Bipolar Disorder Causes:
Being diagnosed with a bipolar disorder can be a little scary but it can also bring you some level of relief. Suddenly you have a name for the challenges you have been facing throughout your life, but at the same time you're learning that you have some sort of psychological problem. What would really help you to deal with the problem before you is to come to an understanding of the disorder and its roots causes. The more knowledge you have about the subject can be very helpful in putting your mind at ease.
What Is Bipolar Disorder?
A bipolar disorder is a mental disorder that manifests itself through drastic mood swings and constantly fluctuating energy levels. Those who suffer from this type of disorder often experience shifts in their emotions that are so extreme that it becomes very difficult for them to perform the normal everyday tasks that would be simple and average for most other people.
What Are the Causes of a Bipolar Disorder?
There are many bipolar disorder causes, some easily identifiable and others that are not.
1.) Genetics
Quite often the cause could be genetic in nature. Those who have a family history of the disorder will likely be at a higher risk of developing it themselves. Even if you have no blood relative with an actual diagnosis, in many cases if you look back in the family background you'll be able to identify someone in the family with major mood swings that may have never been diagnosed. Today there are many scientists and medical professionals doing extensive research in order to identify exactly which genes are responsible for the onset of the disorder – these could be abnormal DNA sequences or rare genetic mutations that could be the trigger for bipolar disorder causes.
2.) A Brain-Chemical Imbalance
It could also be a neurotransmitter imbalance in the brain that brings on the disorder. These imbalances are often the cause of other similar disorders like depression and mental illnesses that are frequently mistaken for symptoms of a bipolar disorder. This imbalance may remain dormant for most of the patient's life until some external factor triggers it. These triggers could be caused by an episode of excess stress or a sudden change in social circumstances, however there have been cases where bipolar disorders have been self-activated without any identifiable warning signs.
3.) Environmental Factors
Other bipolar disorder causes could be a direct result of external environmental factors. Some of these could be triggered by actions taken by the patient himself or by events completely out of his control. Drug and alcohol abuse is an example of self-inflicted triggers while conditions out of the patient's control could be hormonal problems or a reaction to a highly toxic environment.
While no one is completely sure of the true root cause of bipolar disorders, it is clear that there are a number of contributing factors that can make an individual more susceptible to its effects. If you or someone you love has a family history of any type of mental disorders and you're experiencing a fluctuation of mood swings it might be good to discuss this with your medical practitioner so that he can determine if you have this type of mood disorder. The sooner you can identify the problem the quicker you can start treatment to get it under control.