Bipolar disorder can be a very confusing phenomenon to manage, for a victim can be extremely stressed when trying to cope with the intense difficulties this disorder forces upon them. Bipolar disorder (also called manic-depressive disorder) is a "medical condition that causes a person to have extreme mood changes that alternate between depression and mania" (Rowelt). Approximately 4 million Americans will suffer from bipolar disorder in their lifetimes and if bipolar disorder is not treated, it can lead to serious illness, the need for longer treatment, and even death due to suicide or reckless or risky behavior (Rowelt).

The disorder is characterized by alternating periods of extreme moods. A person with Bipolar disorder experiences cycling of moods that usually swing from being overly elated or irritable (mania) to sad and hopeless (depression) and then back again, with periods of normal mood in between. For those who have this disorder, it can be extremely distressing and disruptive. The frequency of the swings between these two states, and the duration of the mood, varies from person to person. Bipolar disorder typically begins in adolescence

Research on the burdens experienced by families caring for someone with Bipolar disorder revealed the implications of emotional and financial strains. Living with or caring for someone who has bipolar disorder can be very disruptive to a caregiver's life. In an article provided by The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 264 patient-caregiver pairs participated in a study that recorded the strains on the caregiver and the influences on recovery for the patient. Caregivers displayed significant amount of depression symptoms which then affected the patients in two ways. First, studies have shown that living with a depressed individual is stressful and depressed individuals can usually lead to acts of hostility. Second, a caregiver who is struggling themselves with symptoms of depression may not be able to consistently provided the degree or quality of support needed by the patient (Perlick). Behaviors from a Bipolar patient can either irritate or exhaust family members while the episode lasts. The manic and depressive episodes can also be overwhelming and even frightening.

The cause of bipolar disorder is not well understood. Evidence suggests there is a genetic risk factor in the development of bipolar disorder. It is also possible that episodes of depression and mania may be caused by a problem with brain chemicals called neurotransmitt

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