Despite decades of research, scientists have been struggling to understand the human mind and how it works. While there is still a lot to be deciphered, we have more answers now than ever when it comes to mental illnesses.

Perhaps one of the most challenging illnesses to understand and treat is bipolar disorder. A condition that affects the mood, it affects about 3% of the US population. If you too have this condition and are planning to have kids, you are worried about passing it to your kids and hence want to know if it is genetic.

So to find out more about this illness, we reached out to Dr Paul Foster who treats bipolar disorder at Austin Ketamine Clinic.

What Causes Bipolar Disorder?

People with bipolar disorder experience frequent mood shifts. Within a day they can go from experiencing depression to a sudden feeling of elatedness. Patients also suffer from hallucinations and delusions.

While the exact causes of bipolar disorder are unclear, scientists have found a connection between bipolar disorder and genes. About 60 to 80% of bipolar disorder cases have a genetic connection.

The disease often occurs during adolescence or early years of adulthood. Adults with relatives who have bipolar disorder have a higher risk of developing the disorder due to the genes involved.

The closer the relationship, the higher the risk. So if one of your parents had the disorder, the chances of your having the disorder increase. And yes, there are chances you may pass it down to your children too.

Other Causes of Bipolar Disorder

While there are chances you may not develop it even if you have close relatives with the disorder, here are some other factors that may increase the risk.

Bipolar disorder can also have a link to stressful events. For eg., the Sudden death of loved ones or even physical injuries can trigger its onset.

Even changing seasons could have a link to a change in behaviour and mood. Sunlight has a direct effect on the functioning of the pineal gland. So a sudden increase in hours of sunshine can trigger mood changes and push a patient into a state of depression or mania.

Apart from these, pregnancy, use of substances and even lack of sleep can trigger the onset of the disorder.

How to treat bipolar disorder?

If you experience a period of depression followed by a period of elation and have a relative with the disorder, you need to seek help immediately. Other symptoms of bipolar disorder include restlessness, poor concentration, and rapid speech.

Most people are treated with mood-stabilizing drugs like lithium. The disorder often pushes people to drugs to help cope with the disease. This can have negative effects in the long run.

Recent studies have shown ketamine can also be helpful in treating patients with bipolar disorder.

The drug helps during the depression phase and can help relieve the pain and agony the patients feel due to the disorder.

So if you haven’t found success with other treatments for bipolar disorder, you may want to try ketamine therapy. You will experience fewer night terrors, angry outbursts, and suicidal thoughts.

And by helping you gain control of your symptoms, you will be able to lead a normal life too.

If you or your family member has bipolar disorder and is looking for chronic pain treatment in Austin, you can book a consultation at Austin Ketamine Specialists. The medical professionals at the clinic will assess your situation, listen to your problems and guide you with the right treatment to reduce your suffering. So book your consultation for ketamine therapy right away.