It used to be called manic depression, or even schizophrenia. Those terms have changed mostly because more scientific evidence has sorted out what actual brain chemistry is involved (that's schizophrenia, which seems to be primarily a lithium deficiency), and what behaviors are linked with what brain chemistry.
Bipolar means you have trouble controlling yourself, but it is at both ends of the pendulum swing between giddy with happiness and miserable depression. People learn to control themselves in a variety of ways, and I will not pretend to know which one would work for you.
What worked for me was staying away from psychiatrists and concentrating on more personal methods of self control. It was also my great fortune to be offered as a birthday present to a marvelously intelligent and loving man, who spent over 20 years of his life teaching me how to grow up and take responsibility for myself. Thank you for reminding me that I have to get back on track by myself, now that he is dead. Perhaps that's what Samhain (Halloween) is doing for me: communication with the dead, and an understanding of what he would want me to do.
2006-10-31 02:15:39
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answer #1
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answered by auntb93again 7
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OK, so it's a mood disorder and a serious mental illness. It has a strong genetic component, but appears to be triggered environmentally. There are no diagnostic tests for it, just psychiatric evaluation. Most sufferers are not diagnosed until middle age, and it takes an average of around 8-10 years to get a correct diagnosis. In recent years bipolar dosorder has become an 'in' diagnosis, and many more people are being diagnosed at younger and younger ages.
It is characterised by episodes of severe clinical depression and mania or hypomania (for definitions of those, see here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Current_diagnostic_criteria_for_bipolar_disorder The extreme end of mania often turns into psychosis, complete with hallucinations and delusions. During manic phases, teh persons judgement and perception of reality is severely compromised, leading to risky actions with potentially damaging consequences (financially, sexually and relationship-wise). Untreated, episodes generally worsen over time due to an effect known as kindling. Untreated Bipolar sufferers are at a very high risk of suicide: 20-25% attempt it, and and 15% succeed.
The cycles in bipolar disorder are much longer than people generally believe. Anyone whose mood changes from minute to minute is very unlikely to be bipolar. Bipolar 1 is characterised by mood episodes lasting many months, while Bipolar 2 has episodes in the region of weeks to months. Rapid and ultra-rapid cycling bipolar disorder is rare, and cycles last days to weeks.
There are many drugs available to treat the symptoms of bipolar (there is no cure). These are either anti-convulsants or anti-psychotics (personally I take both), and the most famous of these is Lithium. Most patients will go through a number of different drugs before finding one that works for them.
2006-10-31 02:06:36
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answer #2
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answered by Random Bloke 4
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Eh... That is a complicated one. I was once truthfully misdiagnosed Bipolar, however then rediagnosed as BPD. Borderline Personality Disorder is a character disease, that develops inside your formative years, relying for your emotional progress- it includes immoderate temper swings, and plenty of persona position disorders that's commonly impacted, and caused by way of the persons you engage with. BPD may be a arguable situation- many consider that Borderline isn't truly. Because this is a slight, or now not fully constructed disease of MPD- or Multiple Personality Disorder, considering the fact that you do not need regulate egos.. Many medical professionals consider those stipulations don't exist. Biploar Disorder is a chemical imbalance, that many consider develops at beginning- it includes 3 phases- adding a degree degree, depressive degree, and manic degree.. BPD, and Bipolar each have the stigma of getting temper swings- however Bipolar mania is available in phases, as BPD mania is unpredictable, and is observed by way of the legislation, or disorder of your emotional state. However, neither ailments are curable- best treatable by way of treatment, and cure. I could feel BPD signs, in conjunction with Bipolar Disorder- akin to Black, and white considering. Splitting/ disassociation comes at phases- and plenty of immoderate, and impulsive urges, and behaviors are caused by way of the way you react emotionally with others. But it is vitally complicated, and tricky to pinpoint 2 intellectual problems that coexist with every different, once they each incorporate an identical signs. They virtually compromise every different.. from the opinion of my psychologist, Biploar/ BPD can't typically coexist in combination- and being that Bipolar Disorder is probably the most most often misdiagnosed intellectual disease within the psychiatric discipline, it would be incorrectly identified.. Many of the ones with BPD, have a moment intellectual sickness that coexists with being Borderline. Anxiety, and Depression are probably the most natural. But Bipolar Disorder is simply as risky, and unpredictable as BPD. It would even be Depression/ BPD- even be certain to become aware of that Bipolar Disorder entails plenty of signs that mimic, or are very similar to many different intellectual problems, or visa versa. I could get the opinion of a 3rd health care professional. It can take years to thoroughly diagnose a man or woman. I am now not pronouncing it's truly, it would simply be a false impression, or rough to monitor down, and realise. Good good fortune..
2016-09-01 05:06:48
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answer #3
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answered by Anonymous
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This used to be called manic depressive and is characterized by extreme mood swings. One minute the person is very energetic, needs little sleep, etc. The other end of the spectrum is severe depression (medical). Many people with bipolar go into their bedroom and sleep. They can't care about anyone else.
2006-10-31 02:05:26
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answer #4
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answered by stargazer 2
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The definitions they gave you are correct..however there is no such test for this .....
I recommend watching the video below.
Good luck
2006-10-31 02:56:48
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answer #5
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answered by YourShopGirl.com 2
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