Bipolar Disorder

[theguilt engine]

Anyone deal with this? Lately I've been thinking I may have it, or a mild form. However, I think my mood is very dependent on the weather. I go through spells of being really happy and upbeat, and then two minutes later I feel really down for no reason at all. No panic attacks, though.

Thoughts? Thanks PL.

[4N6 science]

Maybe you have Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?? :shrug:

a good does of light will do you well.

[argg_xo]

Damn, I was going to say the same thing.

[Sventhegreat]

Could be something to that effect.

[loudpunkguitar]

bipolar is pretty serious business. it involves both depressive episodes and manic episodes. if you aren't experiencing manic episodes, it is more likely a depressive disorder. mania is high aggression and high energy. often accompanied with high irritability. i read a case study of someone with bipolar who would go through the depressive stages, but then when he hit mania, he would go for days at a time getting like an hour of sleep a night.

however, EVERYONE goes through ups and downs. it is normal, and is not any kind of disorder to be down once and a while. it becomes a problem when it impacts your ability to function (i.e. you cant perform at work/school/home) or your health, and if it is consistent for a long period of time (like weeks at a time). so a couple crappy days, no serious worries. a few consistently crappy weeks, maybe its time to talk to someone.

[saveferris]

I have bi polar disorder and it is no joke. Sometimes there's a lot of weirdness that comes a long with it. The guy above me explained it perfectly actually. In my case I have a lot of triggers. Meaning something that's brought up from the past can randomly set me off at any time. Bi polar lows are extremely low and the highs can be extremely high. Most of the times it comes with panic attacks and overreaction. This is more me personally though. But if you have any of those symptoms you should talk to someone.

[saveferris]

bipolar is pretty serious business. it involves both depressive episodes and manic episodes. if you aren't experiencing manic episodes, it is more likely a depressive disorder. mania is high aggression and high energy. often accompanied with high irritability. i read a case study of someone with bipolar who would go through the depressive stages, but then when he hit mania, he would go for days at a time getting like an hour of sleep a night.

however, EVERYONE goes through ups and downs. it is normal, and is not any kind of disorder to be down once and a while. it becomes a problem when it impacts your ability to function (i.e. you cant perform at work/school/home) or your health, and if it is consistent for a long period of time (like weeks at a time). so a couple crappy days, no serious worries. a few consistently crappy weeks, maybe its time to talk to someone.
Nailed it

[saveferris]

If you have a lot of ticks you could have it. I know for me sometimes I shake my head really fast for no reason. Almost like tourettes. It happens when i'm bothered by something.

[ZeroGravity107]

I doubt SAD, because the depressive systems generally surface when the hours change (daylight savings) and we lose daylight. The weather isn't really the causal factor.

I agree with basically everything said above me.

I'm beginning to think I suffered from Dysthimia in my late adolescence and I've still got something going on, but I'm not sure if it's being caused by the neuro-lyme or not. I've considered bi-polar but I feel manic at times but I don't fully know if it fits the criteria.

Ferris, is it entirely black and white? More or less meaning you're either high or low ALL the time? or is there a gray area in which you fall into a middle type of state where you're okay, not necessarily euphoric or enraged and not miserable?

Sorry for pressing if it's none of my business.

Also, I know for a fact my father is bi-polar, and I got to see it all as a kid. His manic states were crazy with ideas, and then his depressive episodes were horrific sometimes. For the most part though, I think he spent most of his time masking it all by abusing god knows what substances.

[perceptrons]

Self-diagnosis is bad, mmkay.

[industrialbelt]

this should be discussed with a therapist

[bladerdude360]

bipolar is pretty serious business. it involves both depressive episodes and manic episodes. if you aren't experiencing manic episodes, it is more likely a depressive disorder. mania is high aggression and high energy. often accompanied with high irritability. i read a case study of someone with bipolar who would go through the depressive stages, but then when he hit mania, he would go for days at a time getting like an hour of sleep a night.

however, EVERYONE goes through ups and downs. it is normal, and is not any kind of disorder to be down once and a while. it becomes a problem when it impacts your ability to function (i.e. you cant perform at work/school/home) or your health, and if it is consistent for a long period of time (like weeks at a time). so a couple crappy days, no serious worries. a few consistently crappy weeks, maybe its time to talk to someone.

Bipolar disorder doesn't necessarily means that you have manic episodes. If you have Bipolar II, you may never experience a full manic episode. Also, I agree that self-diagnosing is probably not the best idea.

[bladerdude360]

I doubt SAD, because the depressive systems generally surface when the hours change (daylight savings) and we lose daylight. The weather isn't really the causal factor.

I agree with basically everything said above me.

I'm beginning to think I suffered from Dysthimia in my late adolescence and I've still got something going on, but I'm not sure if it's being caused by the neuro-lyme or not. I've considered bi-polar but I feel manic at times but I don't fully know if it fits the criteria.

Ferris, is it entirely black and white? More or less meaning you're either high or low ALL the time? or is there a gray area in which you fall into a middle type of state where you're okay, not necessarily euphoric or enraged and not miserable?

Sorry for pressing if it's none of my business.

Also, I know for a fact my father is bi-polar, and I got to see it all as a kid. His manic states were crazy with ideas, and then his depressive episodes were horrific sometimes. For the most part though, I think he spent most of his time masking it all by abusing god knows what substances.
Yes there is a middle ground. You won't always be depressed or manic, there could be times when you're neither. There's also hypomania, which is similar to mania, but not as intense (hypo obviously being "below" or "less than"). Again, don't try to self-diagnose or rely on people on the internet to tell you what disease you do or don't have.

[HometownHero]

Bipolar disorder is scary as fuck. One minute this girl i know is making out with me, the next she is screaming at me for not believing in God. Yeah I'm glad she finally got the help and meds she needed. You should see a doctor as well instead of trying to figure it out yourself

[knowthisx]

Most of the times it comes with panic attacks and overreaction.

Same here.

Glad to see a lot of others who share this disorder talking about it openly. Too many times bipolar is lumped in a category with "crazy."

[knowthisx]

I doubt SAD, because the depressive systems generally surface when the hours change (daylight savings) and we lose daylight. The weather isn't really the causal factor.

I agree with basically everything said above me.

I'm beginning to think I suffered from Dysthimia in my late adolescence and I've still got something going on, but I'm not sure if it's being caused by the neuro-lyme or not. I've considered bi-polar but I feel manic at times but I don't fully know if it fits the criteria.

Ferris, is it entirely black and white? More or less meaning you're either high or low ALL the time? or is there a gray area in which you fall into a middle type of state where you're okay, not necessarily euphoric or enraged and not miserable?

Sorry for pressing if it's none of my business.

Also, I know for a fact my father is bi-polar, and I got to see it all as a kid. His manic states were crazy with ideas, and then his depressive episodes were horrific sometimes. For the most part though, I think he spent most of his time masking it all by abusing god knows what substances.

The gray area is more prominent once there's meds involved. Other than that, for me personally, it's pretty much one extreme or another.
Also, if your dad is bipolar there's a better chance that you are as well. Genetics plays a role.

[Deadbolt23]

Bipolar is one of the most horrible things I've ever experienced. I don't have it myself, but my ex had it. I seriously think you should see a doctor about it, if you're worried. That will give you all the answers you need.

[Jennurna Gray]

I'm love bipolar.

[loudpunkguitar]

Bipolar disorder doesn't necessarily means that you have manic episodes. If you have Bipolar II, you may never experience a full manic episode. Also, I agree that self-diagnosing is probably not the best idea.

you make a valid point, though in bipolar ii the person does go through hypomanic (less intense than manic) episodes.

nonetheless, if you think you have one of these things going on, see someone who is trained for help.

[xPeace]

Yeah, I've been dianoged with bipolar. They say I have it "Maniclly" Er something like that. ._. I think their crazy, I'm not like one of those people with a "switch". Yeah, but recently they've changed it to major depression. And I'm a happy person, I don't get it. :[
But nevertheless, you should see a doc.

[erinfxs]

it may be, my close friend went through similar stuff and had to see a counsellor and was eventually diagnosed with having a bipolar disorder.
she would be incredibly happy for two or three days and then it could hit the afternoon of the third day and she'd be in tears.

[Yellowcard2006]

Bipolar disorder is scary as fuck. One minute this girl i know is making out with me, the next she is screaming at me for not believing in God. Yeah I'm glad she finally got the help and meds she needed. You should see a doctor as well instead of trying to figure it out yourself
Sounds like a http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x283/geekygerald/happyno.gif situation. "But you were...just ok"

Don't self diagnose ask your doctor.

[ZeroGravity107]

Yeah, I've been dianoged with bipolar. They say I have it "Maniclly" Er something like that. ._. I think their crazy, I'm not like one of those people with a "switch". Yeah, but recently they've changed it to major depression. And I'm a happy person, I don't get it. :[
But nevertheless, you should see a doc.

Bi Polar doesn't necessarily mean you switch. Bi Polar I is simply just mania, where you can be either euphoric or irritable. More or less high strung requiring little sleep and some people enjoy their mania.

My nephew was diagnosed with childhood bi polar, which I think is BS considering my sister-in-law is a crazy bitch who is milking the system after somehow receiving the diagnosis of PTSD. BS.

[HometownHero]

Sounds like a http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x283/geekygerald/happyno.gif situation. "But you were...just ok"

Don't self diagnose ask your doctor.
:lol: That's hilarious

[Rubato]

I suffer from depression, anxiety and panic attacks, complete with frequent and heavy depersonalization and derealization. It's kind of a shitty time. Lately I've been feeling good though, and I ordered a pound of Kava root off of the net, because I refuse to take synthetic medications... Kava is supposedly a godsend for people with anxiety / depression. I've been doing a lot of research and I'm really looking forward to trying it.

But yeah, it's very bad to self diagnose... but then again, if you're going to see a doctor, see two or three... and don't let them just force meds on you, try therapy and other natural techniques first. If all else fails, fall back on meds... but sometimes they can be worse than the actual disorder.

[sjb2k1]

Anyone deal with this? Lately I've been thinking I may have it, or a mild form. However, I think my mood is very dependent on the weather. I go through spells of being really happy and upbeat, and then two minutes later I feel really down for no reason at all. No panic attacks, though.

Thoughts? Thanks PL.
your best bet is to talk to a therapist or a psychiatrist. they'll ask you enough questions to be able to nail down some kind of diagnosis. it's worth checking it out.

last week i was referred to a psychiatrist. met with her monday morning. she kept asking questions about my family history, how i'd been feeling, etc, and by the end was saying "do you have a lot of xyz happening?" which would have been the next thing out of my mouth, in terms of me describing how i felt. it was weird, in a good way.

but yeah, go talk to someone.

[Domcakes]

I'd listen to what most of these people are suggesting and go see a therapist or doctor. They will most definitely have the right things to say and offer the best possible solutions for you.

[Sic Transit Zeb]

Bipolar disorder is scary as fuck. One minute this girl i know is making out with me, the next she is screaming at me for not believing in God. Yeah I'm glad she finally got the help and meds she needed. You should see a doctor as well instead of trying to figure it out yourself

I'm bi-polar and I'm not like that at all. Hell, I know a lot of other bi-polar people and they're not like that. Sounds like she is crazy to me.

[kingspud]

i'm bi polar. be hospitalised a couple of times. the mania is the worst thing. my friends say they prefer it when i'm down to when i'm high because when i'm manic i'm impossible to handle. i'd recommend finding a good doctor who'll put you on lithium. only drug that's worked for me. might not have worked for kurt but then he took smack smack didn't he. while we're on the subject, do people think kurt was bi-polar. i'm just interested cause if it had been diagnosed early, maybe his death could have been avoided and we wouldn't have to put up with the likes of scot tapp ramming god down our throats! GGGGRRRR!!!! sorry but my heart is in seattle

[Truman122]

If you have a lot of ticks you could have it. I know for me sometimes I shake my head really fast for no reason. Almost like tourettes. It happens when i'm bothered by something.

Holy shit, I do the same thing. Not saying I have tourettes or that I'm bipolar, but whenever I have a thought in my head that I need get out, I just shake my head.

[kingspud]

word of advice. don't ever commit suiced or god will have your life

[HometownHero]

I'm bi-polar and I'm not like that at all. Hell, I know a lot of other bi-polar people and they're not like that. Sounds like she is crazy to me.
She is a tad crazy. I went for it because, well, to be shallow, she was one of the first "preppy" model looking chicks to be into me. But she scared me off.

[Rubato]

word of advice. don't ever commit suiced or god will have your life

Learn proper sentence structure, grammar and spelling before trying to wax unintelligibly about matters of religion (which as far as I'm concerned, has no place in this thread) .

Fucking hell, you're from the U.K. , you people invented the language!

[Sic Transit Zeb]

She is a tad crazy. I went for it because, well, to be shallow, she was one of the first "preppy" model looking chicks to be into me. But she scared me off.

NOthing shallow bout wanting to get with a hot girl.

[Ryan Mills]

I doubt SAD, because the depressive systems generally surface when the hours change (daylight savings) and we lose daylight. The weather isn't really the causal factor.

I agree with basically everything said above me.

I'm beginning to think I suffered from Dysthimia in my late adolescence and I've still got something going on, but I'm not sure if it's being caused by the neuro-lyme or not. I've considered bi-polar but I feel manic at times but I don't fully know if it fits the criteria.

Ferris, is it entirely black and white? More or less meaning you're either high or low ALL the time? or is there a gray area in which you fall into a middle type of state where you're okay, not necessarily euphoric or enraged and not miserable?

Sorry for pressing if it's none of my business.

Also, I know for a fact my father is bi-polar, and I got to see it all as a kid. His manic states were crazy with ideas, and then his depressive episodes were horrific sometimes. For the most part though, I think he spent most of his time masking it all by abusing god knows what substances.

Dysthymia requires 2 years of consecutive symptoms, for the record. Without citing the whole criteria, it basically is: "a chronic and persistent disturbance in mood that has been present for at least 2 years and is characterized by relatively typical depressive symptoms such as anorexia, insomnia, decreased energy, low self-esteem, difficulty concentrating, and feelings of hopelessness." It's most common in older adults.

Since I really don't feel like typing, here are the criteria for a manic episode and a quick overview of the two bipolar types from a psychiatry book I used.

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/9117/manic0001.jpg
http://img697.imageshack.us/img697/5715/bipolar0001.jpg

[theguilt engine]

thanks everyone, you've been great. i doubt it's anything serious--probably just how i am when i'm stressed out.

sometimes our brains are just too big and leave too much room for obscure thoughts.

[xmicxcorex]

I'm bipolar, but have found ways to identify if I am about to have an episode (mine are more often than not anger-based) and can usually do my best to curb it. Unfortunately, it ended my last relationship and has had, at times, a rather significant effect on my current one. I would go see a doctor or therapist to identify exactly what you may or may not have and find a solid solution to the problem.

[saveferris]

Holy shit, I do the same thing. Not saying I have tourettes or that I'm bipolar, but whenever I have a thought in my head that I need get out, I just shake my head.
Huh, maybe it's more common than I thought.

[AlkalineAshes]

tryin out kava as well, should be interesting

[xxSilencexx]

I may have bipolar depression... I've never really been diagnosed. But some of my friends have helped me look stuff up and you know the deal. It scares me. Alot. My "episodes" or "spells", there rough. It's like... I'm fine and I think I'm getting better, and then I'm at the bottem again. It's a roller coster. I'm screwed because I can't get help, not from my family. The last time I "needed help", they took everything away from me, and I can't have it again. I've had it all. Like... The irritability, the automatic sadness, the extremem high point, etc.etc.etc. It's always changes. I've learned to expect it though, because it happens like clockwork. I really though, just wish it would go away or I could handle it better or I was better. Does anyone else just wish they were better?

[bigophie]

Maybe speak to a doctor?

[xxSilencexx]

My docter would tell my parents. Same as the last time. Like... Everything I told people, like the docters and theripists, they told my parents. It was annoying.