What is Bipolar Disorder?

"Connected," by Mara McWilliams

What is Bipolar Disorder?

Everyone experiences "ups" and "downs" as they go through life, but bipolar disorder is different. Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive disorder, is a brain disorder in which someone goes through periods of emotions that are extremely "high," or manic, alternating with very "low," or depressed times. These emotional "episodes" may last anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks, depending on what form of the illness a person has. These intense, cycling moods can leave someone off balance, and can make it hard to carry on stable relationships, hold a job, and stick with plans. Bipolar affects more than one in forty American adults. Fortunately, with the right ongoing treatment, people with bipolar disorder can find ways to balance their emotions and continue a healthy life. Many people with bipolar, such as artist Mara McWilliams, even find the vivid, spiritual creativity that can come with their condition to be an asset.

Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

Mania

When "manicky," as one person with bipolar calls it, someone in or approaching a manic state might feel on top of the world and able to do anything. They usually enjoy the ease with which new ideas come and connect and the energy they feel when their emotions are rising. People with bipolar may experience a state of euphoria called "hypomania" either instead of or on the way to full-blown mania. But when full mania onsets, they may feel aggressive, overwhelmed by their own thoughts, and too keyed-up to sleep.

Depression

When depressed, someone with bipolar may feel very down, like there's no worth or hope in their life. They may not want to do anything or care about anything but how bad life is. Depression is a very tough state to be in, in part because it looks like there's no way out.

Usually for someone with bipolar disorder these two states will alternate with more calm moods. But some people with bipolar disorder never feel balanced, constantly soaring and crashing emotionally.

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Treatments for Bipolar Disorder

With a doctor's help, someone with bipolar disorder can find the best combination of medication and psychotherapies to manage their mood swings, and minimize the negative impact of further episodes.

Mood stabilizers, such as Lithium, are usually prescribed to help even out the highs and lows of bipolar disorder. Some anticonvulsant medications, such as valproate (Depakote®) or carbamazepine (Tegretol®) can also help to balance someone's mood. Currently under study for bipolar disorder patients, some atypical antipsychotic medications, such as clozapine (Clozaril®) and olanzapine (Zyprexa®), look promising to relieve extreme mood swings and the psychotic symptoms that are sometimes associated with them.

Also, many people with bipolar find that talking to a therapist, training in life-management skills, or spending time with a support group can help them to see better perspectives on their condition and how to deal with it. Many people find themselves living, after their rollercoaster journey, in strong, inspired lives with their families and careers.

The web is a great resource for people with bipolar disorder to connect with one another and find those paths to recovery. See the list in the sidebar at left for some places to start.

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New Discoveries in Bipolar Research Supported by the Music Festival for Mental Health

The CAPPS mental illness prevention center is one of the Music Festival's main beneficiaries.

Research into the biological roots of bipolar disorder is still in its early stages. The Music Festival for Mental Health is providing critical support to many new projects to uncover its genetic and pathophysiological causes, at places like the Center for Cognitive Neuroscience at UCLA. This new facility aims to unite disciplines to find the links between the genes responsible for illnesses such as bipolar disorder and how they manifest through the development of the brain into the feelings and behaviors we can actually observe. Scientists at the UCSF Center for Neurobiology and Psychiatry are also developing new research programs on bipolar with Music Festival support. And, at CAPPS, UCLA's mental illness prevention center, psychiatrists are working with people at risk for bipolar to learn to detect and prevent the illness even before it can even begin. You can learn more about the cutting-edge programs at these institutions funded by the Music Festival for Mental Health on our research page.

Would you like to contribute to this research? You can join our festival to help find a cure!