i knew a crazy alcoholic lady who didn't work because she said she couldn't because she was bi polar. Ugh, i don't think it's a disability it's just debilitating at times.

I don't think it's a disability, just a disorder. And no I don't believe the childhood trauma thing...I didn't suffer any childhood trauma.

Self manifested brain chemical imbalance? I disagree. I'll agree that it can sometimes be over dramatized and/or sometimes could be used as a crutch...but those instances would be far and wide the exception, not the rule. Thinking BiPolar disorder is self-inflicted is as naive as thinking Christians kill abortion doctors. Sure, it happens...but not typically. But a disability? I'd have to disagree w/ that as well. Disorder/challenge/quirk...but not a disablility any more than asthma or chronic sinus conditions.

UNTREATED bipolar disorder can be paralyzing. As a rule, people can't live their life normally without being treated. If it's treated, you typically live as any other human being. If it goes undiagnosed and/or untreated, people often have a hard time holding jobs, relationships, etc.

In some ways, bipolar can be disabling to those with the disease. Though people with bipolar disorder often do have emotional trauma behind it, some experience their symptoms due only to what scientists believe to be a severe imbalance in chemical signals throughout the brain. While most cases are managable with a combo of medication, some are impossible to manage and those individuals are affected for the majority of their lives. These are the people that can claim disability. Do I think that some claim it when unecessary? Yes. But, sadly several of these people are approved, while those with more severe disabilities are left struggling.

Bipolar disorder is a vey common long term effect of childhood trauma/neglect...there also is a genetic factor. The old nature/nurture question. And for some, there are no obvious etiological (causative) factors. Most people with bipolar disorder which is properly diagnosed and treated are not disabled by it. Some are.....not necessarily through any self-infliction of their own...but sometimes due to concurrent disorders. Also, in a very small minority,there are other factors...like learned helplessness for instance. Many people are unlucky enough that no medication helps enough for them to stabilize adequately to hold down a job. Meds are a toss of the dice, anyway. Sometimes you find a combo that works, often you dont until you have tried many combos...and that can take years of misery,instability,and frustration.

Though most of the time it's not a real big problem, and people with it can sometimes ignore it completely, bipolar disorder can be so serious as to be a disability, whether or not it's recognized as one. It can even be worse than more obvious types of disabilities, so much so that a person might have trouble living with it day to day.

It's a serious illness that be a disability. It depends on the person and how badly they suffer from it.

Source: http://www.bipolar.com/what_is_bipolar/causes_and_risk_factors.html Bipolar disorded has nothing to do with childhood trauma/neglect. Scientists don’t really know what causes bipolar disorder. Most people with bipolar disorder have a relative with the same condition or with some other mood disorder. Special chemicals in the brain may be involved. If the levels of these chemicals are out of balance, it may be harder for brain cells to work as they should. Bipolar disorder also could be connected to hormone levels. Hormones are chemicals in the body that do certain things. Experts have noticed a link between thyroid hormone levels and bipolar disorder. Also, certain parts of the brain may have a different size or shape in people with bipolar disorder. The changes could be a cause or symptom of the illness. In some cases, other illnesses may play a role in bipolar disorder.

I don't believe that people who have bi-polar should be able to claim it as a disability. Not that I don't think it's disabling. There are 2 types of bi-polar and different amounts of severity for them. No, it's not onset from childhood trauma. As far as a thyroid issue....I haven't heard anything about that and it doesn't make much sense. Bi-Polar has to do with the inability to maintain a balance of dopamine and seratonin levels. When dopamine receptors are activated in the brain, you cheer up and gain every level of excitement. It can be onset by sex, aggression (in some cases) amphetamine based drugs (speed, ephedrine). Conversely seratonin is the downer side of the brain. It slows you down, allows you to feel sad/relaxed/depressed. If you think of your emotional state and assume that normal functioning is a straight line, and then you see happiness as peaks above the line and sadness as dips below (I know I'm brutalizing this so it's easily understood by more people), think of people with bi-polar disorder as people that can't control sudden spikes up or sudden drops down. You have people that have mood swings from extreme happy to sad in no time for no reason. It could be a disability if that particular persons body peaks too high or dips too low too often. If properly medicated, the peaks don't get so high and the dips not so low and there are greater spaces and control from one to the next. I know this message has been a wall of text, but I hope that answers some questions. Sorry for the book I wrote.

Well, just to comment on those that don't believe it to be a disability. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Now, I am able to maintain a job, but unlike others, I cannot maintain a clear head throughout the day. This has caused a great deal of problems for me. Not only do I drift in and out multiple times per day, but I am greatly prone to injury, I have already broken my finger. However, what makes having the disorder disabling are the facts that I alienate people, usually end up getting fired for uncontrollable actions, and cannot get a career going, I usually end up working some of the worst low paying jobs, most time just at minimum wage. Overtime, my mind eventually drifts so far off course that I end up failing on everything, this has included school, work, and relationships. Now some of you have stated things that sound like these are just emotional issues which you can simply get over and go on with your day like a normal person. However, to people with this disorder they sometimes are simply not there mentally, almost like their brain has shut off, you giggle and laugh inappropriately, you'll start crying out of nowhere. People usually think that I am a drug addict, sadly this is not true. Have you ever witnessed a drug addict stumbling about, do you seriously think that they are more than capable of controlling there inebriated dazed state. It is really hard to do. All these things eventually lead up to dysfunction. Under certain circumstances bipolar disorder is a huge disability.

obviously people who refuse to attempt treatment shouldn't monetarily benefit from the label "disabled". but it CAN be serious enough to be a disability, although most are helped (not cured) with treatment--the other comments were pretty good. as for CHILDHOOD TRAUMA: it might SEEM that it goes hand-in-hand with bipolar till you remember that bipolarity is HEREDITARY. probably the parent was an untreated bipolar who abused the kid, and the kid INHERITED the condition, but not because of the concurrent abuse

it varies. I have known people diagnosed with being "bipolar" who range from seemingly ordinary to raving loony. I know several that there is no way they could maintain a job and others that function just fine.

Yes. I don't have bipolar disorder, but I do have clinical depression and sometimes it's so bad that I just can't function. I imagine it's just as bad for someone who is bipolar.

I don't think it is self inflicted,who would choose that?Depending on the severity I think it can be a disability.My neighbor has it & is being treated & I can not ever see her being able to work.Her's is obviously on the severe end of the spectrum.Others I know who are,hold jobs & you'd never know unless they told you.

Look up a researcher by the name of Janice Egulund. She has been researching bipolar among the Amish for 30 years. She has isolated five genes, any three of which can cause bipolar. It is very inheritable. So if someone has it, there is a good chance that a parent or close relative has it too. I think that is where the childhood trauma can come from.

Bipolar is not caused by trauma. It is always a biochemical disorder independent of any other condition or circumstance. Other mental disorders can accompany it, such as borderline personality disorder or PTSD but bipolar is always a separate and distinct condition. Some people with bipolar function perfectly well, some are absolutely unable to work. I have known both sides of the spectrum and all in between personally. In most cases it is controllable by medication but many bipolar patients are resistant to taking medications for various reasons. If they can be kept on medication, either on their own or by someone helping them, the vast majority can work. All patients with moderate to severe bipolar face many challenges in their personal lives and work lives, as do those who love them. So, yes, I think that severe bipolar can be disabling and is a valid reason to receive disability. No, a diagnosis of bipolar does not automatically equate to disabled.