Highs and lows of Bipolars?

Question

How can we detect the highs and lows of someone who is only suspected to be bipolar?

What are their signs...what will they do?

Answer 1

You pretty much have to be diagnosed as bi-polar, because a lot of times it's misdiagnosed when you are younger as ADHD or something like that. Personally, when I have highs, I am happy go lucky, all is right with the world, no one can bring me down. I start lots of projects that don't necessarily get finished, and I am really bad about rearranging my furniture. Why, I don't know, but it's better that being depressed. When I personally am depressed, there are days or weeks, where I won't even get out of bed. If I do, I may not remember to change out of my pjs, or brush my teeth, and my poor hair never gets brushed when I am. A lot of times I have to be reminded to eat or take a shower too, because when I have a low, it's really really low. There are some people that don't have such extremes with their highs and lows, and I must say lucky them. Usually, in either case, I am irritable and can fly off the handle for no reason. In some cases, I am also not allowed to drive, depending on what my doctor thinks is best. But never use someone else's opinions to try and diagnose someone, always seek professional help.

Answer 2

There are extreme emotions with the bipolar person. Some days everything is fine. I am bipolar so I'll tell you how I am. Realize though that everyone if different.

Some days I feel on top of the world, everything is great. I do crazy things that I wouldn't normally do like spend a lot of money. I tend to always have to be moving or on the go. I can't hardly sit still. I may excessively clean my house.

Other days I feel so down and low that I have no energy at all. I feel depressed and sometimes I feel suicidal. Anything small can set me off and then I yell and scream.

That is how I am personally. If you notice any of these symptoms in who you are questioning about, tell them to see a therapist or psychiatrist.

Answer 3

Bipolar means just that. two poles of the emotional capacity. Extreme bipolar is they have Hypertension with Manic Depression. Little things can trigger it and when they have hypertension it is excessive talking(rambling), fits of rage, lack of sleep, stomach aches, unable to sit still. Depression intales crying spells, thoughts or talk of hurting oneself or others, feeling hopeless, etc. If you suspect someone is bipolar, it is best to take them to your doctor and get them diagnosed. They will then put the person on a mood stabalizer such as Geodon. It will level the hypertension out. Some, not all, will then need to be put on an antidepressant. It is nearly unbarable to live with a bipolar person until you find the right medicine combo. Bipolar is hereditary too, so check with family members....and they have no idea what exactly causes it. It is like the electrodes that send messages to the brain move at a faster rate and the brain can't process emotions as quickly as we might be able too---therefore it goes 'haywire'.

I have a daughter with bipolar by the way, and she is 9.

Answer 4

Ok, please note: there are stages a person goes through before he/she becomes completely manic. Some signs of early mania or hypomania include: talking rapidly, going from thought to thought, needing less sleep, starting projects like painting walls, getting irritable. As the scale of mania continues, more "dramatic" events occur such as spending too much money, becoming sexually active, driving too fast, etc.

Mania doesn't just happen instanteously, which is a good thing because people can help you realize that you are becoming manic and you can seek medical treatment....as your meds need to be adjusted.

Signs of BIPOLAR depression include: crying all day, sleeping all day, having no pleasure in anything, hiding from people, negative thoughts that can turn suicidal, etc.

Please note that in most instances, "moods" do not switch back and forth rapidly. These mood episodes usually last weeks until the meds are fixed.

Answer 5

Hi there...
This one should be very easy for me to answer for you, since my daughter & I both suffer from this, however, the words do not flow freely from me...therefore, I included the below reading & attached link for your further reading.
HAVE A GOOD DAY!

Bipolar Disorder:
Hypomania and Mania Symptoms
The dramatic mood swings of bipolar disorder do not follow a set pattern. Depression does not always follow mania. A person may experience the same mood state several times -- for weeks, months, even years at a time -- before suddenly having the opposite mood. Also, the severity of mood phases can differ from person to person.

Hypomania is a less severe form of mania. Hypomania is a mood that many don't perceive as a problem. It actually may feel pretty good. You have a greater sense of well-being and productivity. However, for someone with bipolar disorder, hypomania can evolve into mania -- or can switch into serious depression.
The experience of these manic stages has been described this way:

Hypomania: At first when I'm high, it's tremendous ... ideas are fast ... like shooting stars you follow until brighter ones appear... . All shyness disappears, the right words and gestures are suddenly there ... uninteresting people, things become intensely interesting. Sensuality is pervasive, the desire to seduce and be seduced is irresistible. Your marrow is infused with unbelievable feelings of ease, power, well-being, omnipotence, euphoria ... you can do anything ... but somewhere this changes.

Mania: The fast ideas start coming too fast and there are far too many ... overwhelming confusion replaces clarity ... you stop keeping up with it … memory goes. Infectious humor ceases to amuse. Your friends become frightened ... everything is now against the grain ... you are irritable, angry, frightened, uncontrollable, and trapped.
If you have three or more of the mania symptoms below most of the day -- nearly every day -- for one week or longer, you may be having a manic episode:

Excessive happiness, hopefulness, and excitement
Sudden changes from being joyful to being irritable, angry, and hostile
Restlessness, increased energy and less need for sleep
Rapid talk, talkativeness
Distractibility
Racing thoughts
High sex drive
Tendency to make grand and unattainable plans
Tendency to show poor judgment, such as deciding to quit a job
Inflated self-esteem or grandiosity -- unrealistic beliefs in one's ability, intelligence, and powers; may be delusional
Increased reckless behaviors (such as lavish spending sprees, impulsive sexual indiscretions, abuse of alcohol or drugs or ill-advised business decisions)
Some people with bipolar disorder become psychotic, hearing things that aren't there. They may hold onto false beliefs, and cannot be swayed from them. In some instances, they see themselves as having superhuman skills and powers -- even consider themselves to be god-like.

This is the main question, I think, that you asked...please follow the below Linkie~Dink for more information on this issue. ;)

Answer 6

When they are manic they can go 1 of 2 ways. They will either be ecstatically happy, think all is right with the world, and have grandiose ideas. They could also become incredibly irritable and erratic. Either situation they have a lot of energy.
When they are depressed they think that every little thing is the end of the world. Nothing anyone says or does is the right thing and they believe nothing will turn out right. They could become suicidal.
People with this disorder usually have a violent and unpredictable temper as well.

Answer 7

Read books by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn PhD.
He is a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist in Mass.

And he has Many books and audio CD books available to read which provide info. and the understanding of such ailments, and all his books provide Very IMPT coping strategies as well.
Thubten Chodron also has an excellent book out called, "Working with Anger" She shares how to successfully work with and deal with ones anger, and how to demonstrate the alternatives to anger.
Anger is a major symptom which are within the highs and lows - both.
Dr. Andrew Weil is also an excellent author, who deals with mental, emotional, and also physical ailments. His coping skills for people are most excellent also.

Try as far as possible to stay away from labels, labeling people with such titles, as labels tend to highly decrease a persons self-image, and remember "a Label" is often believed to be the persons true identity, when is all honesty the label is not the identity, nor is it the core of the persons personality. They have some, or possibly Many symptoms of ...... and those symptoms can be dealt with successfully with self-help, self coping strategies from the three authors, 2 of them being Cognitive Behavioral Therapists, that I shared with you above.
Books by those authors start at only $3.70 on Amazon.com
Jon Kabat-Zinn PhD. "Full Catastrophe Living" and "Coming to Our Senses" are two good books to start with. Excellent successful coping strategies within these books.

Very Good Question, THANK YOU !!

Answer 8

My different 0.5 has mild bipolar in view that a teenager. they are in a position to be on a extreme for days then they get so low it rather is like the tip of the worldwide to them. in addition they have those spending urges and on their low days among different issues get so depressed they're moving into debt etc. from time to time i detect it annoying to handle.

Answer 9

I think we can't make the diagnose by ourselves but only consulting a specialist who can have the last word about it.I think that for most of us being normal is just a short step from being ill because especially nowadays life is so difficult and strange that who can really say someone is mentally compromised or not?In an important meeting of psychiatrist it was said that to live well in these years you must be a little crazy.

Answer 10

just think EXTREME highs and lows. to the point that it can be harmful.
highs, where you can't rationally think, extreme anxiety. impulsiveness, even promiscuity, shopping addictions, gambling, etc.
lows, where you can't get out of bed. which can lead into the drinking and drugs as a sense of self-medicating.
everyone is different, and you would need a doctor for a proper diagnosis