I know someone that has BiPolar disorder and has also had problems with a speed addiction. just wondering if the speed addiction could have caused the Bipolar.
2006-09-14 00:28:56 · 16 answers · asked by mburleigh8 5 in Health ➔ Mental Health
yes
2006-09-14 00:37:38 · answer #1 · answered by St♥rmy Skye 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That person is doing a classic thing that the Mentally Ill do: self-medicate. The euphoria of being an Manic-Depressive off their meds is addicting, and s/he's trying to mimic the effect.
Smoking crack, taking Crank and other illicit stimulants can cause mini-strokes that can make a person schizophrenic. But those episodes are rare. In this Chicken or the Egg scenerio, it's more likely s/he uses "speed" to compensate for the high s/he gets when the "swing" is up.
S/he needs professional help (if for anything to diagnose what type of Manic-Depression she has -- there are different types). Something no one here can provide, nor you can offer. Taking illicit drugs with a chemical imbalance disorder WILL cause devastating consequences. Get her/him to a treatment center pronto.
Source: Myself. A former health access worker.
2006-09-14 07:42:43 · answer #2 · answered by SandyKIT 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Any kind of drugs can cause a mental illness. Speed is a terrible drug...I have seen a man when he was coming down and he was certainly manic...so I reckon speed may be the cause...although not being a doctor no-one can say for sure. I have known of people who have taken LSD....and stayed on a permanent trip. I have known of alcoholics who are now schitzophrenics. Any drug that alters your mind has the potential to cause Brain damage or a mental illness. It is not the case all the time. Sometimes a person who has been abused from a young age will suffer all kinds of mental illnesses, including bi-polar and schitzophrenia....but that could also be because a lot of abuse victims turn to drugs...so is it the abuse or the drugs? Some people are born with this condition. My daughter was introduced to speed by one of her boyfriends....she not only has lost the ability to think clearly she contracted Hepatitis C. Illegal drugs, or drugs used any other way than they were prescribed have the potential to kill...but thats the easy bit.....the scariest part for me would be if I were to suffer brain damage and end up a vegatable being reliant on people to feed me, shower me...it would be humiliating.
2006-09-14 07:42:34 · answer #3 · answered by rightio 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Drug use does NOT cause Bipolar!,but an addiction(of any kind)usually is found with bipolar!The addiction is used as an escape to pain and the pain is made more intense by the bipolar.There are meds and skills you can learn to live happily with yourself and cope ablely with life instead of in a fog!Bipolar is a disease just like an addiction or cancer! If left untreated,the pain and disease will always be there!!!! I am Bipolar also and I love me,free from addiction,using my skills to enjoy life! Best Wishes!!!
2006-09-14 07:52:07 · answer #4 · answered by maggie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no. drug use is more likely a symptom of bi-polar disorder than a cause.
"While the exact cause of bipolar disorder (manic depression) has yet to be determined, there is a great deal of scientific evidence that indicates a chemical imbalance in the brain. As for what causes this imbalance, there are a number of viable theories, which center on a combination of heredity and environmental triggers."
2006-09-14 07:39:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, Bi Polar is an imbalance of brain chemistry, addiction is the body or minds need for something. Bi Polar people tend to be more prone to addictions. Some drugs (like Meth) cause Bi Polar like symptoms.
2006-09-14 07:41:05 · answer #6 · answered by Ford 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most Alcohol and illegal drugs will affect the mind, addition to your life situation and events that may have impact you negatively, I would suggest stop taking and non prescription drugs and stop any Alcohol use, here are some additional daily practice you might want to try,
1, Take a moment to calm down, and relax
2. Focus on the issues that have created this chaos
3. Accept the thing you can not change or have control over
4. think about your choices
5. Think about the out comes from your choices
6. contact some one in your community mental health agency like a help line or sign up with support group in your community
2006-09-14 09:03:33 · answer #7 · answered by soulstore 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I partially blame speed abuse on my depression (there were other factors coincident with becoming depressed), but haven't found any definitive evidence to corroborate it. Since bipolar and depression aren't all that dissimilar, I would say it's a strong possibility since speed messes with your neurotransmitters and depression and bipolar are both neurotransmitter malfunctions, in essence.
Wow, you've certainly gotten a wide variety of answers. Hope this isn't too confusing to you. Good luck with your friend. Help them get off the speed ASAP... it's a killer drug.
2006-09-14 07:42:50 · answer #8 · answered by Mr. Peachy® 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some drugs can cause bipolar disorder and other brain difficiencies, as for speed I don't know for sure consult a physician. Best of luck to you.
2006-09-14 07:32:06 · answer #9 · answered by zekemilli4 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it can aggravate it.. like make it worse
yea drugs make it worse.
I have Bipolar disorder and for a while I tried to cover it up and control it by using drugs and now that I stopped doing drugs my episodes are much more intense.
2006-09-14 07:32:09 · answer #10 · answered by plurmishmishfish 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes - it can cause it or symptoms like it - usually ending the use of that drug ends the problem.
2006-09-14 07:47:19 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋