Bipolar disorder is a complex psychological disorder, a mental illness also known as manic depression. In the article “Bipolar Disorder Fact Sheet” by Margarita Tartakovsky it states that “approximately 2.6% of American adults suffer from bipolar disorder.” People with this condition experience brutal mood swings that may impair their daily activities and have a negative effect on their lives and relationships. It can cause individuals to make very poor decisions and even lead to drug and alcohol abuse. They experience up and down mood swings which can be very exhausting not only for the person suffering from this condition, but also for the family and loved ones. When one experiences a “high” mood, they may feel invincible. They become very confident and feel like they can do anything, which can lead to overspending, reckless thinking, and poor decisions. When experiencing a “low,” the individual becomes very depressed, sad, and even feels hopeless. According to Tartakovsky, “suicide attempts are very common in bipolar disorder, especially during depressive episodes.” There are several types of bipolar disorders, but the two main types are bipolar I and bipolar II. Bipolar I is the definitive type of bipolar disorder and the person will constantly go through both the manic and depressive phases of the condition. The length of these episodes will vary from time to time. In Bipolar II, the manic stages are not as severe as in Bipolar I; however, the depressive stages are quite similar (bipolar). But what causes this life-altering mental illness? Several factors contribute to the cause of bipolar disorder such as genetics, biology, and environment. Researchers believe that there... half of the document... ct. 15, 2011). Munson, Leala. “Is Bipolar Disorder Genetic?” National Institute of Mental Health. and Like health. npndWeb. (accessed 21 September 2011). National Institute of Mental Health. "Bipolar." Patient Education Center. np 24 February 2000. Web. (accessed 20 October 2011) Pedersen, Traci. “Children of Bipolar Parents Have Highly Reactive Stress Hormone.” Psychological center. np 6 May 2011. Web. (accessed 20 October 2011). Smith, Melinda. Segal, Jeanne and Segal, Robert. "Treatment for Bipolar Disorder." np October 2011. Web. (accessed October 22, 2011).Tartakovsky, Margarita. “Bipolar Disorder Fact Sheet.” Psychological center. np 2009. Web. (accessed 20 September 2011). White, Ruth and Preston, John. “Bipolar 101: A Practical Guide to Identifying Triggers, Managing Medication, Addressing Symptoms, and More.” Stephen Hinshaw, Ph.D. and Press. (accessed in September. 29, 2011).