I'm curious to hear what it feels like from someone who actually IS bipolar, in their own words--not someone who has just ripped textbook definitions of the symptoms off of some website.
2006-10-10 06:14:43 · 10 answers · asked by Casey 4 in Health ➔ Mental Health
i think it depends on how severe the case is. it varies from person to person. i can only speak from my own personal experience.
Off meds, i don't think anything is "wrong" with me...everyone else has the problems. They are "slower" and "less creative" than me. i am smarter than everyone around me & all the others are incompetent. (lost a few jobs b/c of this) In addition to that, behaviors become very uncontrollable. going out to the clubs & drinking all night and not wanting to go home at bar time b/c i still had so much energy & i felt like i was the "queen of the prom" -- everyone loved me (so I thought) Like someone else said...painting rooms at 2:00 am, etc.
the depression is the complete opposite, a dark scary place that you cannot get yourself out of. i would stop all projects in the middle, not leave my house or drive my car. my nightmares became my reality....literally. that is when you really need to get help.
On meds, the edge is taken off the highs and the lows. its not a total "cure" by any means but it makes life far more enjoyable. Through therapy and medication i learned how to manage my illness and identify my triggers. it is exhausting always thinking about how i am going to deal with how i feel each day.
one last note...medication is not evil if you need it. Bipolar disorder is a medical condition just like diabetes, etc. without it i would be dead by now.
2006-10-10 06:40:52 · answer #1 · answered by nobyus8 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is great durring the manic part... you get so much done, and everyone loves you... on the other hand the depressive part, you dont want to move at all, I feel disgusting and not worth being around... just wait awhile and I will be back to painting walls at 2 in the morning! Not to take it lightly but I dont find it that bad, maybe I am used to it i have had it for at least 9 years. Hope that helps!
2006-10-10 06:24:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
On lithium, for me, its just regular life. Most people get help from the medications as I have. You still have mood swings they are just not as drastic as off meds. The depressive feelings are more often. I'd say its about 70% depressive and 30% up. BUT on meds, the ups are highly curbed, therefore, its mostly downs. None of us can say what it's really like unless we are off our meds and that would be very dangerous. mania brings about grandiose thoughts and extreme irritability. It can be awesome and then dangerous. That's why we take meds, to avoid the extremes of both poles. Were you ever in a really good mood? MANIA (mix in sleeplessness and irritability) were you ever in a really bad mood? depression. Hope that helps you understand
2006-10-10 07:29:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
you're either really happy, confident, and hyper (i never sleep when i'm like that), or very depressed, angry, and exauhsted. it's horrible sometimes, because it can change just like a snap of the fingers. i know i'm bipolar (my boyfriend keeps saying i am, and his mom is, so he knows what he's saying), but i don't want to take medication because i don't believe in druging myself to be "normal". i also have anxiety issues, and i have panic attacks at least once a month. it's so fun to be me sometimes.
2006-10-10 06:24:11 · answer #4 · answered by answer away 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dr Jekyl and Mr. Hyde
2006-10-10 06:22:27 · answer #5 · answered by ChemGeek 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes it's the best feeling in the world - you're flying, and can do anything. Othertimes it's the worst feeling in the world, and you just want to die.
2006-10-10 06:16:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
very very bad situation.
somtimes you feel allmighty, everything looks easy, you think you can afford anything ...
and after a period of time life is awful and you really want to die.
Very very sad.
Most important to find a good doctor soon.
2006-10-10 06:20:26 · answer #7 · answered by ricardo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when your bipolar you don't want to be around anyone and get nervous when there are too many people. you also get terrible mood swings.
2006-10-10 06:18:31 · answer #8 · answered by Sophia 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
like you can do anything, but you don't want to. like the world is ending and you will beat down anyone who disagrees with you. it ain't fun.
2006-10-10 06:36:51 · answer #9 · answered by Donna L 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's GREAT..... it's terrible... it's GREAT... it's terrible!!
2006-10-10 06:22:34 · answer #10 · answered by woodwinman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋