Do you sometimes have the feeling or raging emotions that everything around you feels great? And are you high in spirit and feel like you can take on anything you put your mind into; then all of a sudden you feel down? If you have no idea why you suddenly feel like you are no longer in control of your environment, and why your confidence went down the drain without any reason, you're not alone - you may have bipolar disorder.

Bipolar is a mental disorder that is affecting one in every eighty three individuals in America. This condition is often manifested by elation of good mood one minute, and having depressive moods the next. The shift can be rapid and even unnoticeable by the individual who is affected. Most people affected with this type of disorder are those who have had depression in the past. This can also result from anti-anxiety and antidepressant drugs prescribed to you in the past.

There are 3 kinds of Bipolar Disorders; the first one is Type I Bipolar Disorder and the next is Bipolar Disorder type II. The number three type is called Rapid Cycling Bipolar. The first type is commonly known as manic-depressive disorder; the disorder type that is known for constantly changing moods from sadness to happiness. The other type is typified by elated emotions one minute then followed by extreme depression or sadness the next minute. The third one is the continuous cycle of manic depression within 12 months period.

People who are most likely to have or develop any of the Types Of Bipolar Disorder are those with history of depression, drug addicts, sleep deprived individuals and those whose immediate relative have had bipolar disorder in the past. Children can also have bipolar disorder, but mostly characterized along the lines of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is also believed that bipolar disorder could be due to environmental factors and other childhood experiences.

The treatment of Bipolar Disorder is more aggressive compared to other mental disorders. This treatment includes psychotherapy where you and your psychotherapist will build a trust - relationship. Your psychotherapist will interview you regarding all aspects of your life, including past experiences and your point of view of today. This type of therapy encourages the patient to become open. Another way to treat this is by getting enough sleep, and taking some mood stabilizer medicines. If your problem was due to drug addiction, many times you will be required to be institutionalized where you can be observed and monitored properly.

Bipolar Disorder is curable and in some cases manageable with the help of family members who understand the condition. It is very important to have the right and proper communication between the patient, family and the psychotherapist for this type of disorder treatment to work. Whether or not the condition is curable, it should always be handled with the right amount of understanding and care.Ben Paul