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Issues  Normal ups and downs or is it bipolar disorder?, seek
help in Northern Virginia  See also  Remember the song titled,
"I beg your pardon. I never promised you a rose garden"? Our
lives can be very stressful. Both military personnel and
civilians experience stress from human relationships at home,
work or school. Demanding relationships can cause us to feel
good one day and feel down the next day. These mood swings are
normal for some of us but for others they need to be studied.
Medical professionals explore mood swings to determine if they
are an indication of bipolar disorder.  Diagnosing of bipolar
disorder includes exploring mood swings and getting a complete
medical history. The diagnosis includes performing lab and
medical tests to rule out other possible causes. Mark Howard, a
therapist and director of operations for Snowden Mental Health
Clinic at Fredericksburg, explained the impact bipolar disorder
can have on a person's life. "