Words Lisa Jackson
“Bipolar disorder is a mental illness that’s thought to be caused by an imbalance in the way brain cells communicate with each other,” says Sarah Owen, co-author of Bipolar Disorder – the Ultimate Guide. “This imbalance causes mood swings where someone with the condition can go ‘low’ (into depression) and ‘high’ (experiencing mania and/or psychosis). They can go into a mixed state too, where symptoms of depression and mania occur at the same time.”
According to the charity Bipolar UK, it’s estimated that 2% of people experience bipolar disorder in their lifetime in the UK. The condition afects equal numbers of men and women and is more prevalent among young people.