Bipolar Disorder: What You Need to Know

Find out who is affected by this brain disorder and why.

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Jesse Jackson Jr. and Mental Health - With recent news of Jesse Jackson Jr. receiving 2.5 years in prison for illegal spending of campaign funds, many blame his bipolar disorder for his downfall. Read more about bipolar disorder, who it affects and why African-Americans are less likely to be diagnosed with it. —Kellee Terrell(Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

What Is Bipolar Disease? - Also referred to as “manic depressive illness,” bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that shifts a person’s mood from states of mania (happiness) to feeling very low and depressed. This disorder also impacts one’s energy level and makes it hard for people to do everyday activities like go to work or school.  (Photo: Richard Flood/Getty Images)

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What Is Bipolar Disease? - Also referred to as “manic depressive illness,” bipolar disorder is a brain disorder that shifts a person’s mood from states of mania (happiness) to feeling very low and depressed. This disorder also impacts one’s energy level and makes it hard for people to do everyday activities like go to work or school.  (Photo: Richard Flood/Getty Images)

Get Help - If someone has said something to you about wanting to kill themselves or you are noticing a lot of signs, DO NOT sit idly by. Call a doctor, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 or try to convince your loved one to go to the hospital immediately and seek help. (Photo: Izabela Habur/Getty Images)

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How Serious Is It? - Bipolar disease, when undiagnosed and untreated, can be extremely serious and many experience severe suicidal thoughts. Luckily with treatment, the disorder is manageable and people can live functional and productive lives. It’s estimated that 2.3 million Americans suffer from this disorder. (Photo: Izabela Habur/Getty Images)

Prepping for Your Test - You have made your doctor’s appointment, but there some things that you can do to prepare for it, says Mayo Clinic. Make sure that you know of any restrictions — some tests may require that you do not eat 12 hours or more before the test. Jot down any symptoms you may have had so you can talk to your doctor about it and a list of any medicines or vitamins you are taking.  (Photo: Getty Images/STOCK)

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African-Americans and Bipolar Disease - While too many believe that mental health issues are “white people problems,” it’s important to know that bipolar disease affects Blacks at the same rates as other Americans. Unfortunately, African-Americans are less likely to be diagnosed and treated for the illness. (Photo: ColorBlind Images/Getty Images)

Benefits - Benefits are what your health insurance covers under your plan. Each plan will offer “essential health benefits” which include some of the following: maternity and newborn care, mental health services, emergency care, lab tests and ambulance rides. Also, preventive care and preventive screenings under the Affordable Care Act are free and co-pay free. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Obstacles to Getting Care - There are many factors as to why we are least likely to be diagnosed with bipolar disorder: Mistrust of the medical community, lack of health insurance, cultural stigma, reliance on the church to heal mental issues and a lack of understanding about mental illness overall. (Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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What Puts People at Risk? - Doctors are not 100 percent sure what causes bipolar disorder, but they believe that having a family member with bipolar disorder can raise your risk dramatically, especially if your parent or sibling suffers from the illness, too. (Photo: kali9/Getty Images)

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What Puts People at Risk? - Doctors are not 100 percent sure what causes bipolar disorder, but they believe that having a family member with bipolar disorder can raise your risk dramatically, especially if your parent or sibling suffers from the illness, too. (Photo: kali9/Getty Images)

NAACP Presents “Fight Like a Girl” Program - To promote breast cancer awareness among African-American women, the NAACP’s Young Adult Committee will host on May 4 “Fight Like a Girl,” an all-day event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The event will boast local female boxers, film screenings, educational panels and a gala, wrote the Milwaukee Courier. All proceeds will help Black breast cancer organization Sisters Network Milwaukee.  (Photo: Jean-Paul Pelissier/REUTERS )

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How Is It Diagnosed? - Bipolar disorder is diagnosed by a psychiatrist or mental health specialist. It’s a process that may include blood tests, MRIs and interviews that track someone’s episodes, how severe they are and how often they happen.  (Photo: REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier)

Federal Trade Commission v. Actavis - The court ruled in a 5-3 decision that it can be illegal for agreements made between makers of name-brand and generic drugs to delay the generic drugs’ availability to consumers. (Photo: Jeffrey Coolidge/Getty Images)

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Treating Bipolar Disorder - There is no cure for bipolar disorder, but there is an array of treatments that you can take including mood stabilizers such as lithium and antidepressant drugs. Everyone reacts to the medications differently and finding the right combination with the right dosage may take time. (Photo: Jeffrey Coolidge/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Jeffrey Coolidge/Getty Image

Worries - The economy tops the list of things Americans are concerned about, with 68 percent saying they worry a "great deal" about federal spending and the budget deficit, according to a Gallup poll published on March 26. They're followed by the availability and affordability of health care (61 percent), gas prices (55 percent) and unemployment (51 percent). (Photo: Getty Images/STOCK)

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Coexisting Issues With Bipolar Disorder - Many people who suffer from bipolar disorder also juggle a number of other health issues as well including drug and alcohol addiction, anxiety disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Also people with bipolar disorder have a higher risk of having thyroid issues, obesity, migraines and diabetes, says the National Institute of Mental Health. (Photo: Stockbyte/Getty Images)