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What is Bipolar Disorder?

* Bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depression) is a serious, lifelong medical condition. It affects more than 2 million people in the United States.
* Bipolar disorder is a treatable illness. And when symptoms are treated, life can be better.
* The exact cause of bipolar disorder is unknown. It’s a medical condition. Bipolar disorder may be related to a chemical imbalance in the brain, genetics, or abnormalities in brain structure.
* People with bipolar disorder can have mood swings, including depression (extreme lows) and mania (extreme highs).
* A period of depression or mania is called an episode. Individuals may experience episodes of depression or mania throughout life.
* Episodes may be separated by long periods with few or no symptoms. To help keep bipolar disorder under control, medication is often taken even when few or no symptoms are present.

No longer silent: Man with bipolar disorder speaks up about his illness …
A few months ago, Logan Noone made a decision that everyone told him would be a terrible idea. He started talking. In May 2011, Noone was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, a psychiatric condition marked by alternating periods of intense depression and …
Read more on Fox News

Report: Ashley Judd's depression is bipolar disorder
She has often talked about her depression and troubled childhood, but the diagnosis of bipolar disorder is more blunt than the co-dependency Judd has talked about. It's another reason for Democrats to be wary of her bid in Kentucky. Some are already …
Read more on Washington Examiner

Teen wounded by Denver police is bipolar, grandmother says
The grandmother of a teenager who was shot and wounded by Denver police officers said Tuesday that he suffers bipolar disorder and "just had a breakdown" before he grabbed a pair of kitchen knives and started fighting with his family. Relatives called …
Read more on Denver Post

Vital Signs: Bipolar disorder or borderline personality disorder?
We see many people who enter the mental health system who have self-diagnosed themselves as having bipolar disorder. I'll often ask how they came to this conclusion, and they will often describe “flying off the handle” at the drop of a hat and other …
Read more on The Daily Progress