Does anyone know the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder? Do you have it? and how do you treat it?

Answer 1

I am a pharmy technician and when I went to school we had to learn about all kinds of things like this so I hope I can help you:

The cause of bipolar disorder is not completely understood, but the disorder runs in families and may also be affected by your living environment or family situation. An imbalance of chemicals in the brain is another possible cause.

Symptoms:

During a manic episode, you may be abnormally happy, energetic, or irritable for a week or more. You may spend a lot of money, get involved in dangerous activities, and sleep very little. After a manic episode, you may return to normal, but your mood may swing in the opposite direction to feelings of sadness, depression, and hopelessness. When you are depressed, you may have trouble concentrating, remembering, and making decisions; have changes in your eating and sleeping habits; and lose interest in things you once enjoyed.

The mood changes of bipolar disorder can be mild or extreme. They may develop gradually over several days or weeks, or come on suddenly within minutes or hours. The manic or depressive episodes may only last a few hours or for several months.

Treat it:

Bipolar disorder is mainly treated with medications to manage manic episodes and periods of depression. Your doctor may try several medications before finding the right combination to manage your symptoms long-term. Medications include mood stabilizers and antipsychotics. Antidepressants are used carefully for episodes of depression, because they cause some people to cycle into a manic phase.

Counseling for you and your and family is also an important treatment for bipolar disorder.

People with extreme cases of mania may be hospitalized to protect them from risky behaviors, such as driving recklessly or having delusions. During a severe bout of depression, hospitalization may be necessary to prevent the person from committing suicide.

Medicine:

GENERIC NAME(BRAND NAME)

carbamazepine(Tegretol)

divalproex sodium(Depakote)

lithium carbonate(Eskalith)

lithium carbonate(Lithane)

lithium carbonate(Lithobid)

lithium citrate(Cibalith-S)

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

My daughter and I both have Bi Polar Disorder. I've known I had depression since I was 18 (I'm now 43) although I believe during my childhood I also suffered from it. It wasn't until I was in my mid-late 30s that I realized I may have bi polar disorder. My thoughts would race, I couldn't stop thinking to go to sleep. I'd stay awake night after night and be fine the next day. The manic episodes are good but it's the inevidable crash that sucks. Just last year a doctor confirmed that I do have it. Around the same time we found out my daughter also has it. She has visual and auditory hallucinations that sometimes occur with bi polar. The hallucinations led her to cutting herself (SIB or self-injurious behaviour).

After some trial and error we both are on meds that help us. I'm taking Lamictal and my daughter is taking trileptal and geodon (for the hallucinations). She's ultra rapid cycling. Both of us have OCD like symptoms as well (obsessive compulsive disorder).

Just for the record, children, generally, are more difficult to treat as there is less known about the meds and how they'll affect kids.

to the person who believes that part of bi polar is lying, it may be that your friend is also a compulsive liar. None of the people I know with bi polar disorder are prone to lying, nor have I read about that being a problem.

Part of treatment is also working on changing our perception. It helps with the depressive symptoms majorly. Dr. David Burns and Dr. Albert Ellis have wonderful books on Cognitive-Behavior Therapy that we've found helpful.

Answer 3

I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder as well as other mental conditions. The primary symptoms of bipolar are mood swings such as extreme highs and extreme lows. Shopping is a big alert if you have no money to spend. Depressive states may include fatigue, excessive sleep and eating disorders. Primary solutions are medication, which may take a while for your body to accept the proper medication. Other therapies can include seeing a Psychologist or Therapist. Alternative options are also available such as acupuncture.

Answer 4

If it is true bipolar (extreme manic highs with extreme depression), then the only cure is lithium. Bipolar is the result of a sodium ion imbalance in the brain. Hence, bipolar is a biological disorder and can only be treated biologically. There is no cure.

Answer 5

I have and have for about 20 years, although it was misdiagnosed until depression for about the first 15 years.
The symptoms were pretty accurately described by earlier answers. You're illness pretty much keeps you in one of two personality extremes....depression or mania. Of course how extreme each of these are depends on your illness...some people are really mild and can survive with no medication....you'ld be surprised at how many people are walking amongst us undiagnosed. Others are so affected they basically can't function in the regular world. Most fall in between. As far as meds....most bipolar folks depend on one for depression and one for mood stabilization. I use effexor for depression and topomax for stabiliazation. The great part about topomax is it is one of the only stabilizers that does not cause weight gain!

Answer 6

Bipolar Disorder, mental illness in which a person’s mood alternates between extreme mania and depression. Bipolar disorder is also called manic-depressive illness. Your doctor can give you a medication to keep it in check.

Answer 7

yes i have adopted a girl with bi polar and its a shame the doctors want to put these people on drugs like depakote and ciraquill[ not sure how to spell that] but in all natural vitamins get St. John's Wort it is a very good calming and relaxant and relieves the aggression that they may feel. Plus massage therapy is a bonus also. signs- mood swings, anger and it also matters the enviroment around them

Answer 8

u have really high highs and very low lows. sometimes one or both can last for a few days or a few months. if u or someone u know has it see a dr. they can give u meds to help even u out. my sister has bipolar. i know how r it is and i've seen her hit the lowest low. it's not good if someone with bipolar doesn't get help.

Answer 9

there are many symptoms and if you think you have it then there is obviously something wrong and you should see a doctor asap. they have many different treatments and counseling along with meds is usual yes my husband has it and it is a constant roller coaster ride for both of us as well as everyone that is close to him he has times when he can't leave the house and other times he is so high on life he can't be touched if you do have it i wish you much luck in getting it under control

Answer 10

See this webpage and look under bipolar. It has info that is not well known about different things affecting it.

http://phifoundation.org/heal.html