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Bipolar Facts

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness characterized by mood swings and drastic changes in energy and behavior. Bipolar mood swings are different than the common ups and downs experienced by people without bipolar disorder.

  1. Age of Onset

    • In about half of all cases, bipolar disorder occurs in late adolescence or early adulthood. It can arise late in life as well.

    Bipolar Type I

    • Bipolar Type I is recognized by high manic states and low depressions. This can be dangerous as manic people can do things they wouldn't normally do, such as spend too much money or hurt themselves or others. Depression is just as crippling, giving worries of suicidal tendencies.

    Bipolar Type II

    • Bipolar Type II does not have manic states, but rather hypomanic states in which the bipolar sufferer will experience a lesser high mood than full-blown mania. The lows of depression are as bad in Type II as they are in Type I.

    Other Types

    • Rapid cycling bipolar disorder is described as a bipolar person having the usual mania and depression of Type I and Type II, but they can occur several times a day. When a bipolar person has symptoms of both mania and depression at the same time, it is called mixed bipolar. Cyclothymia is a mild form of bipolar disorder that doesn't fit any other types.

    Genetic Causes

    • Bipolar disorder runs in families, so it is believed that there may be a genetic component. To date, no single gene has been recognized as causing bipolar disorder.

    The Brain

    • Another factor for developing bipolar disorder may be brain structure abnormalities or a chemical imbalance in the brain. Medicines that are used to treat symptoms of bipolar illness alter brain chemistry to help make a bipolar sufferer become more balanced in her moods.

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