How to tell if you have Bipolar Disorder
92Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric condition characterized by severe disturbances in mood. People suffering from bipolar disorder, a term which has replaced the outdated ‘manic depression‘, go through episodes of mania (exaggerated highs) and depression (debilitating lows) that they cannot control. Although doctors do not know the exact cause, it is believed that chemical, genetic and environmental factors all play a part. For the most part, bipolar disorder is caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. If certain neurotransmitters are not properly balanced, the brain is unable to regulate moods the way it is meant to.
Symptoms
Approximately one in seven people suffers from bipolar disorder, with symptoms usually originating among men and women in their early twenties and sometimes occurring in children and adolescents. The mood swings that people with bipolar disorder cycle through are vastly different from the moods of an average individual. In adults, their manic or depressive episodes can easily last up to weeks or even months. A teenager suffering from bipolar disorder can go through cycles of mania and depression over the course of a single day. Sometimes the episodes are unpredictable and will come on without warning; other times, the episodes follow a pattern that goes along with the changing of the seasons. Rapid cycling of moods (at least four or more per year) is more common in women, children and adolescents, whereas slow mood changes over time are seen more frequently in adult men.
What is mania? Mania is characterized by an extremely elevated mood and seemingly endless energy, a decreased need for sleep, excessive irritability and anxiety, and strange or unusual thought patterns.
What is depression? Depression is a feeling of sadness and melancholy that disrupts one's daily functioning. A person with depression loses interests in activities that were previously enjoyable, is unable to concentrate, feels fatigued, worthless and even suicidal.
Diagnosis
Bipolar disorder can be difficult to diagnose because there is no blood test or brain scan that can detect it. It also has a long history of being either undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. A physical exam is the first step towards diagnosis and blood work is taken to rule out any medical illnesses, such as syphilis, which can present significant psychological symptoms. A brain scan is ordered to exclude epilepsy and brain legions, and a verbal history is taken.
There are four types of bipolar disorder: Bipolar I, Bipolar II, Cyclothymia and Bipolar disorder NOS (Not Otherwise Specified).
Bipolar I requires one or more manic or mixed episodes. A depressive episode is not required.
Bipolar II, which is the most common form of the disease, is characterized by alternating episodes of hypomania (at least one instance) and depression. The manic stage must be present in order to distinguish bipolar disorder from standard depression.
Cyclothymic disorder involves numerous hypomanic episodes with a spattering of depression. It is usually a low grade mood disorder that does not generally interfere with daily functioning.
Bipolar disorder NOS means that the person is clearly suffering from a type of bipolar disorder but does not meet the full criteria for any of the above.
Diagnostic Criteria
Criteria for a manic episode
- Abnormally elevated mood, energy and irritability lasting at least one week
- Three or more of the following symptoms during that week: decreased need for sleep, unusually talkative, racing thoughts, unable to concentrate or easily distracted, partaking in activities with no regard to consequences (e.g. shopping sprees, promiscuity). The mood disturbance is severe enough to impair functioning and at time require hospitalization. Psychotic features may also be present.
Criteria for a major depressive episode
- Decrease in mood for a period of at least two weeks
- Five or more of the following symptoms present: depressed mood every day, lack of interest in all pleasurable activities, loss or appetite and significant weight loss, insomnia, fatigue, lack of energy, feeling worthless or guilty, unable to concentrate, indecisive, recurrent thoughts of suicide or death.
Criteria for a hypomanic episode
- A period of elevated or irritable mood lasting at least four days
- Three or more of the following symptoms: Inflated sense of self-esteem, decreased need for sleep (at least 3 hours), more talkative than usual, racing thoughts, easily distractible, partaking in activities with no regard to consequences (e.g. shopping sprees, promiscuity). What separates it from a manic episode is that hypomanic episodes are usually not severe enough as to impair functioning nor require hospitalization.
Criteria for a mixed episode
- In order to classify as a mixed episode, the criteria for both manic episodes and depressive episodes must be present every day over a period of at least one week.
Treatment
Bipolar disorder is a serious medical illness. It can be difficult for someone who does not suffer from the disease to understand, and yet it is understanding and patience that is needed to help your loved ones manage bipolarity. A bipolar individual cannot just "snap out of it" when depressed or "calm down" when manic. It is not a weakness or character flaw; the chemistry in their brain simply does not allow it. It is a biochemical disease that new information shows may be genetic in nature as well, and although there is no cure, bipolar disorder can be dealt with by working closely with a professional psychologist or psychiatrist to develop a treatment plan. Usually the treatment plan involves administration of a mood stabilizer such as lithium or Risperdal, in conjunction with talk therapy. If a well-informed patient is kept on an adequate dose of medication and participates actively in therapy sessions, he or she can live a full and successful life despite the presence of bipolar disorder.
Explanation of bipolar disorder
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
great information
GREAT Hub!! I come from a long line of bi-polar sufferers!! For years and years I lived in chronic fear that this "black cloud" would somehow "get me" as the years rolled on!! Now at 50, I am pretty sure I dodged the bullet, although my siblings were not so lucky!! Years of their lives were lost and tormented needlessly!! For every bi-polar sufferer, there are an average of nine other lives that are turned upside down trying to be supportive!! Fortunately, dialog and medication for this disorder has helped sooooooooo many and it no longer has to be as frightening as it once was!! For those still suffering in silence: THERE IS HELP!! YOU ARE NOT CRAZY!! It's mostly a chemical imbalance!! May Health-filled Blessings find you where ever you are!! Earth Angel!!
Well done.
very infortmative article, it seems that a lot of people have been misdiagnosed as suffering with depression when they are clearly suffering with bipolar disorder.
Hi all, im not sure if i have bipolar or not, as my manic moods aren't as severe as stated anywhere on the internet and neither do they last as long. Definately not even a day, maybe a few hours. Does anyone know if this is bipolar? Any comments welcome. Thanks!
i don't really know if i am bipolar. i need to talk to someone....quick! if you think that you can help me, please go to http://hs.facebook.com/profile.php?id=559991638 to message me thanks!
this helped me to understand alot better. my moods are all crazy and change throughout the day. i'd start crying over the littlest things, get angry over the littlest things and i didn't know what was going on and this video has help me to understand how to ask my doctor check me for it.. thank you! :)
Thanks for the info. I'm a med student but people think that means I should know these things and recognize them in myself. I'm pretty sure I fit into the criteria, I don't even know anymore. Anyway, forget it. So many things I'd like to write right now - don't know what though!!!!!! Anyway, thanks.
Not sure if I have it or not...
Have trouble sleeping ( a lot )
Have mood swings fairly quickly sometimes
and they often aren't because of anything... although subconciously maybe they are. I just don't know.
I recommend leaving the diagnosing to the professionals. Every person has ups and downs, but bi-polar disorder is a persistant and debilitating disease that requires treatment. Thanks for the insight.
Interesting and informative hub. Thanks! I concur, however - I believe any diagnosis should be left to professionals.
Very informative hub on the medical end of bipolar. I had a friend that hid it from me for almost 14 years.
He was apparently on medication. He had episodes before but I had explained them away. Finally he had gone off of them. He wanted to have more enegery. That is when it kicked in full force.
It was a nightmare. I had no idea how intense a situation could be with a bipolar person. He refused to go back on the medication and I had to severe the ties of friendship.
Love it! Love it! love it! great article
You say 1 in 7 have bipolar. That was new information to me. That seems quite high. On the other hand, if "bipolar" can exist in varying degrees from mild to severe then I can see 1 in 7 being possible. And... if that is the case, then I wouldn't doubt it if I was bipolar.
Thanks for the info!!!
I know a couple people with this disorder. It's awful to live with and just as hard on their families.
Very informative! Thanks for this. My fiance and his parents have been convincing me that I'm bipolar. His mother is bipolar and from what she sees, she thinks I may have it. Guess it would explain the insane mood swings that come out of nowhere, but I'm not particularly proud to admit I have it... if I do.
bravo!
great hub! very informative
i have bipolar disorder and this helped me understand it in a better way thank you bunches =)(=
Nice Hub. It’s important that people seek help if they feel they have a problem. But more importantly, patients need to try to figure out what they have also. I was diagnosed with PTSD after serving in Iraq and was given anti depressants for over 3 years. I felt like s***t everyday and was really loosing it! Finally, it took me figuring out that I was also Bipolar and telling the doctors that I was able to start on treatment that wasn’t destroying my life. Ultimately it’s YOUR responsibility for your well being. You have to become an Expert Patient. If I had kept my faith in my doctors and not did my own research I think I’d be dead now. Nobody’s perfect, but I had seen several doctors and clearly explained my symptoms. I think most doctors have the complex of “Me Doctor, You Patient, Shut up!”
most of my friends say i have bipolar and i agree with them
but im afraid to tell my mom
I'm 15 and I have it. But i'm not on any medicine, but people are starting to notice and ask me "are you bipolar" like a joke, but don't realize how hard it is to live with this disease.
hmmm sounds like me i have like rly wierd stuff im nice and then suddenly i jsut hate people and like i jsut start doin mean things and then im back to nice and or sad ect ect
I think your article is misleading. There is no such thing as a "chemical impalance". Patients are not given MRI's, or CT's nor are there blood samples which support this theory. I understand that people have issues in life which they don't always know how to deal with, but to drug people based on an untrue theory is not okay. Nearly all of the drugs prescribed (that I have seen so far) have side effects of suicide, severe depression, addiction (which often leads to dependencies on other drugs), insomnia, violent behavior, heart palpitations/fibrilations & death. Ritalin for example is a schedule II drug, this means HIGHLY ADDICTIVE, like in the same catagory as heroin, cocain & morphine. Have you noticed the number of school shootings recently? Guess what, everyone of those kids were either on psychotropic drugs, or on withdrawal from the drugs. My point is your article should communicate the entire truth, instead of dropping facts which misguide people. You should care about real peoples lives, instead of making your money off of the very people you are misinforming from your position as an "authority".
i think i have bipolar, i've looked it up on different sites and they all give the information differently, it's hard to decide if i have it or not, i am going to a doctor soon so i'll mention it.
emily you should tell your mom, i did and i'm going to see a doctor. i wish you the best
The DSM diagnoses of bipolar disorder needs to be completely overhauled.
I'm going to try to print this one for my wife without getting punched
I wish more people would read this. Or maybe I will just keep a copy on me or print this out like goldentoad suggested so I can hand them out to a few people I know....great hub!
very good hub
I would like to offer this to everyone in this hub who might carry the thought of " I'm bipolar". I thought for the longest time I could be the 1 out of 7. Which lead to other thoughts of maybe Multiple Personnality, which lead to maybe OCD, which lead to so on and on till you get my point. I know that there are people out there in serious need of help dealing with this "disorder". However, everyone in the world is not bipolar as the shrinks would have you think. Take into consideration this, What would doctors and shrinks have to gain by telling you you are in fact bipolar? What if the pills you receive are nothing but placebo's ( sugar water pills) with a name on it? Do you know how to check these pills? What does those chemist stand to obtain with this Epedimic. Think of this, What has and does the economy look like and how does it affect your demograph? I know for certain that a great number of people claim bipolar as a scapegoat to the actions that they commit. The doctors don't know whats really going on in your personnal life, but I will tell you this, They do see a chance to have you coming back over and over again. This means the doctors have one more person to help with feeding they're practice and families. If you can't afford Health Coverage then you have even more bills, of extreme amounts which leads to more stress and more aggitations. Now you need another doctor and another pill for a different "disorder". Payday for you Shrink huh? If you just didn't have to think about your actions because noone taught you any better, wouldn't it be great to put a label on it so the punishment would be less? If your brain is racing all the time, then learn some meditations and manifesting chants. Your brain is more than likely racing for the fact, there are alot going on in the world, your world, at any given time. Maybe your just now becoming considerate of who you are and what actions have lead you where and your scrampling to fix all of your era's at one time, accomplishing nothing and becoming upset about it. I don't think that we all should just buy into what we are being told by people who gain for our "suffering". Most of you will not do this, but go buy a couple hundred books of personal development. Contact me via email and I'll tell you some really good title's that will put your brain back into control. 2whorley@gmail.com. Simply said is this, if you focus on your mood swings, you WILL have Mood swings. If you focus on crime, you attract crime. Your mind controls your brain. You can refer to the mind with what ever name you want to give it. I.E Infinite wisdom, the better half, or if you follow the study of quantum physics, you can call it GOD. Do your homework people. Try learning more about controlling your mind and your brain and chemicals in it will follow. Even the least amoung you can accomplish the greatest things.
I thought that maybe I should ad one thing. I added to my previous comment an email address. I am a business owner 2 very successful business's. That email is attached to both of those business's. Now, you guys might not believe this and that is fine, but I care a great deal about people. For people's financial, Mental, Social well-being. The words that I have posted are to enlighten all of you. Do not send me "I disagree" emails. However, if you are in need to talk about what you have read for whatever reason. I would love to help anyone out there as much as I can. If your scared to talk to anyone close to you about what you think that you might have, then Email me I'll send you my number. I have two perfect ears. I will say this though, If you do not like hearing truth or someone asking you questions, I'm not the one you want to talk to. I blunt and honest I really don't know any different. I am certified and qualified to listen, but I'll talk to you like a friend.
There is good information in this article, but it does take some work to figure out if you are bipolar. There are a lot of things that can mimic this disorder, including PTSD and substance abuse. It takes time, observation and working with a qualified professional. When I say qualified, I don't mean someone that has a credential. I mean someone who has experience and can differentiate between bipolar and other things. For some people, bipolar disorder can be managed without medication, but for others life is ruined wiwthout it.
Great hub. Very good information. I needed to have this info. Thanks.
Bipolar is not always ups and downs. I am bipolar but almost always am on the depressed side of it. I do experience the hyperactive side of it on occasion but with me its usually triggered by activity of some sort. If I start doing something such as cleaning an area of the house I will be going for hours afterwards. Untill a person has an outside view of their behavior they will never understand what they are doing is abnormal. Therapy is key to getting bettter as well as medication for depression and anxiety. The anxiety meds however are dangerous as many bipolars tend to be addictive like me. Ive been through all of it really. Self medicating, anger, depression, compulsiveness, and never realized at the time that was I was doing was abnormal. Getting an outside point of view on your behavior is key. Many people are afraid of seeking help for mental illness because of what people may think. Do not let that concern you if your actions are causing problems in your life. Its better to admit you have a problem than to do something you regret.
Funny enough I stumbled upon this same topic earlier today on the net. I think somebody is trying to tell me something ;] nah I dont think I have it but I meet a few people with it so I must attract them for some reason..........
Nice job, thumbs up from me.
Well done "becauseilive", it takes courage to publicly state a mental condition which some people ridicule.
Whilst I am not a sufferer myself I am very close to a loved one who does, I consider myself to be a survivor also.
I hope to collect as much information about this insidious disease and publish it as a service, but you have done very well.
this is a very imformative page i like it
i really dont know if i am bipolar or not but i sure so know i do go off really bad
this year i have had really bad mood swings
this is a very imformative page i like it
i really dont know if i am bipolar or not but i sure so know i do go off really bad
this year i have had really bad mood swings
What should I do if I suspect a family member (my mother) may have bi-polar, and doesn't recognize it? Her attitude is that all the problems are always with everyone else, and never with her. I don't think telling her that I suspect she may be bi-polar would be recieved well, at all. But she makes it so hard to be around her, to live with her and to love her-what should I do? Does anyone else have experience with this at all?
Very good hub, Great source of information, Iv suffered with bipolar for 17 years but was wrongly diagnosed with clinical depression until I almost committed suicide in October last year. I agree with you that getting the right diagnoses is very difficult but so important. If anyone reading this is not sure if they have been diagnosed correctly, please read the hub I have written about my experiences due to the fact I was wrongly diagnosed.
http://hubpages.com/_26i8oli0v80mt/hub/Bipolar-and
this was great info to know...i know puberty has come and gone so i think im just bi-polar like my sister
I Think I might be bipolar I have gone threw life thinking im sure everyone acts like this but I started to get curious So I started searching and thought of bipolar. So I looked at the effects and I think I Might have it honestly. I took tons of tests online to see if I have it and all of them came up positive I can't but all my trust in computer tests of it but it really seems like I have it. if anyone has a myspace add me so I can talk to someone about this. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=us and if not I really would like to talk to someone about this so my email is Koolkidfromthecity@hotmail.com thank you I really want to get to the bottom of the way I act and feel
wow
I understand it now!
I think I have it...
WELL Done :)
My friend suggested that i might be bipolar. I think after reading this that i am. Very good job on the author's part on explaining it.
I'm currently a psychology student, with hopes to be a psychologist someday. We recently finished studying Bipolar and other mental diseases, but manic depression really stuck out to me. Last year I tried to commit suicide, and when asked why, I couldn't give an answer. It was spur of the moment, it was stupid, but I had been experiencing severe mood swings, and that particular swing of depression hit pretty hard that time...
I haven't been diagnosed for bipolar yet, nor have I discussed it with my doctor; I am actually hesitant to discuss it because I haven't kept a journal of my feelings day to day, and while I "fit" the criteria, I am 17, and at this age it's difficult to determine whether or not the mood swings are due to puberty and adolescence, or if they are due to an actual disorder.
The point I am getting at here is that we are all human, we all react and adapt to our surroundings, but in general we revert to our "normal mean of behavior". This is not to dismiss any thoughts of "do I have it or not?", but normality in mood swings is simply something to keep in mind. So, if you are truly concerned, don't jump to conclusions until you have something to back it up with (a journal of day to day feelings, events, etc. OR without telling a family member or friend why, have THEM keep a journal over the course of a month or so of your behavior (no bias that way)).Best of luck to you all!Side note you may find interesting:
There was a study done in 1973 by David Rosenhan where he and seven others went to a mental hospital on fake accounts of hearing things (automatically assumed they had schizophrenia). After the initial diagnoses these "patients" gave truthful responses to questions and stopped complaining of "noises in their head". It took an average of 19 days for them to be discharged (all days of which they asked to be sent home, and either ignored, or not taken seriously). During the course of these 19 days, it was the other patients who noticed that these people were not mentally ill, but staff and doctors "mistook" normal activities such as note taking to be symptoms of their disorder....Just goes to show you how much a bias or a preconception can do to people! Keep that in mind when you are "self diagnosing". It's certainly something I have to catch myself on sometimes ;)
The boy sings on his way home excited at the prospect of presenting the bag with the diamond inside to his father. He carries scares from battle having chosen combat boots instead of running shoes. He lost his mustard seed to gain a mountain. A deck of cards has 2 jokers one in color and the other in black/white. A loaf of bread, a container of milk and a stick of butter. Old School. I hope you have the key to the house when you get home. Bipolar means you are torn between two poles. Sometimes healing can come in the form of fire. Don’t forget to take your meds. Look to the wicked gate.
Great information on Bipolar Disorder! I have a 20 year old son, who has rapid cycling Bipolar. He wasn't officially diagnosed until last year, but looking back, he had signs and symptoms from the age of 5. Bipolar does present differently in children than in adults. Puberty seems to accelerate the illness by leaps and bounds! And then add in high school and dating, stress, and self medicating, and you have a recipe for disaster.
Yes, my son suffers greatly from this "Monster", but so do we all as a family.
If you are a parent of a child with bipolar, or another mental illness, I created a site just for us. Because, just like no one can imagine how it feels to be bipolar unless you have it yourself, no one but another parent raising a child with a mental illness can know what it's like unless they are living it also.
If you, a parent, need support, go to http://bipolarmonster.rsitez.com
We are just a family of parents who truly understand!
Great article, very well presented. I hope you'll keep writing. You are a strong writer.
I have some experience with this area myself, and there is some amazing information coming to light in the area of mental illness in general. If interested, check these links:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Is-There-a-Link-Between-Nu
http://hubpages.com/hub/Protracted-Withdrawal-The-
Again, thanks for a great article!
hi im been reading and im not sure what i have everyday i wake up im etherier happy angery or depessed and every little thing get me mad 1.2..5 then 10 mintes later im perfecly fine and this i do at lest every 3 days or more and happen all tru the day any advice thanks
please i have these really mental outbursts i fall out with my friends,ive destroyed the classroom a couple of times's, i been reffered to CAHMS,but im not mentalhealth [my uncle is] but can someone please tell me what i have if its bipolar or not,im one minute happy next minute down,and when im down i take it out on other people very strongly.i take everything down & i will hold onto things for dear life like a guy i will become increasingly obsessive. please can someone help
all my mates say i might have bipolar, i'm not 100% sure i have it but i do have some of the symptoms. can anyone tell me what to do, my e-mail address is:
David_johnson_12@hotmail.co.uk
and this page has helped me alot, thanks !!
My mum has Bi-polor, althou it is undiagnosed it's symptoms match well.
I belive that the bad marrage she was in (to my dad) caused the illness, it would seem to me that missery and suffering coupled with crushing someones personallity is whats required to bring about bi-polor syndrome, and once they have the illness they will do everything in there power to spread it.
So we are dealing with a cultural disease, I do not belive in anything a genetasist would have to say regarding it being genetic, as they do not understand how time works over basic dimentional physics etc.
But I will say this, when parents divorce (which seems to be a fashon since the 80's) they go on to treat there children like extentions of there ego in a battle against there ex-partners, in my case my mother does everything in her will to make my life as horrible as possible while pretending to care, put simple she takes out on me what she would have liked to have done to her ex husband, which is make his life a living hell, in part she must think she is somehow getting at him by hurting someone else and defacing them to there own family.
Her behaviour has become out of control to the point where she belives everyone is out to get her, and I have noticed than even the mildest thing in conversation can cause her to agressivly explode,
The kind of things that set this off are usully something said that the utmost bitchy of minds may be able to somehow construe in to her not being a perfect individual, example:
If I fell an grazed my knee as a child, and it was mentioned in conversation, she could explode in to a full blown argument (which I ofcorse I started :/) agressivly accusing you of calling her a bad parent.
The kind of damage years of her abuse and family manipulation has caused me, coupled with the family not recognsing anything wrong with her, and in all cases unwittingly fulling her syndrome, I belive that the long episodes of her missery is starting to cause me long term depression and other behaviour associated with someone going down bi-poler road.
It is not people with bi-polor that need the help, it is the victims in there wake that need urgent support.
The worst case was when I fell ill for a long time, I went to the doctor who was going to run blood works on me, my mother found out and went to my doctor and somehow said whatever to stop the doctor from doing the tests.
The doctor informed me of what she had done but refussed to do the tests or tell me what my mother had said (that doctor btw is now has there own surgery!), A week later I brought it up with my mother, I simply said "I know you went to my doctor and somehow stopped me from getting medical treatment", she calml;y got up and walked out of the house.
Two days later she returned with some staff members from a local mental hospitol, she had got in contact with them by getting there phone number from one of my friends who has mental health issues, these doctors and heavy weights where talking to me like im dangerous and not at all conciencious, after a chat with one of them seperatly I learned that my mother claimed I pulled a knife on her. the result was that I had the choice to be locked in a mental home by force or to go freely, well I was happy to get away from her, so I spent two weeks under observation, and her story changed so many times that they knew she was lieing.
A year or so later I find out that someone had tried to order life insurance from my bank in my name, and the penny drops.
So I move away to somerset, and to my horror find out that my mother is taking care of my nans medication, for which my nan has had to take many pills throuout the day for many years, and my nan becomes ill and confussed if her medication is interferred with.
When I visited my nan she was in a terrible state and my mother was talkiing really patronising to her and making out my nan had forgotten things that she hadn't, my mother was messing with her mind and her medication.
My nan is now dead, she fell off of her bed in a confussed state and ruptured her stomoch.
Ofcorse while I was away in somerset, my mother 'helped' my nan write her as the executive to her will.
Througout the entire time of my nan being in hospitol dieing I had my mother in my face with how much she hates her brothers and that shes gonna cut them from her life, you know the usual bi-polor 'everyone is out to get me' thing
Now a few months later one of her brothers has terminal cancer, I have been watching as she runs everyone down to him using manipulation and lies, making out she is there for him, she has done it in such a way that again, I bet she kindly takes care of being the executer of his will also.
I have absolutly no help with this from any medical profession what so ever, despite having made several serious attempts to get help, I'm always told this: "there is nothing we can do unless your mother comes to us seeking help", She will never do that.
So those of you whom are under the illusion that bi-polor disorder is a simple thing that a pill can fix, and isn't dangerous atall, think again, because people that suffer from bi-polor disorder that have not had treatment and are in denial, will get to such and advanced stage that they become dangerous to the extent of the above.
And no one is gonna help, another example was the lady that took in thousands of cats for the rspca, she had bi-polor and was drowning the cats instead of homeing them like she claimed, she got away with this cruelty for years and years.
here is my email:
webmaster@vaultfiles.com
I honestly have no fucking clue if im bipolar. This is the most helpful article or whatever that ive read and yeah. But does it have to be way severe mood swings or stuff like that or can it just be a little bit of uncontrollable emotion from the littlest things?
I honestly have no fucking clue if im bipolar. This is the most helpful article or whatever that ive read and yeah. But does it have to be way severe mood swings or stuff like that or can it just be a little bit of uncontrollable emotion from the littlest things?
most of my dads side of the family has this disorder
and it would be pretty sucky if i have it
it feels like i do sometimes...
but what evs haha
its all good i guess
im just gunna drink my mt dew
grab my skateboard
and have funn
cause thats all i feel like doing right now
=D
Im a 16 year old teenager and i never ever thought i was havign just regular mood swings through hormone chainges the way my friends are, iv always thought the must be an explination for me feeling the way i do, but iv been to scared to go and see a doctor, i didnt ever wana here the truth. but it was distroying me. at times i feel invinsible i feel i can do anything becase i am grate and everythigns going to go grate, and with out warning i crash land, i have no confidence the once great empire id started to build just sinks liek atlantis, its made me feel exams, for instance my art exam, i started with a grate high, i felt i could acomplish the peice i had set out, alought it was far too out ther and over the top, and then once i got started it was going fine and then i just distroyed my confidence i hated it it wasnt working although nothign had changed, for days i didnt do anything and my mood was swinging from high to low and i ended up failing with an unfinished peice. im going to go see a doctor now becase i know i have it and i need help. you have helped me and so many more people so much, Thank you x
I suffer from sever depression and anger. I hate everhthing in life that does not go my way. I don't know a lot about this yet because my mother just told me that I probably am. My father whom I never met tried to commit suicide twice. I am in a marriage while deployed to iraq and wonder if my "problems" is what is causing our marriage problems so that my wife is leaving me. I hate this world and everything in it again. Why does this have to happen to me. I am tired of feeling this way. It is getting worse. Forget the army and forget Iraq. I don't care about this stupid place.
This explains it. But crap, I have no effin idea if I'm bipolar. I don't experience mania that much, but I do experience depression almost everyday. oH nOes....
So it's either, I've got bipolar disorder or just a major depressive disorder.
this hub has helped me accept the fact that i'm bipolar
this hub has helped me accept the fact that i'm bipolar
Great Hub. Very informative and well written. Keep up the good work and be sure to stop by sometime.
Great Hub. Very informative and well written. Keep up the good work and be sure to stop by sometime.
and if ud like help be free too ask here and me and soon enough along with many other people that go through the same things u do can give u their different insight on how to cope with this !! plz feel free to open up discussion and its all anonymous. http://hubpages.com/hub/Help-From-All-Sorts-Of-Dir thank you!
Thank you for writing such a wonderful hub about Bipolar Disorder. I have this disorder, and want the word out there about this illness. Many people do not understand the effects that this disorder causes the person or person's surrounding the disorder. I dream that one day people will better understand this problem, and not just simply label the person "crazy" or insane! I enjoyed reading your information and look forward to more of your hubs!
This hub is very helpful but I must repeat what some others have already said:
If you suspect you might be bipolar make an appointment with a mental health specialist (not just a regular doc unless that's your only option) and let THEM diagnose you.
It can be dangerous to diagnose yourself based on something you read or because "everybody says" you're bipolar. Unfortunately, the term is sometimes used casually by people who aren't qualified to make a real diagnosis.
Many symptoms that fit those of bipolar disorder can be found in other medical problems and not all of them are due to mental disorders. Everyone has mood swings -- sometimes big ones -- but that doesn't mean they're bipolar. So please, let a professional determine what's causing your problems.
Take care!
Very well written hub .....
very much informative ......
Thank you very much for your great hub, for good advice, good wishes and support. Thanks for sharing your experience with all of us.
I have been diagnosed as being dual
diagnosed, bi polar and manic depressive.
The docs put me on some major medication like
huge amounts of zyprexa but it all made
me act like a zombie and I felt retarded.
After trying to kill myself like ten times on the anti psychotics
I quit the meds and
coming off them I had seizures and for
three months I felt like I was in a red hell. Thank god the drug
come off didn't kill me
three months I was in a red hell.
but wat if u have been diagonsed as having adhd as a kid, and later on in life all of a sudden it is considered to be bi polar. Cause I have been trying the meds, I have expericened everthing from paranoia to insomnia. I really want to get a hold on this so that i can get on with my life. can anyone let me know how they cope wit it so that i can get on and be more productive and not destructive wit my life.
Marijuana cures my bipolar :)
im not sure if im bipolar of just suffer from a form of depression, but one moment uring the day i could be hyperactive and having the best time of my life and then suddenly i feel really down and i just want to die. i have self harmed before, through sadness and anger, and im just not sure anymore...
I think i may have bipolar disorder :(
Well , after reading this among other articles I think that I may have some type of mental illness. Mental illnesses run strong on all sides of my family. My friends have always joked around sayin " are you bipolar" or "Bro you have to bipolar or schzophrenic". If I am I do not think this is funny. I do not know how to tell my mother that think we should go see a psychiatrist. I think she notices my behaviour but does not want to or does not know how to talk to me about and I do not know how to ask her about. My mom and I have had a drastic change in our realtionship these last two months. Before we were close and inseperable, now slowly but surely that is changing and we argue 24/7. Jeez, I dont know what to do.
This was very informative. I am trying to find more research on disorders, more than others, bipolar disorder. For years counslers and friends have pondered and suggested that I may have this disorder. But as I am already ... distracted with my anger aggression disorder I have been unable to do proper research on the matter or see a licensed professinal to help with diagnosis. I would consult with my mother and father but neither sides of the family, including them, believe in mental disorders. I have gone 4 1/2 without continued consultation with an anger councesler and 3 1/2 years with out any diagnostic on my mood disorder. Which feels like I'm PMSing one way and then the other for weeks, but to the extreme of like 10x. Well ... more like happy extreme times 10 for a few months and then ... suicidal for a week or two maybe a month... *shrug* oh well ... it can be very difficult and confusing at times. And like so many others I'm not sure how to approch this. (side effect of parents not believing in shrienks and docters who tell you if your mental or not) But this helped! :)
Makes me wonder if i have it now!!!.......wouldnt be looking if i didnt think so though!!!
After Reading this I've come to terms that I have bi polar. I have all the symptoms but as I'm growing older I'm learning how to control my anger and learning not to hurt myself when I'm depressed. My bipolar started when my mom started being horrible, I changed, I stlll have problems with it everyday but it's much better than it was before. Always helps to talk to someone :)
barryrutherford says:
2 years ago
great explanation. I might as well come out and say i suffer from it !