What Is Happening Inside the Bipolar Brain?

Bipolar Disorder is a mental health disease believed to be caused by brain chemistry. The bipolar brain works differently than a non-bipolar brain because of certain chemicals called neurotransmitters.

What Are Nerotransmitters?

• Neurotransmitters are the chemicals that transfer messages between nerve cells in the brain. There are two kinds: inhibitory neurotransmitters and excitatory neurotransmitters. Excitatory neurotransmitters stimulate the brain while inhibitory neurotransmitters calm the brain and help create balance.

Types

• There are five different neurotransmitters. The inhibitory neurotransmitters are Serotonin and gamma amnibutyric acid (GABA). The excitatory neurotransmitters are Epinephrine and Norepinephrine. Dopamine is both excitatory and inhibitory.

Chemical Balance

• In a non-bipolar brain, neurotransmitters balance each other out. If one chemical is in over-abundance, a counteracting chemical will fire until the hormonal levels return to normal. Bipolar disorder can result if there is either too much or too little production of certain neurotransmitters.

Mania

• One of the poles of bipolar disorder is mania. This causes periods of high energy, unusual thought patterns and sometimes psychosis. GABA and Norepinephrine have been implicated with this problem. Bipolar people may have too much or not enough of these chemicals in the brain during a manic episode.

Depression

• Depression is the other pole of the disorder. It's characterized by a lack of energy and motivation. Dopamine regulates this. Too little Dopamine will cause a person to be depressed. Dopamine may also be responsible for the rapid mood swings of bipolar disorder.