Do you ever wonder why you do the things you do?  Do you sometimes feel as if you have no control over yourself or your behavior when you're in a manic episode, or why you can't seem to "pull yourself out of it" when you're in a depressed episode?

Bipolar disorder is a chemical imbalance of the brain.  It involves the neuroreceptors of the brain, which control our impulses.  You don't have to understand neuroreceptors to understand that they control what you do.

When these neuroreceptors "fire off," they can control your behavior, causing you to do things you would not otherwise do. 

If you are on medication, and that medication is working correctly, your behavior is under control.  However, if you are not on medication, or that medication somehow is not working effectively, you may go into an episode.

If you go into a bipolar depressive episode, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Feeling hopeless, sad, or empty
• Irritability
• Inability to experience pleasure
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Physical and mental sluggishness
• Appetite or weight changes
• Sleep problems
• Concentration and memory problems
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Thoughts of death or suicide

You may wonder why you are experiencing these feelings and why you can't bring yourself out of them.  You may wonder why your "blue mood" is going on for so long.  This is because of the neuroreceptors in your brain "firing off."  Proper treatment (medication) will again restore you to a normal state, and your symptoms should go away.

If you go into a bipolar manic episode, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Feeling unusually “high” and optimistic or extremely irritable
• Unrealistic, grandiose beliefs about your abilities or powers
• Sleeping very little, but feeling extremely energetic
• Talking so rapidly that others can’t keep up
• Racing thoughts; jumping quickly from one idea to the next
• Highly distractible, unable to concentrate
• Impaired judgment and impulsiveness
• Acting recklessly without thinking about the consequences
• Delusions and hallucinations (in severe cases)

Because of the neuroreceptors "firing off" during a manic episode, you may then act impulsively, doing things; such as: excessive spending; risky driving; compulsive gambling; risky sexual behavior; or foolish business investments.

This is because manic episodes affect your decision-making ability, and cause you to have distorted thoughts.  You may have grandiose (great) ideas and plans but not carry through with them for the same reason.

All these things are due to the neuroreceptors in your brain being out of balance.  Proper treatment (medication) will again balance them and you should be returned to a normal state.