Bipolar disorder is caused by many factors and conditions. But this condition is treatable. You can easily manage your symptoms with treatment. Bipolar disorder treatment includes medications, psychotherapy, or a combination of both. You should not ignore the symptoms and discuss with your doctor to take prompt treatment to prevent complications and increase your chances to improve your mental health. Visit the best Mental Health Clinic in Brooklyn at Doral Health & Wellness or log on to www.doralhw.org.
So, learn the conditions and environmental factors that cause bipolar disorder in this article.
What causes bipolar disorder?
What exactly causes bipolar disorder is still largely unknown. However, researchers believe it is a combination of factors that leads to this illness, including:
- Co-existing conditions:
During a mood episode, you may notice some symptoms of bipolar disorder, which makes it common for bipolar disorder co-exists with other conditions. These are the conditions commonly found with bipolar disorder:
- Anxiety: Research found that at least half of all people with bipolar disorder will experience anxiety disorder symptoms at some point in their life.
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): bipolar disorder is usually linked with childhood trauma, so it is logical that many people experience PTSD too.
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): bipolar disorder usually occurs with ADHD, especially when mood symptoms start before the age of 21.
- Substance use disorders: According to DSM-5, more than half of all people who meet the criteria for a bipolar disorder diagnosis also develop an alcohol use disorder or substance use disorder.
- Psychosis: If you experience symptoms like delusions, hallucinations, and other symptoms of psychosis it often occurs with bipolar disorder too.
- Eating disorders: Many people with bipolar disorder also develop an eating disorder. Bulimia nervosa and bipolar II disorder have the strongest links.
- Migraine: Research shows that people with bipolar disorder have a high risk of developing migraine.
- Environmental factors:
Besides the genetic link to bipolar disorder, the research found that people with bipolar disorder, as children, usually lived under environmental stressors. Living with parents who mostly suffer from mood swings, alcohol or substance abuse, financial and sexual indiscretions, and hospitalizations can increase the risk of bipolar disorder in their children. However, most children do not develop bipolar disorder, some children’s parents may have a different psychiatric disorder such as ADHD, major depression, schizophrenia, or substance abuse can increase the risk.
Environmental factors such as personal experiences, health, sleep, external stress triggers, alcohol, substance use, etc. may trigger bipolar episodes, especially in children with childhood trauma. It happens because strong emotional distress in children may affect their ability to regulate their emotions as adults. Childhood trauma includes:
- Sexual and physical abuse
- Negligence
- Traumatic events
- Extreme living situations
So, what you need to understand here is bipolar causes such as genetics, brain chemistry, and triggers cause mood episodes which are different than experiencing mood episodes caused by environmental factors. Mood episodes not only happen in childhood but also in adulthood too on certain life events, such as a rough breakup, job loss, or child loss. Even certain habits like less sleep regularly or excessive consumption of alcohol can trigger mood episodes or make them severe.
Besides those factors, some other environmental factors cause mood episodes including:
- Underlying health conditions
- Severe stress such as the death of loved ones or other loss
- Diet
- Persistent, smaller-scale stress, such as trouble at work or family problems.
- Medications, drugs, and alcohol:
Certain medications, drugs, and alcohol can lead to bipolar disorder. For example:
- Medication: Certain medications can cause hypomania or mania as a side effect. This happens when you suddenly stop taking the medications as a withdrawal symptom. So, it is important to discuss with your healthcare provider any concerns regarding the medications they prescribed.
- Alcohol or recreational drugs: Using these things can cause symptoms similar to bipolar disorder, which makes it hard to tell whether you experience the effects of alcohol or drugs or mental health disease symptoms.
Some studies also show that using recreational drugs can increase the risk of bipolar disorder. However, the research is limited.
When to go to a doctor?
If you experience severe depression and mania and hypomania symptoms, you should visit your doctor or mental health professional. As bipolar disorder doesn’t go away on its own. You need to take the treatment in order to manage its symptoms and to live a peaceful life.
Want to know about the symptoms and treatment options of bipolar disorder in detail? Call us at 718-DORAL-55, 1-347-384-5690 to get a consultation. If you need help learning coping methods, register your information and make direct contact with our doctors and psychiatrists to learn those methods, log on to www.doralhw.org. Doral Health and Wellness has the best Doctors and Psychiatrists who specialize in Behavioral health, make accurate diagnoses, and craft tailored treatment programs. Visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212.
