Life, they say, is like a wheel. Sometimes you’re up; sometimes you’re down. But if your mood stays that way most of the day or everyday, chances are you have bipolar disorder – a mental disorder that affects 222 million people worldwide and is the sixth leading cause of disabilities worldwide.

Bipolar disorder is a serious and debilitating mental illness that is also known as manic-depression or manic-depressive illness. This mood disorder often affects adults and may persist throughout life.

“Bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in a person’s mood, energy, and ability to function. Different from the normal ups and downs that everyone goes through, the symptoms of bipolar disorder are severe. They can result in damaged relationships, poor job or school performance, and even suicide. But there is good news: bipolar disorder can be treated, and people with this illness can lead full and productive lives,” according to the US National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

The manic phase of this disorder is characterized by feelings of euphoria, extreme optimism, and a high self-esteem. There is rapid speech, agitation, and reckless behavior. Other symptoms are poor concentration, difficulty sleeping, poor judgment, and an unrealistic belief in one’s abilities and powers.

In the depressive phase, the patient may have persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety or guilt, sleep problems, loss of appetite, irritability, chronic pain with no known cause, and recurring thoughts of suicide.

The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown but doctors believe the condition may be caused by physical changes in the brain, environment or a hormonal imbalance. Aside from alcohol abuse, the disease may be inherited and caused by periods of high stress or drug abuse.

“Often beginning in adolescence or early adulthood, bipolar disorder has a profound negative effect on interpersonal, social, family and vocational outcomes and is a risk factor for substance abuse and suicide Recent reports have noted that up to 25 percent of bipolar disorder patients will attempt suicide at some point in the course of their illness,” said experts at the Lundbeck Institute in Denmark.

If you have bipolar disorder, you’re in good company. Among the famous sufferers of the disease were the British novelist Virginia Woolf, Dutch painter Vincent Van Gogh, and German composer Ludwig van Beethoven.

Woolf, author of “To the Lighthouse” and “Orlando”, had mood swings that were characterized by feverish periods of writing and weeks immersed in gloom. Mental problems plagued Van Gogh in the last few yeas of his life. Unable to control his depression, he walked to the fields and he shot himself in the chest. He died two days later at the age of 37. On the other hand, Beethoven suffered from long bouts of depression and longed for death. As his disease progressed, he withdrew from the world and drank himself to death.

Fortunately, proper treatment can help patients stabilize their mood swings and manage the disease. If you have any of the above symptoms, seek medical help. To enhance your memory and support healthy brain function, take Neurovar. For more information on this powerful supplement, go to http://www.neurovar.com/.

Sharon Bell
http://www.articlesbase.com/mental-health-articles/millions-suffer-from-bipolar-disorder-322452.html

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