What Causes Bipolar Disorder?

About Bipolar

Bipolar disorder is a complex illness. Doctors don’t know exactly what causes it.

One theory is that bipolar disorder comes from an imbalance of chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters.

The brain is made up of nerve cells, called neurons.

Neurons send and receive messages from the rest of your body by using the neurotransmitters.

If the levels of neurotransmitters are not balanced, they may not be able to send messages properly.

An imbalance of neurotransmitters also happens in major depression. Bipolar disorder often looks like major depression, at first. But it’s different.

In bipolar illness, people have highs—mania—as well as lows—depression. Medicines to treat depression do not treat the whole illness and can make bipolar disorder worse.

And, sometimes hormones can cause mood changes that look like bipolar disorder. The thyroid produces hormones that affect energy, metabolism, and mood.

An imbalance in the level of these or other hormones may be associated with symptoms of mania or depression.

It’s important to decide what is causing a change of mood, so that it can be treated correctly.

Next: Signs and symptoms of Bipolar Disorder

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