To anyone regardless of lifestyle, bipolar disorder can be acquired. Bipolar disorder is merely like a piece of something that a man can have of which, if not treated, can harm to oneself and to others as well. Its cycle may long for a couple of days, weeks or even months.

A person who is having this illness might be quite hard to understand and sometimes mistakenly labelled as schizophrenic by the people surrounding him. And to diagnose a person having this kind of illness is never easy, thus, professional help is advised. To educate oneself with this matter is very significant and is very helpful with the one who is in need.

Elaborating some relevant points as you go read along may somehow enlighten your mind and leads your thinking to a clear comprehension of what bipolr disorder is all about.

What is bipolar disorder?

Bipolar disorder (manic depressive illness or manic depression), is a brain disorder that causes unusual or serious shifts in mood, energy, thinking and behavior. The shift usually runs from extreme levels of mania to the very low levels of depression. And in bipolar disorder, mixed episode is the third mark that the illness signifies. Mixed episode is the combination of mania and depression. and for its worst possible outcome, it can lead to suicide. Mania or manic episode defines as having a feelings of euphoria, heightened energy or activity. Thus when a person is in his manic episode, he tends to act or decide things seems like always in a haste. While bipolar depression entails some common signs of a regular or basic kind of depression. The person experiencing this at a moment may act in a way according to what he intensely feels like not having a productive outcome at the end of the day as a result of what he plans for that certain time and this is because of his thinking that he is hopeless, sad, worthless, tired, and has a thought of suicide.

To a way making our mind understand bipolar disorder, let us now tackle its pathophysiology.

Genetics

Bipolar disorder is hereditary. As it is explicably explained that when its cause or reason of existence has something with genetics, presumably, it runs in families. But bipolar disorder has certain limits of its gene transmission. It is said that children with a parent or sibling who is displaying bipolar disorder has a possibility to develop the disorder than to children who have no family medical background of bipolar disorder. And according to researchers, childern who has a family history of such illness does not have the chance to develop bipolar disorder.

Neurotransmitters -Serotonin, Norepinephrine, Dopamine

Neurotransmitters are the ones that transmit information within the brain and from the brain to all parts of the body.

Serotonin - is responsible for regulation of learning, mood, sleep and constriction of blood vessels. When serotonin level is low, depression results.

Norepinephrine - is both a hormone and a neurotransmitter. As a hormone, it works along with epinephrine / adrenalin. Epinephrine / adrenalin are the ones who give our body an automatic high energy response when being faced with any alarming situation. this epinephrine / adrenalin response is also known as " fight or flight" response. And as a neurotransmitter, it also serves as message conveyor from one neuron to another.

Dopamine - is necessary for maintaining a healthy function of the central nervous system. It is also responsible for perception, emotion and movement.

Environmental and psychological factors

Stress - This can be one of the main causes that triggers bipolar disorder. Stress is a serious thing that really needs to manage well, otherwise, it can threaten a person's personality or life.

Substance Abuse - Usually substance abuse leads to self destruction in all facets of personality. It can poison a person's mind which always have a worst end if not treated.

Medication - There are also medicines that can trigger the onset of bipolar disorder, antidepressants, caffeine, medicine for colds are a few examples which can trigger the disorder.

Seasonal Changes - Manic and depressive episodes, as it is being said by researchers, have seasonal schedules. Like manic episodes are common during summer and deppresive episodes are during winter or fall.

At this moment of reading, we may now be able to visualize what bipolar disorder is. As whatever your point of view will be, let us be thankful to be educated with bipolar disorder and let us encourage everyone to help people whom we know who has an illness like this. Let us act as a responsible citizen to our self, to our community and to the world!