Bipolar disorder

 

Bipolar disorder is a serious mental illness. People who have it go through unusual mood changes. They go from very happy, ‘up,’ and active to very sad and hopeless, ‘down,’ and inactive, and then back again. They often have normal moods in between. The up feeling is called mania. The down feeling is depression.

 

 

Common symptoms of mania include:

1. Sudden happiness

2. Sudden sadness

3. Frequent mood swings

4. Inappropriate social behavior

5. Increased sexual desire

 

 

The causes of bipolar disorder are not always clear. However, common risk factors are:

1. Hereditary

2. Abnormal brain structure and function

3. Often starts in late teens or early adult years

 

 

A medical checkup can rule out other illnesses that might cause your mood changes.

 

 

Treatments to control symptoms include:

1. Medicine

2. Talk therapy