How can you tell if someone is a manic depressive? What are the signs?

Answer 1

my gf is manic ( Bi Polar ), the medication works, lithium carbonate, it is a salt. It is very important they take it. The signs?, well when she didnt take it a while ago, she became distant, not caring, angry, not understanding, not reasonable basically she didnt care about pretty much anything, when i tried to talk, she became angry, at that point you back off..........it is very treatable.....good luck

Answer 2

It's not easy to tell - and ultimately of course you need a medical opinion. That said, some forms of bipolar, or manic depression, are easier to spot than others. Essentially the sufferer swings between high and low mood - naturally - without any sort of drug or alcohol inducement. The lows are more than just getting the blues - the highs are immensely enjoyable for the sufferer - they feel invincible, and get grandiose ideas above what they can do, or are normally capable of. Many sufferers are actually very intelligent and creative - but through chemical imbalance in the brain may think they have inexhaustible supplies of money (an unwarranted spending spree is very common), or a superstar talent, or that they are a great business mogul. OFten it is hard to tell initially because the grandiose ideas stem from their normal personalities -so, for example, if I was already a good competent musician, I might think that I had a world class sell out concert tour comingup - hope that gives you an idea - its plausible, but inappropriate for that time in life. When high sufferers are argumentative, talkative, almost insufferable to be with - twitchy, constantly distracted - and also capable of great things (Churchill was a manic depressive and wrote many of his speeches whilst in this state) - but it is a serious illness. When deluded and high sufferers will do things they later regret - like selling their homes - gambling away what they have, being promiscuous, or making a spectacle of themselves.
Help is available, and it is managed very well by medication - either lithium - an older cure - or sodium valproate, which has less harmful side effects. It is an incredibly common illness, but not one which is spoken of much, as unfortunately I fear that there is a degree of stigma in our society about mental illness.

If you know someone with this condition, get help before it has to be forced upon them - gp, referral to a psychiatrist - also see the website of the manic depressive fellowship, or mdf. Community mental health nurses are also a great support, not just to the sufferer, but to family and loved ones in a crisis. i hope this helps.

Answer 3

my aunt had manic depression its not nice to experience. my aunt went through as described a pattern of 'highs' and 'lows' on a high she would shop constantly and do strange compulsive things then she would hit a low after a few months where she lost all the weight within weeks from not eating wouldn't go out etc, irritability or picking at themselves obsessively are signs. pills aren't any good unless you supervise the person taking them cos when the high takes place they tend to believe that they r ok

Answer 4

Basically it is what it says - periods of very manic behaviour - often manic highs and hyper behaviour followed immediately by the depths of depression that are severe. ANyone suffering this really needs expert help and medication to try to control it xx

Answer 5

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, for FREE

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

Answer 6

Light brezzy personality, happy all the time.