5 THINGS ABOUT BIPOLAR DISORDER YOU, YOUR FRIENDS, OR FAMILY MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN
4/3/2007

@ Bipolar disorder, once known as manic-depression, is a psychiatric diagnosis referring to a mental health condition defined by periods of extreme, often inappropriate, and sometimes unpredictable mood states.

@ Bipolar individuals generally experience mania, hypomania or mixed states alternating with clinical depression and euthymic or normal range of mood over varied periods of time. There are many variations of this disorder.

@ As well as being linked to disability, studies have suggested a correlation between creativity and bipolar disorder, although it is unclear what the relationship is between the two. Studies have also indicated increased striving for, and sometimes obtaining, goals and achievements more generally; in other words, many with bipolar disorder tend to be more driven, extremely goal oriented, and hard working.

@ Although many people with bipolar disorder who attempt suicide never actually complete it, the annual average suicide rate in males and females with diagnosed bipolar disorder (0.4%) is 10 to more than 20 times that in the general population.

@ The divorce rate for couples where at least one spouse is bipolar is 90%. For comparison purposes, the general divorce rate is commonly held to be about half as much (around 50%), implying that this illness causes substantial additional burdens on married life. (Yes, I cited this already in a previous post, it's just so astonishing that it bears repeating)

(This and more can be learned from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder)

P.S.
I also recommend going to Bipolar Connect for some incredible advice from experts living with bipolar disorder. This is an online community for anyone diagnosed with and/or affected by bipolar disorder. There are also blogs that I will be recommending as soon as I figure out how to update the damn links on the sidebar -- totally frustrating, I feel so inept, but whatever, I'm doing what I can. Anyway, there really are some wonderful and amazing blogs that I have come across about being bipolar that remind me that I am not alone in my feelings and struggles.