What Is Bipolar Disorder?
Bipolar disorder is a mental health condition that used to be called manic depression. If you have it, your moods can swing between periods of extreme highs (called mania or hypomania) and extreme lows. These aren’t usual “ups and downs.” When you feel “up,” you may have extreme joy or crankiness and so much energy that you don’t want to sleep. During your “down” times, you may feel sad, hopeless, or have thoughts of suicide.
There isn’t a cure for bipolar disorder. It’s a condition you have throughout your life. But with long-term medication and therapy, it can be managed well.
Bipolar Disorder Causes
Bipolar disorder is a complex condition. Experts haven’t found an exact cause for it, but several things likely play a role, including:
- Your genes. Studies show that bipolar disorder can run in families. It’s not because of a single gene that you inherit from your parents, but likely several. And genes aren’t the only factor.
- Childhood trauma. Some experts think there could be a link between childhood trauma (like emotional, physical, or sexual abuse) and bipolar disorder. But more research needs to be done.
- Stress. Either one very stressful event, like the loss of a loved one, or ongoing daily stress, like worries about money, may help trigger bipolar disorder symptoms.
- How your brain works. If you have bipolar disorder, your brain may work differently than someone who doesn’t have this condition. For instance, the brain chemicals that control how your brain functions could be out of balance.
