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The Gemini Disorder What We Know and Are Still Discovering About Bipolar DisorderYou must understand something nigh Andrew... hes a Gemini. This was a simple phrase I heard very often in the company of my dear friend and his clever well-intentioned mother. It was spy a short time later that the aforementioned statement was justification for the earliest symptoms of Bipolar disorder (or manic depressive illness.) As Andrew and I matured into our twenties, it seemed that he was going to need to understand a bit more(prenominal) than his astrological sign to gain control of his life and his mental and emotional well-being. Thus, we sought this teaching out together. It is important to consider the magnitude of people who are affected by this disease and the multitude of forms it can take. Bipolar disorder affects approximately 2.3 one million million million American adults, or about 1.2 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and over in a given year. (1) Of this population, approxi mately 75 percent get at least one close relative with manic-depression or severe depression. (5) Men and women are equally likely to develop bipolar disorder. Children and adolescents may generate signs or have symptoms of bipolar disorder, yet a persons first manic episode usually strikes in their early 20s. Bipolar disorder is also more common among those who have family members, specifically first-degree relatives, with this disorder than with those who do not. (6) Unfortunately, many people suffer for years before properly diagnosed and treated or the illness may be never recognized at all. (4) Generally, bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swingsfrom overly high and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then seat again, often with periods of stable moods in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior follow these mood swings. (4) However, this description of bipolar disorder does not delve into the specifics of the disease which often branch into separate diagnosis an d needs for treatment. Bipolar 1 Disorder is the more classic form of this illness, easy to recognize due to its phrenetic and often psychotic episodes of mania. During these episodes, people may experience hallucinations (hearing, seeing or sensing a presence that isnt actually there,) or delusions of grandeur (such as believe they are the President, invincible, all-powerful, or extremely wealthy.) During depressive episodes, the person may experience feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, pessimisms toward the future, and thoughts of death and suicide or even suicide attempts.