How Do People Get Bipolar?
What is Bipolar Disorder? Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mental disorder that causes extreme mood swings between depression and mania. Depression is generally characterized by a lack of energy and motivation; mania consists of periods of high energy, unusual thought patterns,and sometimes psychosis. Those afflicted with bipolar tend to have episodes where these two feelings can both appear in their most extreme form. These episodes can last days, weeks or even months. A person experiencing mania may hastily quit a job or run up a credit card and may sleep only two hours a night. The same person experiencing depression may lack the energy to get out of bed and have deep feelings of hopelessness. What Causes Bipolar Disorder? Bipolar disorder is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. It is a malfunction of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and serotonin. Most psychologists agree that it is genetic. About half of people diagnosed as bipolar have at lea
