Bipolar Disorder Myth & Fact #1 #MHM #MHAM

Myth

Bipolar disorder is rare.

Fact

Bipolar disorder is more common than you might think: 2.8% of U.S. adults experienced bipolar disorder in the past year.

Researchers have not discovered a single cause of bipolar disorder. Currently, they believe several factors may increase the risk of developing bipolar disorder or can act as a trigger for the first episode:

• Having a first-degree relative (a parent or sibling) with bipolar disorder
• Periods of high stress, like the death of a loved one, childhood emotional abuse or another traumatic event
• Research has identified subtle differences in the average levels or activation of some chemical signals in the brain.
• Medical comorbidities like irritable bowel syndrome and asthma, which may point toward shared inflammatory pathophysiology of the disorders
• Alcohol/drug misuse

Source: National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

Check out the SITREP Mental Health resource page.