Many of us with bipolar disorder have trouble with gaining weight due to medications. The inactive lifestyle that is often a normal part of being depressed can be a cause for weight gain as well. Mania is another problem as people are rarely hungry when manic and junk food is an easy and convenient way to eat.

It was the largest pediatric study of its kind regarding mood stabilizers, according to scientists at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. The clinical trial tested the drug, divalproex sodium, created for adults with bipolar disorder, to see if it helped children and adolescents.

Bipolar Disorder is believed to be caused by a problem with the neurotransmitters in the brain, a chemical imbalance in the brain, and probably also has genetic/hereditary cause as well.

Most children and adolescents have moods that come and go, and this is  normal. Their feelings of sadness or elation are typical reactions to daily  occurrences in their lives, environmental or personal stress, or just hormones.

Bipolar Disorder, now the number six cause of disability for individuals between the ages of 14 and 44, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), is as prevalent as diabetes.

I have Bipolar Disorder. I have to deal with this disorder every single day of my life. It is not curable and it won't just magically go away. However, I live a happy, productive life in spite of my mental illness. You can do the same thing, but only if you are willing to do what it takes to accomplish this important goal.

Bipolar Disorder medications are used to control the symptoms of the disorder in the same way that aspirin is used to control the fever of an illness, without curing the illness itself. Bipolar Disorder is still not curable at this point; however, its symptoms are manageable through the use of medications.

People with Bipolar Disorder are accused of lying sometimes, because their families, spouses, friends, or other people misunderstand and often misjudge the disorder and the symptoms of bipolar. This can happen because of a general lack of knowledge of bipolar itself, and/or your own difficulty in explaining the disorder to them.

For Bipolar Disorder patients, religion often plays a distinct role in their lives. Many people with bipolar find the support of their church families to be invaluable. However, some bipolar patients have also faced judgment, stigma, misunderstanding, and have even been accused of demon possession.

Many people get frustrated with bipolar disorder.  Especially supporters. Their loved one says something strange.  Their loved one isn't acting like they normally do.  Something happens.  Their loved one is in another episode.