This is when the switch to cycle back is near or at a point that it will happen. This can be swift journey back, a dramatic change, or something in between. Everyone’s experience of Bipolar 1 is unique. With this information it can be concluded that natural light or lack of plays a major part in everything that a human being experiences or does. The brain works on this platform and also Vitamin D should be factored in.
In a depressive cycle an individual experiences the opposite. That is low
dopamine and somatostatin. No longer is glutamate blocked in the presynaptic transmission terminals and dopamine is facilitated under these conditions. GABA is also helpful in the building of dopamine stocks. This takes time and it is feasible that the mood continues to spiral while this activity takes time to build. There are still more contributions to the cause as insulin and glucagon are not suppressed by the lower somatostatin levels. Serotonin comes back into its own and tries to help with sleep, wakefulness and mood. All of this can be helpful or comes into
play when the brain is able to break back from the depths of depression.
Eventually dopamine becomes so low that it doesn’t inhibit acetylcholine or
noradrenaline. This means that acetylcholine can act as a neurotransmitter and has the ability to constrict the pupil in the eye. It also makes sure that
somatostatin levels stay low in this critical period. Noradrenaline is also
unheeded and does two upmost important things: 1) Melatonin will be produced in abundance making an individual want to sleep to excess. 2) It will also try to dilate the pupil in the eye. Thus a stalemate between acetylcholine and noradrenaline is achieved. This unique situation with natural light could be the turning point that is critical to the brain’s needs. The pineal gland interprets the situation and in all probability the downward cycle is broken. Other factors previously discussed, are able to begin to improve the mood at a noticeable level. When a person suffers from Bipolar 1 the moods go to these terrible heights and lows as described.
Why they can’t be harnessed earlier with the attributes that somatostatin displays? The answer may lie with Autism.
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