What is Bipolar Disorder
By: Paul FryattTotal Views: 94, Word Count: 538,
Many people wonder as to what is bipolar disorder? The answer to this question lies ahead. Bipolar disorders are one of numerous medical conditions known as depressive disorders. Depressive disorders affect the way an individual’s brain functions. These disorders are extensive as in the US alone, it’s estimated that more than 17.4 million adults have a depressive disorder each year. This works out to about 1 out of every 7 people, so there is a chance that you or someone you know could be dealing with this disorder.
Bipolar disorder has several names like manic depression, manic depressive illness, manic depressive disorder, bipolar mood disorder and bipolar affective disorder which are medical terms for similar condition. This disorder is classified into 4 different types: bipolar 1, bipolar 2, bipolar disorder and cyclothymiacs disorder. Mental health professionals separate the condition into these 4 types as the symptoms of bipolar disorder show up differently in different people.
How does this Disorder affect People?
Bipolar disorder affects both men and women. For several individuals, the first symptoms show up in their early twenties. However, research has shown that the first episode of this disorder occurs earlier. It frequently shows up in adolescence and even kids could have this disorder.
Recent research suggests that children and teens with this disorder don’t always have similar behavioral patterns which adults with this disorder do. For example, children who have this disorder might experience quick mood changes and might have some of the other mood related symptoms such as high levels of anxiety and tetchiness.
As brain function is involved, the ways people with this disorder act, think and feel are all affected. This could make it particularly difficult for other people to understand their condition. This disorder isn’t a sign of flaw, but it’s a serious medical condition which requires treatment just like any other condition.
What is Bipolar Disorder and it’s Causes?
Scientists and doctors don’t know the correct cause of this disorder, but they believe that genetic, biochemical and environmental factors might all be involved. It’s alleged that this condition is caused by imbalances in certain brain chemicals known as neurotransmitters. If these neurotransmitters aren’t in balance, the mood regulating system of the brain won’t work the way it should.
Genes also play an important role. If a close relative has a bipolar disorder, an individual’s risk of developing this condition is higher. This doesn’t mean that if you have a family member or a relative with this disorder, you would automatically develop it. Even studies involving identical twins raised in the same home showed one twin at times had this disorder whereas the other did not.
Environmental factors might play a role in this disorder. For some teens, stresses such as a death in the family, the divorce of their parents or other shocking events might trigger the first episode of depression or mania. At times, going through the changes of youth could set off an episode. In women, symptoms could be tied to their monthly menstrual cycle.
What is bipolar disorder could be answered appropriately as a mental change in an individual due to any of the above events in his/her life.
About the Author
Paul Fryatt, M.D. has been in this profession from last 24 years. He made great achievements in his profession. He made an initiative to open a Family Allergy Clinic in 1985 to help his patients who were not reacting to traditional allergy treatment programs. Moreover he has explored the treatment to overcome allergy symptoms to reclaim quality of life through his convenient, no-shots therapy.
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