Our relationship has been REALLY weird from the start. We have tried to talk about it, and she inevitably just freezes, never really telling me everything going on. There are definitely very substantial, strong feelings for one another, but some very real blocks to her personality. I don't want to push anything b/c my mind has filled my head with some pretty extreme theories about what is going on. I have been doing some reading, and I swear she shows at least some signs of being bipolar. But like I said, she won't talk about it, though she had mentioned once that she had seen a counselor and been on medication, but for what I don't know. Anyways, I love this woman, and I at least want to know what is really going on. Can I ask or suggest what I have here to her somehow?
2006-11-24 18:19:22 · 8 answers · asked by randyken 6 in Family & Relationships ➔ Singles & Dating
Far fewer people are bipolar than you may think...
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.
2006-11-26 04:04:50 · answer #1 · answered by Random Bloke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Being with someone that is truly bipolar is a very difficult thing. It looks like you've had your suspicions because the way she reacts the things. But when I read that she slipped about saying she had seen a counselor and been on medication. Big red flag !!!
I've actually been with the person that was bipolar…. It was hell 50% of the time… I say that jokingly but true. One moment this woman was incredibly happy…. maybe a little too happy… but she was great to be around… great enthusiasm, upbeat, ready to go. The next time complete depression, secrecy, strange behavior, delusional and saying I did things that never happened.
Typically the bipolar condition is one of the chemical imbalance in the brain. The medications try to being balance to this chemical toggle war. When my former partner was taking the medications she was fine. But then because she felt fine she would stop taking the medicines and then spiral into depression.
Since your girlfriend is not coming clean with you this is not a good thing. You need to ask her to sit down and really explain her situation and her counseling she is had before. In addition what medicines has she been taking. If she won't provide this you need to move on….
But based on everything you've told me even if she does explain everything you're not can I be able to solve it. Because you are not having these episodes is impossible to understand what they're going through. These things are not cured by simply taking some medicines and they go away. Typically this is long-term therapy. But the fact that she'd sought help in the past and now seems to be having troubles as you are witnessing is not a good sign and all.
Mark
Author GirlstellAll
2006-11-24 18:56:19 · answer #2 · answered by GirlsTellAll.com 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well, i don't know a human being alive who doesn't ever show SOME signs of bipolar depression. and i know more people than not who have been on meds of some kind for something having at least a little something to do with mental health.
switch places... if it were you, would you like someone freaking out about your past history, which, by the way, they don't actually have the balls to ask you about?
i mean, you can ask, but do you really think that is going to do you a lot of good?
will it make the relationship any LESS weird? I don't think so.
2006-11-24 18:24:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
People who have a disorder generally try to cover up and deny it. I know I did and I am bipolar among many other things. To me it sound like she has paranoia. The way she blocks you off and clams up. You can't force her into realizing she has a disorder. The sad thing is you have to wait until things blow up, then maybe she will be willing to accept and recieve help. Sorry you're in that situation. And sorry I can't say things will get better. But good luck.
2006-11-24 18:55:59 · answer #4 · answered by Kevin's Gurl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope, nothing you can say or ask she wont listen...Until she realizes somethings wrong and needs help, she'll stay like this forever...
2006-11-24 18:34:17 · answer #5 · answered by ABBYsMom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
on this site if you go no answers and your question expired with no answers, it gets automatically deleted and you get a violation notice in your email inbox
2016-05-22 23:58:17 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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2006-11-24 18:20:30 · answer #7 · answered by c g 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
HEY BUD MAYBE IT'S THE MEDS THAT SHE ON....IT'S CALLED BEING HIGH
2006-11-24 18:23:06 · answer #8 · answered by sixtylbscat 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋