Please enlighten me about bipolar disorder?

Question

I was told that I am bipolar, and am currently taking meds. for it.,: However, a year ago a different physcologist said it was just severe depression??

Answer 1

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. Historically, figures suggested it affects about 0.8% of the population at some point, which makes it about half as common as schizophrenia. In recent years, bipolar disorder has become an 'in' diagnosis, and many more people are being diagnosed at younger and younger ages. As with ADHD, this fad may well pass with time, although for the moment many celebrities appear to be 'popularising' it.

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, the person's 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 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 well known of these is Lithium. Most patients will go through a number of different drugs before finding one that works for them.

Answer 2

I don't know if I have the answer you are after, but have done some reading on bipolar as I am sure I have a sister who has it. I believe that bipolar comes in many different types with some people suffering large mood swings and with that sometimes and increase in what they believe they are capable of. Some people also can have a large sexual appetite when they are at there worst. I believe that if my sister has it she has an extreme case as she not only thinks she is the most capable person in the world, but also gets very puffed up with her own importance. Then she will have large lows which have included panic attacks. She also seems to suffer from hypochondria and at times acts like a dog on heat. She also tells many lies which she tends to believe herself. You don't sound like if you do have this, that it would be extreme and if you do have the disorder at least you are on the right path by taking it on board and attempting to do something about it. Or maybe it is just depression, although I think mild cases can present as depression.
Anyway I probably haven't been of much help but hope that whatever your situation is you can solve the problem of how best to help yourself.

Answer 3

The best material out there on bipolar is Patty Duke's book called:
"A brilliant madness". It will give you all the information you need on the illness, medications...Plus Patty Duke's personal experience
with the illness. You can find it in paperback. It is not very expensive.
This is the book that helped me the most to understand this illness and I have read about 10 of them.
They call "plain" depression unipolar. Bipolar means that you have highs and lows. Sometimes you can be euphoric, on top of the world, full of energy then you crash. What goes up must come down. That is why they give the patients mood stabilizers so that they are not so yo yo anymore.
Sometimes when get really high which they call hypo mania it can lead to a full blown psychosis. You lose touch with reality and usually and up at the psych. ward. Do your own research and my advice to you is that doctors are not always right.
Good luck

Answer 4

Bi polar is only revealed over time so if you were in a depressive phase you would appear to suffer from depression. During a manic stage you would feel like superwoman and therefore be unlikely to seek help at that time. Also for bipolar you should be seeing some with an MD. The meds do help.

Answer 5

Well if you are unsure of your diagnosis, get a second opinion!
Bi-polar disorder is usually a chemical deficiency in the brain that causes people to have sever manic (happy)moods or severe depressed moods. Sometimes this can be coupled with inability to control impulses. Imagine or world on a globe ...you've got a North Pole and a South Pole...this is where the "bi polar" comes from....the moods are night and day in difference with not alot of the middle of the road feeling...you know feelings of content...not happy or sad (angry) just content.
Go to the website Webmd and you can find much more info on Bi-polar Disorder...treatments and so on!!~
I wish you luck!!

Answer 6

Bi-polar is generally associated with extreme ups and downs. Depression can be a symptom of bi-polar. I would get a third oppinion. My hubby is bi-polar and he stays in his severe depression for up to a month. Are you happy one minute (just an expression btw)and then depressed, or angry the next? It is most likely bi-polar. I can only say you should get a third opinion. Have you told your psychologist before that they said you had bi-polar. If not they probably did not screen you. As I said before severe depression and certain other factors can be associated with bi polar. Hope this helps

Answer 7

An excellent book that could help you understand bipolar disorder, written in an autobiographical style, is a book called "These Painted Wings" by Autumn Stringham. You can find the book at www.thesepaintedwings.com

I have a central nervous system disorder as well, and this book as well as a supplement that allowed me to stop taking antidepressants, saved my life.

Answer 8

The guy I know who was told that he was bipolar was depressed due to family issues. Personally, I don't believe in "bipolar disorder", but I do believe that depression is a serious issue. I don't like the idea of taking medication which only alters you physically (inside), because it will not cure depression unless you take them forever. I recommend talking with people you trust and with a good psychologist.

Answer 9

This is a very good blog, a beginner’s guide to abnormal psychology.
Short, clear and simple; and you can even post your question and contact the author regarding particular subject you are interested in

http://sensitive-psychoworld.blogspot.com/

Answer 10

Here are some links, please explore them they are very informative,
http://bipolar.about.com/cs/bpbasics/a/0210_whatisbp.htm
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.bipolar.html