Help with being Bipolar?

Question

My mother has been bipolar since I can remeber, and I'm starting to feel like maybe I'm bipolar, well the symptoms. Is being bipolar something a parent can pass on possibly. I'v made a doctors apouintment because my family has a long line of depression problems. I can be just fine one moment and the next sad, wanting to cry and rock back and forth. Any advice or input?

Answer 1

Well, you've done the right thing, that's for sure. Certainly bipolar has a strong genetic component, so it's possible you have inherited a susceptibility to it. The one thing that jars, though, is that you say 'one minute then the next'. Bipolar disorder just doesn't cycle like that. For bipolar, even ultra-rapid cycling is over days.

Best of luck with it.

Answer 2

Yes, most mental illnesses can be hereditary--passed on in a family. I'm sorry you're going through some "rapid cycling" bipolar activity. I have it, yet for some reason since I got off all my meds (liver probs) I haven't been cycling lately. I have gone through many many meds & really it's such an individual thing that you're just gonna have to get a good shrink--general docs really don't cut it--and keep trying different meds 'til one (or a combination) works for you. Just be firm, if a med's not working or is marginal, push for something else--don't settle for "Ho-hum, I guess I'm ok." Best of luck--just remember the ups are worth the downs :) PS: Yes, classic bipiolar is weeks or months of an up or down (suicidal type downs) HOWEVER, it is ;now recognized that there is "Bipolar 2", which is rapid cycling--as in a roller-coaster ride within a day or couple days. Get help.

Answer 3

The symptoms you describe are not those of BiPolar disorder; they sound more like unipolar depression. In BP, you vacillate between two very extreme mood poles: mania and depression. You mentioned nothing of any manic or even "hypo-manic" states. Also, merely having a crying jag once in awhile is not near the depression level that a Bipolar person experiences. When one talks of Bipolar, you are talking about mood states that last days and weeks, not just a couple of hours or so. Go ahead and see your doc, and he'll probably give you a low level SSRI anti-dpressant like Zoloft, but he's not going to diagnose you Bipolar, at least not based on these symptoms.

Answer 4

Definitely keep the doctor's appointment, because depression and bipolar disorder have a genetic link. Even if the doctor says you aren't bipolar, continue to monitor your own mood, because you could be having a depressive episode with mania (or hypomania, or a mixed state [where you get the symptoms of both]) to come. But don't worry, because bipolar disorder is very manageable, there's new drugs coming out all the time, and your mother could probably help with advice for managing it.

Answer 5

You are correct; While there there is no single item that causes the disorder, it's said that combination of being passed genetically, combined with the elements of one's enviornment, a tramatic experience, substance abuse or other elements are all said to be contributors in creating the illness.

Children are not able to mee the symptoms, based on the current diagnostic manual for mental disorder, where Bipolar disorder is usually misdiagnosed as major depression. The symptoms become prevelent durring adolesence and in young adults.

The common symptoms include cycling (vast changes of moods), where in the manic state, a person can experience improved flight of ideas, excess energy, overly optimistic perspective, feelings of grandiosity, increased speach, restlessness, racing thoughts and insomnia. The illness is countered with depressive luls that include suicidal idiation, low sence of self, irritability, anger, rage, disassociation.

Those who are afflicted often have trouble forming interpersonal relationships, staying with jobs and maintaining long term plans.

There are 4 basic classifications, ranging from the more intense and frequent mood swings.

Bipolar I
Bipolar II
Cyclothymia
Bipolar NOS (Not otherwised specified)

Bipolar disorder is the leading cause for suicide attempts amongst mental disorders (30%) and is the 6th leading cause for disability in the world. There are over 2 million afflicted with this disorder.

If left untreated, Bipolar Disorder can become dangerous due to the high risk of suicide attempts. But if treated properly, one can live a very happy and normal life.

Answer 6

I went through months of depression, was fine for a month and a half and then returned to a bad depression. Finally I had to make a choice. So during a particular vicious crying attack, I called my community's mental health line. They talked me through my episode and I saw a counsellor that day. Three weeks later I am still in counselling and waiting to see the psych, but I am starting to feel better. My moods also change instantaneously. Why is it that rocking makes us feel better? I always do that too. Definitely go talk to your doc. I wish that I hadn't put it off for so long.

Answer 7

I have lived with this for years.My daughter is 23 years old she also is bipolar. She only was told this 3 years ago. Our quality of life would have been so much better if we had known this then. Please go to the doctor and get medication. Medication finally gave me my life back. People that tell you it's not a real problem have never had this kind of emotion before. Please see a doctor. Good Luck.

Answer 8

Yes, Bipolar illness does in fact run in families. Mine is one of them. You are not alone.

Get yourself a copy of the book called THESE PAINTED WINGS, written by a woman who grew up with a bipolar mother and developed the illness herself. I would love to tell you more, but I don't want to ruin your experience of the book. It, and the treatment chosen by the author, have given me back my life. I am not the same person I was 6 months ago. You owe it to yourself to read this book before you make a decision about what treatment to choose. And the choice is yours. Not your family's, not your doctor's, but yours. You can have complete recovery. Complete, total recovery and vital good health of both mind and body. And you deserve nothing less.

Answer 9

People have normal ups and downs; mood swings etc..That's not bipolar.. When you have months of depression and weeks of manic mode then you're truely bipolar.It could be a chemical imbalance in the brain or skewed perceptions of life. I don't know how old you are, but if you're concerned see a doc or counselor, but don't become psychomatic thinking youself sick.

Answer 10

My mom has been diagnosed with this as well, I spoke to the doctor's who treated her and they told me there is a fifty percent chance that I would end up with the same disability. I am happy to say that they have been able confirm I don't have it due to no symptoms of it showing up before now. They said that the symptoms would start to show up in our early to mid-teen years. I am in my thirties. Nothing wrong with me other than ADHD and being ornerier than s*@%. Hope this helps.