Most people are concerned with what other people think about them. Conventional wisdom says to us that "It's none of their business." The truth is what someone thinks about you may be none of their business, but it is definitely none of YOUR business!

We've all done things in our lives that don't make sense. I'm the poster boy for saying and doing things that I come to regret later. The question is why do we allow this to happen? The bumper sticker says it all- "Why do we do the things that we do when we know the things that we know?"

When I spoke to my daughter-in-law's school back in December my presentation was, among other things, about making good choices. Middle school kids face enormous peer pressure from others and many times they make poor decisions. What other people think about you is none of your business!

All of us make poor choices from time to time and we have to pay for our mistakes. What causes someone to choose to do or say something that under any other circumstance they would never consider? One thing that social scientists and medical professionals now tell us could be the cause of this is bipolar disorder.

The truth is that bipolar disorder or manic-depressive disorder is not limited to middle school children. It mostly manifests itself from ages 15 to 25, but many people go most of their lives before discovering they suffer from it.

Some of the things that can trigger bipolar disorder include major life changes, i.e. a loss of a job, childbirth, death of a loved one, divorce and countless others. The disorder causes major mood swings in the mind of the individual and can lead to irrational behavior.

The famous sculptor, painter, architect and poet Michelangelo was said to be bipolar. He would lay on his back for days on end painting the Sistine Chapel in Rome, not even coming down to relieve himself.

The actor Russell Brand was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and manic depression after he kicked drugs in 2002. Perhaps it explained some of his almost superhuman indifference to chaos and catastrophe that almost ruined his life.

Television journalist Dick Cavett was another victim of the disorder as was Rosemary Clooney, singer and actress. Actor Richard Dreyfuss and actress Patty Duke also experienced it. The list goes on and on, including the likes of actor/director Mel Gibson, nurse and health campaigner Florence Nightingale, television hostess and journalist Jane Pauley, poet and writer Edgar Allen Poe, just to mention a few who have endured the disorder.

In short, the disorder has nothing to do with your age or stage in life or your level in society. People who suffer from this disorder are easily distracted and they have little need for sleep. They exercise poor judgment and irrational temper control.

Many experience reckless behavior and a lack of self control which manifest itself in binge eating, drinking or drug abuse, poor judgment, a promiscuous sex life and spending sprees, just to mention a few.

Their hyper activity and increased energy is hurried along by racing thoughts and talking a lot. They have a high self-esteem which leads to false beliefs about themselves and their abilities.

Since people who suffer from bipolar disorder have mood swings, they can be sad one moment and hyper the next, leading to over or under eating, fatigue, lack of energy and loss of self esteem. Some, who suffer seriously, can have thoughts of suicide or even death.

It's not uncommon for people with this disorder to have siblings or other family members who are also bipolar. If you're having thoughts of death or suicide, you should immediately contact your health care provider. You may be experiencing symptoms of depression or mania.

The good news is there are medications that can help address this problem and if you stay on the meds, you can live a reasonably normal life. One of the consequences of people who suffer is that they don't get adequate sleep. There are meds that can help with that.

If you think you have these symptoms, don't hesitate to contact your doctor.