When many people hear the words, 'bipolar disease', they immediately think of people placed in straitjackets and carted off to the nearest asylum. Many of those very same people are unaware that bipolar disease is one of the most common mental illnesses in the United States, and can range from mild to severe symptoms, with very few of those numbers actually ever having to be committed to a mental institution for treatment.

Bipolar disease is caused, doctors believe today, by chemical imbalances in the brain or erratic thyroid hormone levels. The disorder also tends to run in families, though that doesn't mean if Grandmother Ada was diagnosed with a mental disorder, that you will automatically develop the disease. Before the late twentieth century, the disorder was extremely difficult to diagnose, and many people were mistakenly labeled as schizophrenic or with severe anxiety disorders.

Millions of Americans have been diagnosed with bipolar disease, and lead relatively normal lives, and the majority of those also hold regular jobs ranging from corporate to blue-collar positions. When identified early enough, patients often respond well to medications and psychotherapy treatments that may range from mere consultations to one-on-one therapy to group therapy programs.

For others, bipolar disease can be devastating to both personal and professional lives, and some don't respond to any medication treatments at all. For some sufferers, periods of depression, accompanied by periods of extreme happiness, often take their toll with failed relationships, lost jobs and feelings of worthlessness and failure.

While most of us experience periods of the 'blues' or days when we seem to be walking on Cloud Nine, someone who suffers from bipolar disease will experience these moments in the extreme. Chronic repetition of these periods are exhausting to both the victim and close friends and family members, and may eventually lead to isolation and a lack of interest in participating in events or activities that used to bring pleasure.

Recognizing that all might not be well with someone is important. If you or someone you know is experiencing endless mood swings that range from severe depression to extreme states of elation, and then back again, it is important to track such mood swings and note their duration and severity. Early recognition of the disease is important in order to prevent a downward spiral that may eventually lead to thoughts of suicide for the victim.

Despite the availability of medications and psychotherapy methods to help people today who suffer from bipolar disease, the condition still maintains a stigma that prevents many people from seeking help. Unfortunately, many people suffering from the erratic mood swings produced by the condition are too embarrassed or humiliated by the thought of having a mental condition to seek help. Instead, they withdraw further and further from loved ones.

If you think that you or someone you know is suffering from this condition, talk to them. Encourage them to seek help and most of all, be as supportive as possible. You can make all the difference in the world for someone suffering from bipolar disease.