary a little between doctors and what works with your symptoms. But there are some common bipolar medications that have been studied as to the risks associated to the fetus. It is important to note that studies have shown there is less harm done to a fetus that is exposed to only one mood-stabilizing drug than if it is exposed to several medications. Here is a sample of what researchers have found on just two of the bipolar medications.

Lithium is one of the main treatment options for bipolar disorder. It is believed to have minimal risks to the fetus. Women who are being treated with lithium will typically continue this medication throughout their pregnancy. Those women who are being treated with bipolar medication that has a higher risk factor will often switch to lithium if they are contemplating pregnancy or find out that they are pregnant.

While lithium has lower risks than many other choices there are things that the mother needs to do to keep problems at a minimum. For instance she should drink lots of water, staying hydrated to prevent toxicity of this drug in both the fetus and the mother. The doctor will monitor lithium levels at certain points through the pregnancy, during delivery, and right after the baby is born. Monitoring the levels can help prevent the mother from relapsing and will keep the baby from having a toxic level of the drug.

Lithium has been proven to reduce the relapse rate of bipolar disorder in pregnant women from 50% to less than 10% if the drug is continued or started right after giving birth to the child. Lithium is passed through the breast milk so breast-fed babies will need to have their blood tested for lithium levels.

Depakote has been proven to be harmful to an unborn child. If the woman is planning to get pregnant, her doctor will typically change her medication to another mood-stabilizer before she conceives. If an unplanned pregnancy occurs, the woman and her doctors will have to examine the individual benefits of continuing the medication against the risks to the child. There are things that can be done to minimize some of the risks to the fetus. For instance, the mother can take vitamin K in order to prevent or minimize problems to the head and face of the child. The woman can also take a divided dose to reduce risks to the fetus. Once the child is born this drug has been found to be safe for breast-feeding mothers and the child.

If you are taking medication to treat bipolar disorder, it is very important that you talk to your doctor about the possible scenarios if you get pregnant while taking the medication. If you plan to get pregnant, discuss this with your doctor so he can help you plan for this event with the necessary precautions to keep you and the child healthy and risk-free. You should never discontinue your bipolar medications without consulting with your OB-gynecologist and your psychiatrist.

To be diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder a person must have at least one hypomanic episode at some point in his/her life. Many who have this disease will also have periods of depression. Often people with bipolar 2 will lead normal lives in between the cycles of depression and hypomania.

Symptoms of Bipolar 2 Disorder

A hypomanic episode is an elevated mood that may manifest as irritability or euphoria which is a feeling of exaggerated elation.

Hypomanic episodes can be seen if someone quickly switches from one mood to the next, if they talk loud and fast or have period of hyperactivity, seem to need less sleep and yet have increased energy. Those with bipolar 2 disorder can be lots of fun during a hypomanic episode. They are typically up for any type of activity – want to party, tell jokes and may be very interested in other people. Their seriously positive mood may seem harmless.

But the bad part of this disease is that a hypomanic episode may lead to unhealthy behaviors like spending money they don’t have, doing impulsive and risky things and even to having sexual relations with people they normally wouldn’t be with.

The opposite cycle of bipolar disorder is depression. Those with bipolar 2 can have considerable depressive periods. These episodes of depression can occur right after the hypomania or a long time after an up period. The symptoms of depression with bipolar 2 disorder mimic clinical depression. They include fatigue, not having any energy, feeling worthless or guilty, not taking pleasure in anything, having a depressed mood that can include thoughts of suicide. These depressive episodes can last for weeks, months, and even years.

Those suffering from bipolar 2 can go through consistent cycles or have a long normal time between the episodes. If those with bipolar 2 disorder don’t get treated, then the episodes can last from days to years. Typically symptoms will last from several weeks to several months.

Bipolar 2 Disorder Versus Bipolar 1 Disorder

Those suffering from bipolar 1 disorder have true manic-depressive episodes that swing from an abnormally elevated mood with severely erratic behavior, to sever bouts of depression. These manic symptoms typically cause a serious disruption in the bipolar person’s life that causes major personal, legal, and other problems.

Bipolar 2 disorder is a milder form of Bipolar 1 disorder. The highs aren’t quite as high, and the lows don’t reach the depths of depression found in bipolar 1. This milder form can still cause problems but typically they aren’t as severe as is found with bipolar 1.

Those at Risk for Bipolar 2 Disorder

About two and a half percent of the population of the United States has some type of bipolar disorder. That is close to six million people. Commonly the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder will show up when someone is in their teens or early twenties and has developed if it is going to before you reach fifty years of age. If you have a blood family member with any version of bipolar disease you have a higher risk of getting the disease.

A visual guide to help you understand bipolar disorder can be found here.

Prevention of Bipolar 2 Disorder

Doctors and scientists don’t really understand all the things that can cause bipolar 2 disorder. There is no known preventative for the entirety of the disease; however, some hypomania and depression episodes can be prevented. This is possible once the disease has been diagnosed and the individual’s episodes have been studied.

Treatment and prevention options include consistent sessions with a social worker or psychologist for therapy. This might help the bipolar sufferer learn how to stabilize their mood and feel better overall. Other treatment methods can include prescription drugs, hospitalization, and some natural treatments that include a sugar-free diet and a regimen of supplements.

Summary

Bipolar 2 disorder is a milder form of bipolar 1. The sufferer of Bipolar 2 will typically cycle between episodes of hypomania and depression. These episodes can last days, weeks, or months, and are typically shortened with treatment. Bipolar 2 disorder can cause personal, legal, financial, and other problems. Bipolar 2 symptoms often start in the teen years and can strike anyone. It is believed that there is a genetic connection so if there is anyone in your family that has a bipolar disorder you are at increased risk for it.

During depressive episodes you may not want to get out of bed. You may also feel hopeless if you are out of job or into deep financial crisis. During extreme cycles of depression, sufferers may even contemplate committing suicide.

The episodes of either depression, mania or both can sometimes last for days, weeks or even months. The symptoms are more than just a temporary good or bad mood. The intense changes in mood can make it difficult for you to function.

For a list of frequently asked questions about bipolar disorder and the answers, see here.

Bipolar Disorder Causes

Scientists have determined that there are many factors attributed as causes of bipolar disorder. They know that there is a genetic component to some cases of bipolar disorder. It can run in the family, meaning if you have someone in your family who has bipolar disorder or other mental illness like depression, then you have a greater risk for developing bipolar disorder.

Typically, the first episode of mania or depression will occur from the teen years to early adulthood. It can occur earlier or later but generally if you are past your fiftieth year of age you are not likely to develop this illness. The symptoms can range from slight to severe; often when they are minimal the sufferer and family members will be confused by the changes. If the disorder is diagnosed correctly, then treatment and support can help patients recover and lead a full and happy life.

Scientists have also determined that bipolar disorder can be caused by problems with certain neurotransmitters or chemical messengers which work in a particular area of the brain. Norepinephrine and serotonin have been identified as possibilities and scientists believe there are several more. This chemical problem may stay dormant in the body and then be activated by some physical or psychological stress or may activate on its own. Doctors are sometimes able to figure out the specific stressor they believe may have activated this dormant condition in an individual, and sometimes they don’t know what causes the activation.

It is possible that when there aren’t any genetic indicators of bipolar disorder, hormonal issues or lifestyle choices which include drug or alcohol abuse are factors that might trigger bipolar episodes. Many doctors don’t believe that substance abuse on its own can cause bipolar disorder. However, they do believe it can trigger the dormant condition and make the disease harder to treat.

Understanding Bipolar Triggers

If you or someone you love has bipolar disorder there are choices that you can make or help them make that can have a great impact on your moods and the illness. One of the things scientists are trying to understand is the things that can trigger not only bipolar disorder but episodes within the disorder.

External environmental and psychological triggers are external factors that can activate manic or depressive episodes or make a current episode worse. Doctors can’t always point to an obvious trigger for a bipolar disorder episode but they do know some of them. Here is an example of triggers that you can avoid:

• Stress – drastic or sudden changes, they can be good or bad changes.
• Substance Abuse – Cocaine, ecstasy, or amphetamines have been found to trigger a manic episode. Alcohol or tranquilizers have been found to activate depression. The substances may not cause bipolar disease, but they can make the symptoms worse.
• Medication – Some prescription medications, specifically antidepressant drugs, can trigger mania. Scientists also warn against over-the-counter cold medicine, caffeine, appetite suppressants, corticosteroids, and thyroid medication, as it may trigger manic-like symptoms.
• Change in Seasons – Manic episodes are more common in the summer, while depressive episodes occur most often in the fall, winter, and spring.
• Sleep Deprivation – Skipping just a few hours of sleep can trigger a manic episode.

Self-Help Options for Bipolar Disorder

There are many ways that you can help yourself control, if not bipolar disorder in its entirety, at least the triggers that can cause episodes. Learn to control these triggers by doing the following:

• Education about bipolar disorder – the more you know, the better off you will be in controlling the disease. Scientists have found that some of those with bipolar disorder manifest physical changes in the brain on imaging studies. They have determined that triggers may also include neurotransmitter imbalances, a problem with the thyroid, a disturbance in circadian rhythm and for other reasons.
• Learn to control stress – if you can learn to relax and control stress it will help keep your life in balance. Try exercise, yoga, and meditation techniques like deep breathing. High levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, have been found in those with bipolar disease and may relate to causing or triggering bipolar episodes.
• Find support – let your family know what is going on and ask for encouragement and understanding. You might also look for a support group whether it is in person or online. Make sure you are also talking to a professional psychologist or psychiatrist, as well.
• Lifestyle choices – choose to eat right, exercise, get enough sleep, and keep a regular sleep schedule. Avoid drugs and alcohol. The better you feel physically, the more control you will have mentally.
• Track your moods – keep a diary of what you do, along with notations on how you are feeling mentally. Learn to identify signs that you are becoming depressed or manic. Keep track of your symptoms and watch for signs that your moods are swinging out of control so you can work on controlling the episode before it starts.

Bipolar disorder is also called manic-depressive disorder. With episodes of elevated or depressed mood, this mental illness is characterized by shifting mood swings that can occur as often as several times a day or as rarely as a few times a year. There is a rarer form of the disorder in which the sufferer has depression and mania at the same time. In any case, there are specific dietary changes found to help bipolar disorder patients manage the symptoms of this disease.

Foods to Avoid

If you suffer from bipolar disorder one of the major things to avoid is caffeine. This isn’t just coffee but all the caffeinated beverages and sports drinks including tea and even chocolate. Caffeine can disrupt your sleep (a trigger for bipolar episodes) and alter your mood. Often those who are depressed will use caffeine to boost a low mood.  The problem is that it doesn’t stay elevated. Caffeine can also reduce the sedative effects of medications like benzodiazepines, which are used to treat the mania symptoms of bipolar disorder.

High fat foods should also be avoided. Eating a lo of red meats, saturated fats, trans fats and simple carbohydrates not only can cause obesity, type 2 diabetes and heart disease but it can also make the symptoms of bipolar disorder worse. High fat foods can also interfere with some bipolar medications or make them take longer to work.

If you are on lithium for bipolar disorder you need to watch your salt intake. A diet that has too much or too little salt can alter the therapeutic response to the drug.

It is really important to talk to your doctor about your medications and stay away from foods that may interact with your specific bipolar medication. This is particularly true about MAO inhibitors – this specific class of antidepressant drugs includes Nardil and Parnate. If you are taking these drugs it is important to avoid foods that contain tyramine which can increase the drugs activity and can cause severe hypertension. If you take these drugs ask your doctor for a complete list of foods to avoid.

Foods High in Tyramine include:

• Bananas
• Champagne
• Fermented cheese
• Liver
• Specific wines, including Chianti
• Soy sauce

It is similarly important to stay away from alcohol if you have bipolar disorder. A central nervous system sedative, alcohol works as a tranquilizer and can make you more depressed. Many of those with bipolar disorder try to self-medicate with alcohol which in fact makes their mood swings worse. Alcohol is one of the main triggers for depressive episodes in bipolar disorder. Many of the medications used to treat the disorder warn against alcohol use.

Grapefruit juice may also need to be on your ‘do-not-consume’ list depending on your medication. This is because the juice can increase the amount of these medicines that are found in the blood. Talk to your doctor about the risk of drinking grapefruit juice if you take the benzodiazepines that include Klonopin, Xanax, Valium, or Ativan. Grapefruit juice can cause toxicity and increase impairment.

Foods to Choose

There is some research on bipolar disorder that indicates sufferers are at greater risk for obesity. It is necessary that you learn to watch your caloric intake and have a regular exercise program in order to maintain your proportionate weight. A diet rich in nutrient-dense foods is a good choice for those with bipolar disorder. These foods include:

• Fresh fruits
• Fresh Vegetables
• Whole grains
• Lean meat
• Eggs
• Legumes
• Cold water fish
• Low-fat dairy
• Soy products
• Nuts and seeds

Another important discovery has many experts saying that fish and fish oil are an important element in the treatment of bipolar disorder. Fish oil is known to keep your heart healthy but it is also an important ingredient in maintaining brain health and behavior. Omega-3 fatty acids which are found in fish oil are noted by many experts to be an important nutrient for those who suffer from bipolar disorder, especially if they also suffer from elevated triglycerides or heart disease.

It has been suggested that a higher intake of Omega-3 fatty acids can be linked to greater volume in areas of the brain that are associated to mood and behavior. Some research studies have indicated that with an increase in Omega-3s, those suffering from bipolar disease might decrease depressive episodes.

Omega 3 oil can be found in fatty fish. The American Heart Association recommends two servings of fish a week. Good choices include:

• Albacore tuna
• Herring
• Mackerel
• Salmon
• Trout

Dietary Supplements

For some recommendations on supplements that might help along with watching what you eat, see here.

It is important to check with your doctor before adding natural supplements to your diet. Some supplements, for instance St. John’s Wort, can interact with antidepressants and other bipolar medications.

There is more than one form of bipolar disorder, and have degrees of manic and depressive episodes. The types of bipolar disorder include:

Bipolar 1 Disorder is also known as manic-depressive disorder or manic depression. The symptoms of this illness include severe mood swings that cycle through episodes of mania and depression. Those with bipolar 1 disorder will have had at least one manic episode in their life. This episode is distinguished by an abnormally happy or elevated mood that involves some behavior that disrupts life.

Besides manic episodes, many of those with bipolar 1 disorder will also have times when they are depressed. Typically those who have manic depression will swing from mania to depression in a cycle, which is where the original name for this illness comes from. When not caught up in depression or mania, there are many sufferers who can actually lead regular lives.

The manic or extremely happy or irritable episodes of bipolar disorder can manifest abnormal behavior in a number of ways including:

• Spending more money than they have
• Going rapidly from one idea to another, changing their mind often
• Talking loud and fast
• Not needing sleep, being hyperactive, and having more energy
• Having their self-image inflated
• Hyper-sexuality – which can mean that the person going through a manic episode might have sex with those they wouldn’t consider under normal circumstances
• Abusing alcohol and drugs

Manic episodes can contribute to the sufferer forming very unrealistic plans, behaving in a strange manner, and becoming delusional, loosing touch with reality. The manic episodes can last from just a few days, to a period of several years. Typically the symptoms will last an average of two to eight weeks.

Once the manic episode is over the patient will generally go through a period of depression or this part of the cycle may not show up for weeks or months. There are rare occurrences where the person with bipolar 1 disorder can cycle between mania and depression in a short period of time, even in one day.

Symptoms of the depressive periods resemble clinical depression. They include low energy, fatigue, not wanting to participate in regular activities, feeling of guilt or nor being of worth, a depressed mood, and often thoughts of suicide. The depressive phase of the cycle can from a week or so to years.

Bipolar 2 Disorder is a milder version of Bipolar 1. It is typified by milder episodes, or hypomania, cycling with depression. The happy, or up moods in bipolar 2 disorder, never quite reach total mania. The less-intense mood swings that occur in bipolar 2 disorder are called hypomanic episodes, or hypomania.

The ups and downs aren’t as intense in hypomanic episodes. Many of those with bipolar 2 disorder can be thought of as the life of the party. When they are feeling “good” they can be very interested in others and display a positive attitude. They still will often spend more money than they can afford, have sex with those they typically wouldn’t consider, and do risky and impulsive things without much thought.

Those with this illness also tend to have very tough periods of depression. These changes in mood will often happen right after a hypomanic episode, but they can occur a lot later. There are some who will have long periods of normalcy between episodes and some who will cycle back and forth between the depression and hypomania.

The typical length of symptoms for those with bipolar 2 disorder is from two to eight weeks, however if the problem goes untreated in can last up to several years.

Cyclothymic Disorder is the form of bipolar disorder with even less pronounced mood springs. Causing mild mood swings, cyclothymic disorder manifests as short periods of elevated mood and mild depression. These lows and highs don’t become mania or severe depression. Categorized as a “bipolar-like” illness, the mild symptoms include fluctuations in mood that are not quite mental illness and not quite normal.

Many of those with cyclothymia lead highly successful lives.  The mild mania or hypomania drives them to succeed, to work on their talents or the things they enjoy. The reverse of their good, successful periods is that mild chronic depression can ruin the jobs, marriages, and many other aspects of their life.

For more information about mania and hypomania see here.

Mixed Bipolar Disorder is a mental illness where the person is both manic and depressed at the same time. Someone suffering from mixed bipolar disorder has racing thoughts, lots of energy and tons of ideas, and at the same time they are angry, moody, and feel bad. Instead of swinging between moods, those with mixed bipolar disorder have both bad and good moods one right after the other in quick order, or they have both at the same time.

For those wondering if they (or someone they love) may be suffering from more than depression or an exaggerated good mood, it may be time to take a closer look at all of their symptoms to determine if a bipolar disorder diagnosis may be in order.

Depression

It is common for people to look for manic symptoms when considering bipolar disorder, but the truth is that severe depression is a more common side effect of the disease. So much so that nearly 75% of all bipolar patients were first diagnosed with depression.  This can lead to months or even years of improper treatment and prolonged suffering.  For this reason, be sure to notify your doctor immediately if you begin to notice periods of intense manic behavior following a depressive state.  This could be a sign of bipolar disorder; not just depression.

Extreme Impulsiveness

Sometimes a manic episode is confused with impulsiveness, until the patient becomes so impulsive that people begin to notice its unnormal state.  Those who exhibit severe impulsiveness like quitting their job all of a sudden with no real plans for the future; or even those who have grandiose plans for a new adventure without really thinking things through should be evaluated.  This is especially true for those who ultimately find themselves in a dark mood weeks or months after the impulsive mania begins.  Everyone has highs and lows, but when those highs and lows begin to take over your life and your ability to make wise choices, bipolar disorder should be considered.

Mood Swings

Everyone experiences a bad day here and there and everyone exhibits their frustration in different ways. But the onset of sudden (and severe) mood swings for no apparent reasons could be a danger sign; especially among those who are vulnerable to bipolar disorder.

Euphoria

Some of the most creative people in history are thought to have suffered with bipolar disorder. Take the artists or writer who suddenly becomes inspired and works for days, weeks or months in a home or room all alone, eating and sleeping little. They seem to run only on creative juices, pulling away from the world, only to be left exhausted and unable to function after their project is complete.  This type of euphoric hyperactivity followed by a depressive state is a classic sign of bipolar disorder.  But not everyone shows such an extreme.  In many people, the euphoria they experience exhibits itself in more common ways like:

• jabbering or talking way to fast for no apparent reasons
• irritability and an inability to concentrate or sit still for more than a minute or two
• racing thoughts
• distractibility
• delusions
• reckless behavior
• either an inability to concentrate or an intense concentration on just one thing for an unusual period of time. This creates an inability to concentrate on anything but the one thing keeping the person’s intense interest.
• insomnia
• an unrealistic belief about their capabilities

Bipolar Disorder is More Than Mood Swings

When one reads over the list of signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder it can make you believe that everyone suffers with this serious disease. The truth is that while diagnosis of bipolar is becoming easier, the number of people who suffer with bipolar is still generally small in comparison to the overall population.

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness that needs to be taken seriously.  While its signs and symptoms may appear to be relatively common, the severity of them is not.  While one person may seem manic due to real feelings of euphoria over a chance to try something new at home or work; the bipolar patient will appear completely over the top in the way they act and feel about the situation.  And while one person may appear to be making a rash choice to quit their job and return to school to study something brand new; the bipolar patient believes they can do the same thing in a fraction of the time with no changes to their life and still get all A’s. In short, their expectations are completely unrealistic and when confronted with the fact will lash out in a much harsher manner.

Those suffering with bipolar disorder will experience the highs and lows of life in such an intense manner that they are unable to cope with neither the good times or the and in a normal way.  When you notice these types of extreme in yourself or someone you know, it is time to seek help.

Bipolar disorder can be treated quite effectively these days, but only when this signs and symptoms are recognized and reported to a doctor.

What is known about bipolar disorder, or what was once termed manic-depressive disorder, is that there is a complete spectrum of mood states between the manic highs and depressive lows of this mental illness. The time between episodes can be days, weeks, months, or years, and swinging between highs and lows can take a long time, or be almost immediate.

What Are The Known Causes Of Bipolar Disorder?

There are many questions about what causes bipolar disorder. Doctors and scientists believe that there is a genetic link for the disease as the symptoms seem to run in families. You are at greater risk for bipolar disorder if there is a blood relative with the disease. The closer the relative, in other words if it is a mother versus an aunt, or sister versus a cousin, the more at risk you are for developing the disorder.

For a quiz that tests your understanding of mania, see here.

Scientists also believe that lifestyle choices and the environment can contribute to how severe bipolar disorder is in an individual. While these elements may not cause the disease, they can effect how severely someone is afflicted with the disorder. For instance alcohol and drug abuse can make bipolar disorder harder to treat. There is some debate on whether substance abuse can make you bipolar, or if you have genetic ties to bipolar disorder and use drugs and alcohol it will just make it worse.

Knowing that bipolar disorder has some genetic, neurochemical, and environmental risk factors doesn’t provide all the answers as to the possible causes of bipolar disorder. There is still the puzzle of how these elements interact and if there are other things that could cause this mental illness to develop or get worse. Many scientists believe that for the most part bipolar disorder occurs due to the failure of chemical messengers in a specific part of the brain.

The genetic markers for this malfunction may stay dormant unless it is triggered by stress, lifestyle choices, or somehow spontaneously activates. In understanding bipolar disorder it is important to look at what scientists and doctors do know.

Bipolar Disorder Facts and Figures

Scientists know that bipolar disorder runs in families. The figures indicate that half of the people who have the mental illness have a family member who has been diagnosed with a mood order like depression. If the tie is as close as a parent, they have a 15-25 percent chance of having bipolar disease. If a twin is diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the other twin has a 25% chance of developing the condition if they are not identical. If the twin is an identical twin this risk increases eight times.

There have been studies of adopted twins, where the biological parent had bipolar disorder and the adoptive family didn’t have the disease, which helped researchers determine that the genetics definitely play a role in developing the disease.

Scientists also believe that bipolar disorder may be caused by the dysfunction of specific neurotransmitters, or chemical messengers, in a particular area of the brain. They believe these chemicals might include norepinephrine, serotonin, and possible several more. This chemical problem or biological disorder could just rest in the body, and then be activated by some physical or psychological stress. Or it may just activate on it’s on. Sometimes doctors can pinpoint a stressor that they believe may have activated this dormant condition in an individual, and sometimes they can’t.

When there are no clear genetic indicators of this illness it is believed that hormonal issues, or lifestyle changes that include drug or alcohol abuse could trigger bipolar episodes. Many doctors don’t believe that substance abuse on its own cause bipolar disorder, but they do believe it can trigger the dormant condition and make the disease harder to treat.

Severe life stress, for instance the death of a loved one, divorce, loss of a job, or some other psychological stressor could also trigger bipolar disorder. This illness is showing up in much younger children than ever before. Many believe that this is due in part to the disorder not being correctly diagnosed in the past, and some believe that there could be an environmental or social factor that isn’t yet understood.

Another cause of bipolar disorder is called medication-triggered mania. This occurs when antidepressants are taken by someone that has a genetic disposition to bipolar disorder and the medication triggers a manic episode. It is important that doctors understand your medical history and if bipolar disorder or depression runs in your family before they prescribe treatment. If bipolar disorder runs in the family the doctor may also prescribe an antimanic drug along with the antidepressant.

There are additional medications that can produce a manic-like high. The symptoms would be a decreased need for sleep, increased energy, and increased talkativeness or socialization. The medications that can cause this symptom include:

• Appetite suppressants
• Cocaine
• Designer drugs that include Ecstasy and amphetamines
• Over medicating with certain cold preparations
• Excessive caffeine

Bipolar disorder is commonly called manic-depressive illness. It is a common mental disorder that affects between two and three percent of the United States population. The signs and symptoms range from mild to severe. They consist of mood, energy, and functioning levels that change back and forth. Moods can swing from up to down, energy levels from being energized on six hours of sleep to always fatigued, and the patients ability to function can change from having lots of great ideas and the ability to carry through, to not being able to finish anything.

At Risk for Bipolar Disorder

There is no known cause for bipolar disorder. However it is believed to have a genetic link. This means if a blood relative in your family has bipolar disorder you have a better than average chance of getting the disease depending on how close the connection is. Some speculate that bipolar disease can be triggered by a traumatic event, and there are some who believe there are nutritional and other causes of bipolar.

While you have a better chance of developing the disease in your early teens and twenties, if you haven’t developed bipolar disorder by the time you are fifty you probably never will.

Questions for Self-Diagnosis

If you think you might have any one of the forms of bipolar disorder you should speak to a health care professional about your concerns. There are self-diagnosing questionnaires on the Internet that may help you decide, and you can certainly take them and make note of the questions and your answers to discuss the results with your doctor, but don’t use these quizzes as the measuring stick for talking to your health care professional. Bipolar disorder is generally diagnosed after a psychiatrist sees you in a manic state and a depressed state. The questions about how you feel may help the psychiatrist prior to this observation.

The types of questions asked on these quizzes to help you determine if you might be bipolar include:

• If you have times when you talk faster or talk more, than normal?
• Are there times when you do more things than you normally do? When you are more active?
• Are there times when you are more interested in sex than normal?
• Do you have times when you are feeling really good, and yet are depressed at the same time?
• Are there big differences in the quality and quantity of your work over time?
• Do you have periods when you are very angry or hostile and don’t know why?

The questionnaires will typically ask you about swings in mood, temperament, activities, and productivity. This is because someone with bipolar disorder will have manic episodes where life is productive. These are up times where they feel good, work hard, are creative, talk more, have sex more, etc. Then they will also go through depressive episodes where they are tired, don’t want to do anything, talk to anyone, have sex, or think about anything.

The manic/depressive cycles can be far apart, right together, or right at the same time, depending on the form of bipolar disorder that you have.

For a bipolar screening quiz that can help you determine what to speak to your doctor about, see here.

Life Impact of Bipolar Disorder

If you have bipolar disorder it can drastically impact your life. This mental illness can make it difficult to maintain a relationship, job, or finish any project or school. Those who suffer from the disease are at risk for committing suicide, or abusing alcohol or drugs. This is why it is imperative that you speak to a medical professional if you think you might be bipolar. There are many things that can now be done to help you control many of the signs and symptoms of bipolar disease.

Doctors today have a better understanding of bipolar disorder and so the treatment options can work better than what was available even a few years ago. Treating bipolar disease can allow you to lead a normal and productive life. The problem is that so many times the signs and symptoms of bipolar disorder go undiagnosed. Many people or teens will suffer for years before they are diagnosed, or they may go undiagnosed.

This is why if you thing you are bipolar you should talk to your doctor and undergo testing and therapy. If you have the disorder just knowing can help you learn to control the illness.

Even when the bipolar is between these dramatic episodes, they can go from happy to sad, sad to angry or any other combination of total opposite emotions in just seconds.  This can be difficult for those around them to understand or cope with.

The Causes of Bipolar Disorder

There are a lot of different things that can contribute to a person’s bipolar suffering and their inability to control their emotional state: genetics, the environment, chemical imbalances, and more.

Chemical Imbalances

When a patient has bipolar disorder, the chemicals in their brain are off and do not work properly.  This is caused by malfunctioning neurons.  These are messengers found in the brain that send signals back and forth to each other using chemical reactions. It is these same chemicals that create emotions. For those with bipolar disorder, the brain either makes too little or too many of these important chemicals, sending the emotional part of the brain into a tizzy.  As the brain continually gets the wrong signals, it begins to send out the wrong messages and these messages can cause the erratic behavior and violent mood swings.

Genetics

There has been a lot of research done on the genetic factors that may control a person’s susceptibility to developing bipolar disorder in their lifetime.  While there is a definite genetic link, making bipolar disorder hereditary, not everyone with a family history of the disease will get it.  Environmental factors also play a significant role in whether or not the brain overloads neuron responses, flooding itself with the wrong chemicals to stabilize the emotions.  In some cases, avoiding certain environmental stimulus has been shown to decrease a person’s risk factors for bipolar, even when a strong genetic tendency is present.

That said, those with one or both parents diagnosed to be bipolar must be especially diligent in watching for signs of the disorder and getting help when needed.  It has been reported that when one parent has bipolar disorder, the child’s chance of coming down with it sometime during their lifetime is increased by 50%; nearly 80% if both parents suffer with the disorder.

When such a high risk factor is evident, it is especially helpful for the person to learn how to cope with stress; avoid drug and alcohol use; seek regular counseling; adopt healthy eating habits; and do their best to maintain a balanced lifestyle and relationships.  Since these kinds of stressors can sometimes trigger a negative neuron response and actually “turn on” the bipolar genes, staying away from dangerous activities and undue stress is essential to maintaining a balanced emotional state.

The Environment

As stated, the environment, too can play a role in causing bipolar disorder. Exposure to certain toxins (including alcohol and drugs) in utero have been linked to bipolar disorder, as were child neglect and abuse.  Anything that can disrupt the normal growth and maturity of a person’s emotions as an infant or child can lead to disrupted chemical production in the brain and cause bipolar disorder later on in life.

In addition, the types of relationships a patient has during both childhood and their adult years can affect their emotional responses and activate a bipolar gene that may have remained dormant for a time. For these reasons, it is important to learn good relationship building skills to ensure that you do not activate a bipolar response to the stresses of relational issues in the future.

Living with Bipolar Disorder

While it is not always possible to alter your surroundings or change the risks you were put under as a child, understanding the causes of bipolar disorder can help you better understand this debilitating condition and even prevent episodes in the future. Some common things just about anyone can do to help keep bipolar from interfering with their life are to:

• Adopt a healthy lifestyle
• Avoid drugs and alcohol
• Avoid undue stress
• Get enough sleep
• Seek counseling when needed
• Maintain a balanced schedule

Bipolar disorder can be a difficult disease to control; but it is possible to live a normal life despite the condition. With the right medical intervention and help, many bipolar victims have been able to manage their symptoms and live a relatively normal life despite it.