What are the 7 Causes of Bipolar Disease?

Bipolar disorder is a mental illness involving an extreme shift in emotions. It is characterized by two powerful emotions, namely, mania and depression. Patients with bipolar may either have mania or depression or have a rotation of these two emotions that may be instant and unusual.  Patients with mania are highly excited and irritable, have high energy for physical activity, and can even go days without sleep. On the opposite end of the spectrum, bipolar patients may also have episodes of severe depression, suicidal tendencies, and a feeling of isolation. Bipolar episodes, however, can be controlled, and treatment involves talking to a therapist and medications such as antidepressants and mood stabilizers. While the symptoms and treatment for bipolar disorder are known, it is still not clear What are the causes of Bipolar disease. Experts suggest that many factors, such as trauma, PTSD, or even shock, can push you into bipolar mood shifts. To understand this condition better, we have noted some of the medically plausible reasons that may cause bipolar disorder in an average healthy individual.

What is bipolar disease?

• Bipolar disorder is a rare mental disorder that involves unusual shifts in mood.
• It is characterized by a heightened sense of highs (mania) and a reduced sense of lows (depression).
•  The emotions seen in bipolar patients appear on the end of the spectrum of emotions.
• Bipolar patients appear to be extremely happy and excited and do not feel the need to sleep.
• Bipolar patients may also be highly moody and show signs of persistent depressive episodes.
• The exact cause of onset is unknown; several factors, such as genetic makeup, chemical imbalance in the brain, and emotionally stressful events, are known to cause the condition.
• Treatment for bipolar disorder includes medications such as lithium intake, antidepressants, anti-anxiety pills, and mood stabilizers.

What are the causes of Bipolar disease?

Common causes of bipolar disease can include,

1. Genetics

Bipolar disorder is a kind of mental illness that can be passed down through genes. You're more likely to suffer mood shifts if a family member has a mental illness. Bipolar sickness can go undiagnosed because it is mood-related.  One might assume that it is merely a way of reacting to a situation and may not consider it grave. Look out for the frequency of mood shifts to analyze the possibility of this condition.

2. Brain chemistry

Some evidence suggests that the neurotransmitters in the brain, namely dopamine, noradrenaline, and serotonin, play a role in most mental illnesses. An imbalance in these neurotransmitters can cause an altercation in the brainwaves and the thinking pattern of the individual. However, it is unclear what neurotransmitter changes cause bipolar disease.

3. Childhood trauma

Children are sensitive, their brain is yet to develop, and their mind has yet to learn how to comprehend certain events. Facing physical and mental abuse at such an age can change how children behave or react to situations. It may also alter their thinking process and force them to be timid or carefree in certain life events.  Some children live with the same trauma throughout their adult life, which can harm the mind and body. Everyday events that may force a change in mood and emotions in a child are:

• Neglect from parents
• Embarrassment and punishment from parents or teachers
• Sexual abuse
• Physical abuse

4. Stressful events

Stress is subjective. What is stress to one may not be stress to another. However, certain events in life can be life-changing, and these very events may sometimes be responsible for causing hysteria and mania or depression and misery. Some of these events include:

• Poverty- Being poor can be harsh as people spend the majority of their time thinking about their future and ways to survive the next day.
• Work pressure- Stress at work is not uncommon. Corporate life has taught us that it takes work, not even the money you work for. Competition and the desire for ongoing success can force a series of emotions in an emotionally weak individual.
• Isolation- College students who leave home and stay alone often find it hard to cope with living alone and under stress. This leads to a chain of emotions that may be a driving force for bipolar disorder. 

5. Shock

Shock is when a person cannot deal with the consequences of a traumatic event and eventually has a mental breakdown. This can answer your "What are the causes of Bipolar disease" question. Events that can leave a shock are:

• Breakup or divorce after a long relationship
• A road accident
• Death of a loved one
• Losing your life's savings
• Terminal health disease

6. Medication

Certain medications, especially those that alter brain activity and change the balance of certain hormones, have mania as a side effect. Taking these medications regularly or for a long duration can harm the individual—examples of drugs that can cause manic episodes include Amitriptyline, Sertraline, and levodopa.

7. Drugs and alcohol

Taking recreational drugs and alcohol for long periods can give you a sense of euphoria and mania and hallucinations, and depressive episodes similar to that experienced in bipolar patients. Often it is difficult to distinguish and diagnose mental illnesses in patients who consume drugs and alcohol daily. Read Also: Air Pollution Can Lead to Bipolar Disorder And Depression, Study Says

Conclusion-

Medical research is yet to find out the definite What are causes of Bipolar disease. Thus, we only know that bipolar disease can result from a combination of factors as those mentioned above. Hence, it is rightfully said that mindful living is happily living.  Keeping all health conditions at bay is done by keeping an open mind, reducing stress, and eating healthy. Bipolar disorder can have its onset at any age and to any person, so one should be careful of the mental, physical, and social environment one chooses to live in. If you face any symptoms of bipolar disease then you may consult Narayana Superspeciality Hospital Guwahati. Also Read: The 11 Alarming Symptoms For Mental Illnesses Read Also: Short-Term Memory Loss: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment