Causes of Bipolar Disorder
Genes have often been targeted as one of the causes of bipolar disorder since bipolar disorder tends to run in families. Researchers have been looking for specific genes otherwise known as the microscopic "building blocks" of DNA found inside all cells that influence how the body and mind work and grow. Some believe these genes passed down through the generations may actually increase a person's chance of developing bipolar affective disorder. Who knows if genes are indeed one of the possible causes of bipolar disorder? Further research indicates genes are not telling the whole story. Studies with identical twins show if one twin develops bipolar disorder the other one may not. If one of the causes of bipolar disorder were entirely up to the genes, then the identical twin would always develop the illness as well. Reference: NIMH Genetics Work group. Genetics & Mental Disorder. NIHM Publications No.98-4268. Rockwell, MD: National Institute of Mental Health. Damage to the gene PDE4B can increase depression so say scientists at Glasgow and Edinburg Universities. They found this gene helps us to think and to build memories. The scientists also stated, "The gene is not linked to any mental disorder including bipolar disorder." Prof. David Porteous at the University of Edinburg believes identifying the gene is an important breakthrough in our still limited understanding of major mental illnesses. (If it's not linked to a major mental illness I don't quite follow this way of thinking.) For further understanding of gene factors as a possible cause of bipolar disorder you may want to look at this University of Chicago Medical study. However, genes do play a part in our overall development so maybe there is a tendency toward bipolar in families. But then there are tendencies toward diabetes, hot tempers, and shyness in families as well. The question is how much do inherited genes contribute as one of the causes of bipolar disorder and how much of it is brought on by our lifestyle or the environmental issues surrounding us? Chemical imbalance is thought also to be one of the causes of bipolar disorder. Our brains consist of many neurons using neurotransmitters to communicate with each other, and if they are out of balance, we have problems. This communication between these neurons maintains all our body functions and help us to know when there is a fly on our nose, when we burn ourselves, or experience pain. The communication between the neurons is controlled by the type and level of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemical substances that control and create signals between the neurons. Without these neurotransmitters there would be no communication between the neurons, thus no information regarding signals to the heart ordering it to beat, the legs to move, the eyes to blink. Research has been able to identify some 100 different types of neurotransmitters in the brain alone. But common sense tells us we have significantly more than this number. An unfortunate aspect of not being able to identify all the neurotransmitters is that researchers can't always tell why certain medications work and why some do not. Included in this list of neurotransmitters are: serotonin, dopamine, GABA (gamma amminobutyric acid), acetylcholine and norepinephrine. Each of these neurotransmitters perform different functions in the body. For instance serotonin is responsible for mood stability, emotional response, and temperature control. Acetylcholine is responsible for the use of muscles. While researchers can suggest the possible effects of certain neurotransmitters, they have not only not identified them all but are also nowhere near determining the messenger cells that have been identified. With that all to the side, it is important to know what happens and how the brain misfires when there is a chemical imbalance in the brain. Much research indicates chemical imbalance is a contributing factor as one of the causes of bipolar disorder. Let's see. The best comparison is like that of a fine tuned car. Nearly everyone has a car, so this will be an easy, everyday example. Every automobile operates by using a variety of fluids: engine oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, anti-freeze. If you're like my husband, you know how important it is that each of these fluids be in the exact amount suggested in the owner's manual in order for the car to run efficiently. So every day my sweetie checks the engine oil, the transmission fluid, and the like. Every automobile has a way to measure the correct amounts of each of these fluids, the most common being the dipstick to measure the engine oil. If the dipstick indicates we are three quarts low, we need to add three quarts of oil. If we find that we have too much oil, then we need to drain some before damage is done to the engine. In order for the car to work perfectly, all the fluids must be within normal range. Unfortunately we don't have a dipstick to measure the normal range for neurotransmitters but physicians can give us a blood test. By doing so they can get values of certain blood components to determine if these chemicals are within average range. If they are, our brains are functioning pretty well. If not, well then I guess that's why you're here. You probably know by now, research has identified these four neurotransmitters that if too low or too high produce psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, compulsive-obsessive disorder and ADHD. The technical aspects of neurotransmitter levels, the psychiatric symptoms they produce, and how medications have been used to raise or lower the brain levels of these neurotransmitters can be very complicated. So instead, in simple, easy to understand terms, it appears if we have a chemical imbalance, we need to do something about it. Just like when we have a hot engine. We can do a quick fix and pour cold water over it to cool it. But then we may have a much bigger problem on our hands. It's the same with our chemical imbalance. If we resort to a quick fix such as medications alone we may have a much bigger problem on our hands. In the same way, you have to do something about the low oil in your engine - or there is a heavy price to pay!!! The choices are drug therapy, psychological therapy, psychoanalysis, or to investigate other mind and body connections that may determine the cause of bipolar disorder due to chemical imbalance in your brain. There is a solution to this. One is change your brain and change your life. 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Trauma When something so terrible happens to us, it's like our minds store this info way back in the recesses of our minds so we don't have to deal with it. It's grace, really, because the body and brain functions can literally break down and become dysfunctional. Post traumatic stress disorder is often associated as one of the causes of bipolar disorder. Veterans of war often experience post traumatic stress disorder due to the awful life threatening events encountered in the war zone. They may experience these same fears every time they hear a hunter shoot a gun or during loud thunderstorms because they re-experience the traumatic events from their war duty. But PTSD is not just experienced by war veterans. Children can experience PTSD through parental neglect involving lack of shelter, security or malnutrition or near-starvation physically or emotionally. Sometimes these children go through horrible mistreatment including torture or sexual abuse or both. One never knows why a person "flips" out. Generally there are many factors involved when it comes to solving the causes of bipolar disorder, not just one. One case comes to mind that I personally dealt with. As a licensed pastoral counselor, I was invited to visit with a twelve-year-old year Caucasian boy who was "flipping out" in school. He had failing grades, he picked fights with other kids at school, he gave his parents and teachers a hard time, he started cursing, and was displaying terrible pent up rage. His parents seemed to be nice, attentive, middle class, religious people. They could not understand the reason for the sudden aggressive behavior in their sweet boy. Of course the easy solution was to recommend a psychiatrist who more than likely would have prescribed Ritalin, Prozac or some other psychiatric drug. In doing so the boy may never had experienced victory over his anger. It took about three months to finally get at the core of his problem. Through many counseling sessions and different tests we finally realized the boy was experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder. At the age of three, as it turns out, we uncovered that while he was at the babysitter's house 8-9 hours a day the baby sitter had locked him in the closet all day every day for, nearly a year the five days a week he was being "attended to." After much legal to-do, charges were brought against the babysitter, rehabilitation counseling sessions were continued for parents and child, and within three more months son and parents were well on their way to personal recovery and legal retribution. Young women may fall apart "all of a sudden" without explanation. Oftentimes these women are suffering from PTSD. Their minds have stored terrible sexual abuse way back in the recesses of their minds but now that info is coming to the forefront and their emotions can't handle the "reality" of such experiences. Childhood sexual abuse can also be considered one of the contributing causes of bipolar disorder. These are just a few examples of types of people suffering from trauma or PTSD. It is well known that sexual abuse that leads to PTSD may be a major factor as one of the causes of bipolar disorder, a "coping mechanism" particularly for middle aged women. Individuals experiencing PTSD need to find a qualified counselor to assist them in getting their minds and emotions back on track. Without help they could find themselves in severe life threatening situations, again because they have either become homicidal or suicidal due to the chemical changes that have occurred in their brains. Almost half of the individuals in outpatient mental health services have been found to suffer from PTSD. So get help fast and be the one who gains victory over each and everyone of these possible causes of bipolar disorder in your life. We have evidence bottled soft drinks lead to kidney diseases and cirrhosis of the liver, we know lack of folic acid during the development of a fetus leads to spina bifida. Rancid fats cause cardiovascular disease. Diabetes is caused by too much of the wrong kinds of fat. We know lack of lithium in the blood leads to erratic synapses in the brain - a major cause of bipolar disorder. We know lack of iodine in the system leads to thyroid problems which lends itself minimally to mental sluggishness if not one of the full-blown causes of bipolar disorder. Vitamin B is known as the mental health vitamin so guess what? No Vitamin B - no mental health! I'm sure lack of
Vitamin B
is one of the major causes of bipolar disorder. Yet the American Medical Association continues to try and "fix us" by giving us more and more medications that are foreign and often poisonous to our bodies and which deplete Vitamin B in our systems! Isn't that clever? Won't we ever learn? There will be more on diet found shortly after we have time to get the pages typed and on the web. I am convinced diet is a major contributing factor as one of the causes of bipolar disorder. So be sure to return and discover what other facts your doctors, nutritionists, dietitians and psychotherapists may not be telling you. Remember: EVERYTHING has to be in balance in order to run your engine efficiently. So if your engine is low on lithium, put natural lithium in your body (lentil beans, kelp and lemons are just a few of the choices). If you shows signs of hypothyroidism, feed the thyroid what it needs - iodine (found in sea vegetables and other sea foods) and fire up your engines!!! Say bye-bye bipolar disorder - hello wellness today. I will be submitting for public view my thesis on "The Correlation between Bipolar Disorder, Hypothyroidism, Iodine and Diet soon. So look for it. Bon Voyage, The author of this website is not an M.D. and therefore must post this required FDA disclaimer. None of the statements, self testing, nor recommended alternatives to overcoming bipolar symptoms have been evaluated by the FDA. Therefore, the tested and proven experiences, testimonies, supplements and alternative and natural therapies are for informational purposes only and does not purport to prescribe, diagnose or cure any mental or physical condition. Though as a licensed counselor she does advise her clients to be informed and involved in the recovery of their physical, spiritual and mental health. The above information has transformed many lives and the same can happen for you, but you alone are responsible for the decisions you make concerning all aspects of your health. Return from Causes of Bipolar Disorder to No More Bipolar Disorder Get Informed = Get Healthy + Stay Informed = Stay Healthy
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Dr. Cares™
Catherine Sinclair, PhD. uses the trade name Dr. Cares™. She is a licensed pastoral counselor. The information contained in this website is not to be taken as a substitute for professional advice from your qualified medical "practitioner." The author of this website is not an M.D. and does not purport to prescribe or diagnose any mental or health condition.
