Ups and Downs

Everyone has a genuinely good day from time to time. Endeavors seem to go as planned, there's no fear or frustration, and the day is generally carefree. Other days consist of the polar opposite, where everything that can go wrong, will go wrong. Motivation and pleasure are minimal, and many aspects of life once deemed positive, ultimately seem trivial. For people suffering with bipolar disorder, these days are not only at severe extremities, but occur daily. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, is a mood disorder that affects about one percent of the population (NeMLH). Although this may not seem large when compared to the vast amount of other disorders, its impact and effects can be detrimental. In essence, manic depression consists of two basic symptoms as its name implies: Mania and depression. Fluctuations between these euphoric highs known as mania, and bleak lows known as depression, are the fundamental symptoms to manic depression and negatively affect a victim's health, relationships, and ultimately life. Bipolar disorder is a condition that has unfortunately alienated many people from society; victims experience volatile moods and unpredictable behaviors that often make them feel isolated and further their condition.

Gloomy emotions are common in today's society. Virtually everyone will feel emotionally down occasionally. When this does occur productivity plummets followed by enthusiasm, but fortunately these feelings eventually depart and one will return to their normal selves shortly. Though for those suffering with bipolar disorder, this is not always the case. The severity of these emotions is far more extreme than just a simple sad feeling; victims of this condition will experience a debilitating depression. Inability to concentrate, loss of appetite, loss of sex drive, sleep abnormalities, and feelings of worthlessness and guilt are only a few of the symptoms associated with depression (Help Guide). Victims will often feel powerless over their lives and future, and suicide is a major concern. Hobbies, jobs, and especially relationships will often suffer as a consequence, and just as quickly as these depression episodes begin do they cease, and become rampant episodes of mania.

One would think, when compared to depression, that elevated happiness, energy, and motivation would be a beneficial mood to have. This is a common misconception when regarding the second element to bipolar disorder: Mania. While depression is dangerous regarding the possibility of suicide, mania contains potentially harmful symptoms as well. One particular symptom is grandiosity (Read). This disillusionment of self-importance makes the victim feel invincible; in their minds, there are no limits and definitely no consequences to their actions. A common result of this irrational thinking is immense impulse buying. An adult suffering from an episode could potentially spend an entire life savings on trivial things without thinking twice about the consequences. Mania also affects a body physically. Energy increases until the victim travels toward the point of exhaustion, for they will no longer feel the need to sleep. And as a result from lack of sleep, any previous disillusionments once held only intensify. Mania and depression have the potential to wreak enormous amounts of havoc on the lives of those who endure it, but fortunately there is a solution.

In order to find a solution one must first understand the problem they are trying to solve. In the case of bipolar disorder, this problem has proven to be more complex than expected. Rather than a single factor causing bipolar disorder, scientists have all agreed that it is a combination of multiple factors-genetic, chemical, and experience, that influence the development of manic depression. Several tests have shown that bipolar disorder is partially hereditary, and those with a history of the condition are more likely to develop it. What is particularly inherited in families however has been a major question that has been researched. Scientists believe that the mood disorder is caused by an imbalance in the brain of what are called neurotransmitters. These molecules send nerve signals in the brain and are essentially responsible for people's emotions (Insight). An unusually low or high amount of specific neurotransmitters is said to be responsible for such unstable changed in mood. Finally, personal experiences play a key role in manic depression. A person could potentially have both the genetic traits and chemical imbalance and be unaffected by the mental illness. A major life change or experience, such as a career change, abuse, death of a loved one, etc., can act as a trigger to the first unstable mood change. Once the disorder is triggered the chemical imbalances will keep the effects of manic depression permanently. However from years of research, medications have proved to be effective in brining harmony back into those who suffer from manic depression. Lithium in particular is used in many medications because it has proven to be an effective mood stabilizer for patients.

Although bipolar disorder is a condition that only affects the lives of such a small percentage of the world, its unique effects create a damaging impact on those who do suffer from it. While the typical person may experience feelings of contentment or sorrow on occasion, victims of manic depression experience almost every day of their lives without proper treatment. It's difficult to truly appreciate something as simple as having control of emotions until something as life changing as manic depression is understood. Bipolar disorder ultimately redefines the typical “good” or “bad” day.