Bipolar disorder?

Question

what are the major signs to look for and how can you tell if someone is bipolar, like myself? What are the best treatments?

Answer 1

mood swings in bi-polar are long lasting periods (weeks at a time) of depression and mania..................in borderline personality disorder the emotions rollercoaster in an hour or in a day many times. LITHIUM AND LEXAPRO

Answer 2

What you can look for is horrible mood swings that is usually the first clue. The best treatment is medication. If you think you might have this plz go see a doctor right away. Don't be looking for the signs and symptoms for it on the Internet. Everyone one is different. Just because you have some of the signs doesn't mean you have it. And just because you have only one or two of the signs doesn't mean you don't have it. I have it and i have the mood swings. One minute I'm really depressed and then the next i have all these hopes and dreams and I think I can do anything. I also have the times when i can just fly off the handle and be mad for the stupidest things. I also have these times when i just go a mile a minute. There are many signs. Some Even my look like another mental problem. That is why going to the doctor is so important. You can have a normal life once you start treating it.

Answer 3

Mmm, well. The problem with Bipolar Disorder is that when you're depressed, you're too depressed to seek help, and when you're manic, you're convinced there's nothing wrong with you. So don't try to self diagnose - bipolar destroys any sense of objectivity you may have had.

Symptoms: severe mood swings from debilitating clinical depression (not just feeling crappy for a day), to hypomania, mania or psychosis. Depression is easy for people to spot - you're down, lethargic, tired, no appetite, no interest in things, feeling suicidal, obsessed by death. And it goes on for days, weeks, months.

The manic end of the spectrum involves racing thoughts, too much energy, no need for sleep, starting too many new projects and never completing them, excessive spending, risk taking, overwhelming desire for sex, talking too fast, irritability, anger, becoming abusive, suffering hallucinations and delusions. Again for days, weeks or months at a time.

Treatments are necessary. It will only get worse untreated. Praying will not help, in the same way it will not help a diabetic or a schizophrenic. This is a neurochemical disorder that causes structural abnormalities in the brain (indistinguishable from those in schizophrenics, interestingly enough).

Depending on whether you are type 1 or type 2 bipolar, the strating point for treatment would be lithium (for type 1) or an anti-convulsant (epilepsy meds) like valproate, carbamazepine or lamotrigine. Depending on how wacko you are, you may also be given anti-depressants and/or anti-psychotics. Me? I take lamotrigine and olanzapine (anti-psychotic) and I'm doing well on them.

If you or your relatives suspect you may be bipolar, get to a doctor. An internet diagnosis is useless.

Answer 4

Talks too much, and too fast, people that already know me will give me a sign when i am talking too much. Like they will put their index finger on their lips. then I leave the room and cry like a baby
for being different.
Sometimes needs very little sleep, and cleans up do housework in the middle of the night. Get very agitated, and argue a lot, later i feel guilty for arguing over small stuff. Get angry over not so important issues.
I am taking clonazepam. and it helps with the anxiety. I do get a terrible brain fog sometimes. Had so many test done already, and no answers. married four times, because during mania episodes don't think too much of my decisions.

at the beginning seven years ago doctors said it was panic attacks.

I started going to a Christian Church. and the praying and reading the Bible helps me a lot. and I have faith that God will make me whole again.

Answer 5

I'm Bi-Polar
lots of medications to try now there are different types of B.P. mania where you think your invincible then depressed (type1) and there is (type2) which is even feeling not mania just good then why depressed (what I have) I am on wellbutrin LX .... lamictal....depakote...effexor....topamax......what comes with the B.P. is mood swings (with no waring)....panic attacks...anxiety....depression.....(.all a pretty little gift that feed off of each other) Really you you feel you have Bi.Polar go get checked out and by a psychiatrist

Answer 6

My mom has been bi polar her whole life She's 42.I'm now 30.
Some of the things to look for are
Geting really angry over somthing small.
Thinking about litttle things way to much
Once your angry it's hard to calm down
Loosing your concentration
having a hard time sleeping.....
Bi Polar is herediatary.I'm finding out all to well.My 14 year old son has just been diagnosed with it .He's on medication and going to see a counsler every month.So Far it seems to be working.Good Luck

Answer 7

The major signs are extreme episodes of Mania and extreme episodes of depression....if you think you're Bi Polar you should see a doctor it is a psychotic disorder which means you have no real grasp of reality if you have it...

Answer 8

There is some useful advice here.