tarageiger,
Bipolar disorder is an illness that causes extreme mood changes that alternate between manic episodes of abnormally high energy and the extreme lows of depression. The cause of bipolar disorder is not completely understood, but the disorder runs in families and may also be affected by your living environment or family situation. An imbalance of chemicals in the brain is another possible cause. It is treated with a combination of medications and counseling. Several medications may be tried, before finding the right combination to manage symptoms. Medications would include mood stabilizers and antipsychotics. Bipolar disorder is hard to diagnose, as it has many phases and symptoms. There are no lab tests, but a doctor or therapist will ask detailed questions about symptoms you are experiencing, and how long they last. A doctor diagnoses bipolar if you have had a manic episode lasting at least a week. At this time you must have had 3 or more specific symptoms of mania which include needing less sleep, being more talkative, behaving wildly or irresponsibly in activities that could have serious outcomes, or feeling as if your throughts are racing. You can read more about bipolar here
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm#readNow
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