The cause of Bipolar Disorder is not known, but it seems that it is more common in recent years, with 1 to 2 million people in America affected, though there was always Manic Depression. Doctors believe it has to do with chemicals in the brain, but don’t know what causes the disturbance.
People of all ages, sexes and types are included and symptoms vary greatly. Diagnosis is usually not made because they don’t seek help unless they are severely depressed and the doctor usually thinks it is depression only. But the most extreme symptoms go from severe depression to extreme mania. Sleep patterns are very irregular and patients complain of insomnia. It doesn’t begin in most people until late teens or 20s and sometimes the person will turn to drugs/alcohol. Depression is often so severe that the person feels helpless, listless, useless, very pessimistic and suicidal and with very low self esteem. The mania can be to the point of insanity, with extreme recklessness, euphoria, irritability, distractibility, grandiosity, racing thoughts, intense activity, etc. Patterns of the two can go from mixed together to having depression for up to a year, then mania for several months and are totally unpredictable. If left to itself, the disease often gets worse and worse.
More and more research is now taking place and there are drugs that help a great deal. One doctor has come up with a Bipolar Spectrum Diagnostic Scale to help pin down the type of disorder and research is being done to find a simple blood test to help with diagnosis. You can find the latest information on the Internet.
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