Bipolar Disorder: The Difficulty of Living with a Mental Imparity

“Nearly every day, without thinking, I say things like ‘So-and-so is driving me crazy’ or ‘That's nuts!’” Mary Seymour describes as she recounts her daily experiences. “Sometimes I catch myself and realize that I'm not being sensitive toward people with mental illness. Then I remember I'm one of the mentally ill. If I can't throw those words around, who can?” (Newsweek, 16). 

That, in the words of a normal adult, would sound like an insult. Mary Seymour, however, is NOT a normal person. Mary suffers from Bipolar Disorder (which is also known as manic depression). Bipolar Disorder is a mental illness, which affects how the brain works; causing an unintentional upending of the mental balance within sufferers to the point where the occasional bad day we all have is a nightmare for sufferers compared not only to good days but to average people on THEIR bad days. However, Bipolar Disorder is a treatable mental illness, so sufferers do not have to let it affect their lives. 

Scientists do not known what exactly causes Bipolar Disorder - however, they have managed to pinpoint at least three areas of the brain that seem to be involved in determining whether or not someone has the disorder. These are the Ventral Striatum (30% loss of gray matter), the Prefrontal Cortex (20%-40% loss of gray matter), the Amygdala (slow habituation), the Hippocampus (loss of neuron connections), and the Brain Stem (40% loss of serotonin). (Time, 42).
Bipolar Disorder has a varied list of symptoms. Some sufferers overspend their money. Others are prone to temper tantrums at inopportune times, especially young children with the disorder. Some contemplate, attempt or even commit suicide. Some even experience one or more of these symptoms. (I know. I have Bipolar Disorder myself, and I am guilty as charged on all three counts if you know what I mean. Moreover, I have the guts to be upfront about it – though not all sufferers are.)