While most people with bipolar disorder and their loved ones are told that bipolar disorder is either a chemical imbalance of the brain and/or a mood disorder that can be characterized by extreme mood swings, it is really so much more than that.
In truth, bipolar disorder is actually quite historical. It has roots that go as far back as the second century AD, when a man named Aretaeus first discovered that manic and depressive symptoms may be linked.
The disorder is not just mental, since it has to do with your mind, but is physiological as well, because it has to do with your body.
Since part of it is associated with your brain, bipolar disorder can also be considered a neurological problem; however, it is usually termed merely "physical," and referred to simply as a "chemical imbalance of the brain."
Believing that bipolar disorder has biological roots, scientists are currently studying genes they think may cause the disorder. If they find the specific gene or genes that are linked to the disorder, they will be steps away from a cure. Of course, there is great debate in the scientific community about the validity of this research, and there is quite a long way to go before a cure can be found.
You may find that your doctor will tell you that your bipolar disorder has a medical element, as well. There is a greater risk of physical symptoms (body aches, headaches, backaches, stomach aches, etc.) when you are in a bipolar depressive episode than when you are not.
Also don't be surprised if your psychiatrist stresses that bipolar disorder is a psychiatric illness. He or she probably used the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) to come to that diagnosis to begin with.
As many studies have shown, bipolar disorder is hereditary and may be passed down through families.
As anyone with the disorder will tell you, bipolar disorder is definitely an emotional disorder. Your moods can swing from depression to mania and back again, without you having any control over them. In addition, emotional "side effects" of the disorder can include stress, anxiety, and insomnia.
There is also a personal element to bipolar disorder. Because of the stigma still evident in our society against mental illness of any kind, many people with the disorder will keep their disorder to themselves and won't tell others that they even have it. They feel like it is a personal thing.
Bipolar disorder is not just a chemical imbalance or simply a mood disorder. It is, in turn, both of these things and more. - 30309
In truth, bipolar disorder is actually quite historical. It has roots that go as far back as the second century AD, when a man named Aretaeus first discovered that manic and depressive symptoms may be linked.
The disorder is not just mental, since it has to do with your mind, but is physiological as well, because it has to do with your body.
Since part of it is associated with your brain, bipolar disorder can also be considered a neurological problem; however, it is usually termed merely "physical," and referred to simply as a "chemical imbalance of the brain."
Believing that bipolar disorder has biological roots, scientists are currently studying genes they think may cause the disorder. If they find the specific gene or genes that are linked to the disorder, they will be steps away from a cure. Of course, there is great debate in the scientific community about the validity of this research, and there is quite a long way to go before a cure can be found.
You may find that your doctor will tell you that your bipolar disorder has a medical element, as well. There is a greater risk of physical symptoms (body aches, headaches, backaches, stomach aches, etc.) when you are in a bipolar depressive episode than when you are not.
Also don't be surprised if your psychiatrist stresses that bipolar disorder is a psychiatric illness. He or she probably used the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) to come to that diagnosis to begin with.
As many studies have shown, bipolar disorder is hereditary and may be passed down through families.
As anyone with the disorder will tell you, bipolar disorder is definitely an emotional disorder. Your moods can swing from depression to mania and back again, without you having any control over them. In addition, emotional "side effects" of the disorder can include stress, anxiety, and insomnia.
There is also a personal element to bipolar disorder. Because of the stigma still evident in our society against mental illness of any kind, many people with the disorder will keep their disorder to themselves and won't tell others that they even have it. They feel like it is a personal thing.
Bipolar disorder is not just a chemical imbalance or simply a mood disorder. It is, in turn, both of these things and more. - 30309
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