For us, the body is bipolar because it involves genetics- a hidden biologically genetic condition that is triggered to begin... but once began, it never goes away and is only treatable with medication. Our ultra-rapid up and down mood swing cycles are automatic like a never ending wave that starts the cycle over (set of episodes up/down) every 10 days like clock work. Can only a few alters be affected? I don't think so, it doesn't seem so for us.

Being on meds, these automatic ultra-rapid mood swing cycles have disappeared leaving us stabile, but the emotions of each still prevail. For instance, if an other is depressed, it's going to be depressed regardless of how much or what meds we take.

Another indicator of bipolar for me is being super happy that just won't quit to the point it is a buzz that lasts days till it peaks. Also, nothing can upset me till the mood swing is over.

Other conditions that mimic bipolar symptoms is borderline personality disorder (which can be alter specific), DID, hormonal imbalance, physical organ damage, etc. Borderline highs and lows are triggered therefore not automatc cycling, are not biological in origin, but trauma born as a personality disorder. Borderline and bipolar are often misdiagnosed to each other, but requires the same meds. Borderline is also treated with therapy and E.B.T.. Personality disorders can be co-morbid with DID.

I know a few my the others in our system is borderline, mainly due to the extreme fear of abandonment...just the idea of being left brings about excessive amounts of anxiety and mood swings...but we now make sure that it doesn't present anymore because we recognize it as a mental disorder.

One other thing I noticed about bipolar, moods can affect the one triggered to present, like our depressed others are more likely to present which makes the depression worse to suicidal. When a chirpy one does come forward, the depression gets lighter but is short lived. The same happens with hypomania, a depressed other can cause a mixed state where as a chirpy one drives up sky-high and over the top too much.

I hope this helps some. Only testing with a pdoc and therapist can fully determine the actuality of the disorders.