1. From Soaring Highs to Crashing Lows
Highs and lows--recklessness and listlessness--that's what people with bipolar disorder live with. During a manic phase, a person with bipolar disease is usually agitated and may engage in risky behavior. Then it's a period of depression and feelings of extreme hopelessness, fatigue and irritability. About 1 in 50 Americans have bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder usually notice their first symptoms in the late teens or early twenties, but some children suffer from bipolar disease.
2. How Bad is it?
Some unlucky people don't know they have bipolar disorder and suffer with symptoms their entire lives. For those that do get a diagnosis, there are different categories of the disease. A diagnosis of bipolar I means the person has had at least one manic episode. People with bipolar II have had at least one hypomanic episode and one depressive episode. Cyclothymia means less severe ups and downs. Rapidly cycling bipolar disorder involves four or more episodes per year and is more common in women than in men.
3. All In the Family
Scientists don't know what causes bipolar disorder, but they are studying the brain and trying to determine its cause. They do know there is a genetic component. If both parents have bipolar disorder, the child has a 50 to 75 percent chance of having the disorder. If one parent has the disease, there's a 1 in 4 chance. However, environmental factors also play a role.
4. Take the Good With the Bad
Some people live fulfilling lives with bipolar disorder. Celebrities like Margot Kidder, Sting and Mariette Hartley have talked about their struggles with the disease. Some people are very productive during their manic phases; for example, one woman talked about being able to garden for 12 hours in a row. However, there are problems. First, there is the depression that follows these manic phases. Then there's the anxiety that most people with bipolar disorder live with. There are also struggles with impulse control and wondering what their mood will be like on a particular day.
5. Beat it With Treatment
Bipolar disorder is treatable. Once people receive a diagnosis, doctors recommend a long-term treatment plan that includes psychotherapy and medication. Consistency is important, because not taking medication or participating in therapy can cause old habits to emerge. Psychiatrists usually prescribe mood stabilizers and anticonvulsant medications for bipolar disorder. Patients also participate in psychotherapy to help them stop negative behaviors and learn more about the disease.
