What’s the root cause of your bipolar? In my practice, I’ve noticed that the root cause of bipolar varies from person to person. For some it’s an undiagnosed or poorly-managed thyroid condition, for others it’s a reaction to eating gluten. I frequently see people with bipolar who are very sensitive to light. The same blue-spectrum light in the evening that might cause mild insomnia for one person might cause a manic episode in someone with this predisposition. Also, there is an underappreciated risk of SSRI medications, which is that they can induce what’s called “iatrogenic” (aka doctor-caused) bipolar disorder. And don’t overlook the role that substances, such as cocaine and alcohol, can play in inducing mania in vulnerable individuals.
