JANICE'S BI-POLAR SUPPORT SITE

Today, we are going to talk about exactly what bipolar disorder is.

So what is bipolar disorder?
Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a
brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person's
mood, energy, and ability to function. Bipolar disorder
causes intense, long-lasting mood swings in two extreme
directions: mania and depression. We'll talk more about
the specific symptoms of each extreme a little later in the
course.

Although, no one is entirely sure what causes bipolar,
evidence suggests that it has to do with the chemicals
in the brain. Changes in the levels of these chemicals
can cause parts of the brain to become either
overstimulated or under stimulated, thus resulting in
the two behavior extremes.

When your loved one is exhibiting symptoms of either
mania or depression, they are considered to be in an
episode and are not stable. During this time, you
will need to focus on getting them help from a medical
professional.

The most important thing to keep in mind about bipolar
disorder is that it is NOT something your loved one can
control or fix on their own. It is caused by an imbalance
in the chemicals in the brain and is passed on in families,
so there's nothing your loved one could do to prevent it
or to make it happen. So, please, don't blame them
because they have this disorder.

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JANICE'S BI-POLAR SUPPORT SITE	[email protected]