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Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar also known as manic depressive illness is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a a human beings mood, energy, and ability to function. Many americans suffer from this disease about 5.7 million american adults which is about 2.6 percent of the population. Typicaly, the bipolar disorder develops in ones late adolescene or late childhood. There have been cases of people who get it in their early childhood, and even late in ones life. It is often not recognized as an illness, and people could suffer for years before it is usually properly diagnosed and treted. Like many other common illnesses for example diabeties or heart disease, bipolar disorder is a long term illness that may be carefully managed throughout a persons lifetime.
The phenomenon of bipolar disorder has been a mystery since the early 16th century. Bipolar disorder or as the alternate names, manic depressive illness or affective bipolar disorder can be classified as a mood disorder characterized by mood swings from manis to depression. History has shown that this can appear in almost anyone. Even the great painter Vincent Van Gogh is believed to have had bipolar disorder. It is clear that in our society many people live with bipolar disorder; however, despite the large number of people suffering from it, we are still waiting for definite explanations for the causes and cure. The one fact in which we are aware is that bipolar disorder severely undermines its' victims ability to obtain and maintain social and occupational success. It is also said that the lithium level is what causes these mood swings. Bdue to the fact that bipolar disorder has such debilitating symptoms, it is important that we remain vigilant in the quest for explanations of its causes and treatment.

The depressive episodes are characterized by intense feelings of sadness and despair that can become feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. Either the...