by Stephen Surgener

Created on: November 12, 2007

Regardless of your opinion, by medical definition, bipolar is a disease. Disease: a harmful deviation from the normal structural or functional state of an organism. A diseased organism commonly exhibits signs or symptoms indicative of its abnormal state. Thus, the normal condition of an organism must be understood in order to recognize the hallmarks of disease.(Britannica online)

Two separate studies conducted in 2000, had initial findings of bipolar brains containing cellular breakdown within the Hippocampus region. These initial studies have since been validated repeatedly, and have lead to the reproduction of bipolar, or at least its symptoms, in a lab mouse.

Furthermore, studies which were conducted by Dr. Kato Tadafumi, of Riken University, have confirmed that this cellular breakdown is often degenerative. This research validates, what many long time sufferers of bipolar have suspected, the disease can, and often does get worse.

But since debates involve opinion, here is mine. Bipolar is a debilitating disease, that can sometimes be managed, and sometimes drive over you and those around you like a Mack truck. I do not know this because I read about it. I do not know this because of an ex girlfriend I dated for 3 weeks. I know this because I live it. Every day, day in and day out, bipolar is my constant companion, and enemy.

Unfortunately, change takes time, and time is what it will take for mental health providers, pharmaceutical companies, and educators to get caught up on what is already nearly a decade old discovery. Perhaps one day, within the next 10 years, actual understanding of this disease that effects over 5 million adults in the U.S., will be more prevalent than ignorance.

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