Bipolar Disorder Support Group

What is Bipolar?

Rather than a single disorder, bipolar disorder is a category of mood disorders marked by one or more periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria. People who experience these manic episodes often experience bouts of clinical depression. The rapid alternation of these states, called cycling, can often occur. The onset of bipolar disorder symptoms usually begins young adulthood.

Bipolar Causes

No single thing causes bipolar disorder, instead, a varied group of factors interplay to help trigger the condition. Scientists widely support the view that genetic factors have a strong influence on the emergence of bipolar disorder, and that various individual genes play a role in combination. Apart from genetic influences, there is theory of kindling, which proposes that people with an inherited predisposition for the disorder may see it triggered after series of stressful life experiences.

Bipolar Treatments

Although there is no cure for bipolar disorder, it can be effectively managed via medical support. The condition is usually medically treated with a group of drugs called mood stabilizers, and antipsychotic medications are often prescribed to treat manic episodes. If you're diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder, it's best to have a chat with your doctor about which treatments might work for you, and then commit to sticking to it. This commitment is particularly challenging with bipolar disorder -- during periods of elation, you may "forget" that you have the disorder, no longer feel the need for help, or may wish to prolong the euphoria. DailyStrength users with bipolar disorder have cited several alternative therapies, activities and supplements that help them cope, almost always used in combination with medication. These include support group therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), taking fish oil, and writing.

Bipolar Resources and Support

In DailyStrength's Bipolar Support Group, you can learn more about how others cope with their mood disorders, and even overcome them and thrive again. There are over 9,000 people in the Bipolar community, and hundreds more in the Seasonal Affective Disorder support group. You can chat one-on-one, ask for advice in the forums, and learn more about helpful treatments. The most valuable activity is making friends who form a support system you can rely on every day.

To get more facts about Bipolar Disorder, you may want to visit these highly regarded reference sites:

• The National Institute of Mental Health's Bipolar Disorder page.
• The Bipolar Disorder Definition page at FAQs.org
• A thorough overview of Bipolar Disorder at MindDisorders.com with a list of more reference materials.