Mood changes are a normal part of life. But the roller coaster highs and lows of bipolar disorder are normal. The moods of a person with bipolar disorder, which has also been called manic depression, swing from periods of intense elation to periods of intense sadness.

The illness can disrupt every facet of a person’s life. In the manic "up" stage, the individual may be so unrealistically self-confident, energized, or hostile, that relationships and careers are destroyed. A person may think that he has a special relationship with world leaders or celebrities, or commit to multiple meetings, social activities, and critical deadlines on the same day, believing that he can accomplish anything. On a destructive high, the person may make irrational decisions that risk personal health and family finances.

In the depressed stage, that same person can feel so low, fatigued, and helpless, that any activity is difficult. Thoughts often turn to suicide.

How common is bipolar disorder?

• Unlike other forms of depression which are more common in women, bipolar disorder affects men and women equally.
• Nearly one in every 100 people will experience the disorder at some time in their lives.
• Initial episodes of mania or depression usually occur before the age of 35.

In bipolar disorder, periods of normal mood usually occur between the periods of extreme highs and lows. The lengths of each episode vary from person to person and can change over time. If you or someone you know has experienced cycles of the following behaviors, professional help should be considered:

• Increased energy
• Inappropriate elation
• Decreased need for sleep; may go days with little or no sleep
• Increased sexual activity
• Uncharacteristic participation in high-risk activities that are likely to lead to painful results, such as spending sprees, foolish investments. Over-scheduling, or gambling
• Loud, fast, or incoherent speech
• Disconnected, racing thoughts
• Easily distracted
• Suddenly irritable
• Conviction that he or she is all-powerful
• Sudden paranoia or rage
• Denial that anything is wrong
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Delusions and hallucinations; in later stages, may become convinced that he or she is in touch with creatures from outer space, knows celebrities or God, or has superhuman knowledge or powers

Depressive Stage Behaviors:

• Changes in sleeping patterns; sleeping too much or too little
• Changes in eating patterns; eating too much or too little
• Pains and digestive problems with no medical basis
• Excessive crying
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Constant fatigue and inertia
• Loss of interest in normally pleasurable activities
• Inability to concentrate or function at work
• Loss of sex drive
• Overwhelming feelings of despair, hopelessness, and helplessness
• Slowed thinking

The psychological basis for bipolar disorder is better understood than other forms of depression, a fact that makes the illness one of the most effectively treated.

Research suggests that a biological predisposition to bipolar disorder is inherited. 80 to 90 percent of those with bipolar disorder have a relative with some form of depression

Bipolar disorder is often triggered by a disturbance in the brain biochemicals that regulate mood and activity. These biochemicals are called neurotransmitters; they are substances which carry impulses or messages between nerve cells in the brain. An imbalance in the amount of activity of the neurotransmitters can cause major disturbances in thought, emotion, and behavior.

Stressful situations, such as marital difficulties, job loss, an illness, or the death of a loved one, can trigger a manic-depressive episode in a person vulnerable to the illness.

Because of the genetic susceptibility to bipolar disorder, people who have a close relative with the condition are ten to twenty times more likely to develop either depression or bipolar disorder than the general population.

• Women who have recently given birth

Hormonal changes during this postpartum period can trigger and episode of bipolar disorder in women who are genetically vulnerable.

Seventy percent or more of those patients with bipolar disorder respond well to medication that helps reduce the frequency and intensity of manic episodes. Lithium carbonate is the medication used most often to treat bipolar disorder. A combination of medication and professional counseling helps most patients return to productive and fulfilling lives.

The first step in seeking treatment is undergoing a complete diagnostic evaluation. Only a licensed physician or psychologist can make a psychiatric diagnosis. Once an accurate diagnosis has been made, a proper treatment plan can be recommended.

Lithium carbonate, the first medication discovered to treat bipolar disorder, reduces the number and intensity of manic episodes and helps prevent repeated episodes of depression. Regular monitoring by a psychiatrist is essential due to the medication’s possible side effects. Recently, other medications have also proven to be effective mood stabilizers.

Professional counseling helps patients re-establish relationships which have been damaged during their illness and helps restore self-esteem