Does she or does she not?

Question

My dad tells me my mom has Bipolar disorder. My mom tells me she doesnt. When i looked to see what bipolar was, my mom really seemed to fit the discription. But she says it was just because she was hurt and going through a lot. How do i know who is telling the truth? And if she does have it, is there a chance that i will develop it?

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. These drugs are heavy duty psychiatric medications and are not to be taken lightly, and most if not all of them have a range of side effects including lethargy, photosensitivity, cognitive impairment (dumb as a box of rocks), weight gain, hormone problems, hair loss and blood problems. These side effects have to be weighed against the benefits of mood stabilisation. Most patients will go through a number of different drugs before finding one that works for them.

Answer 2

bipolar disorder has to be diagnosed by a professional (either doctor, psychologist, etc.) and can be treated. Most people with bipolar disorder do not believe they are bipolar and this is why many do not get treated until it really disrupts their life. If your mother is bipolar that can increase the chances that you may become bipolar, but does not mean that you will necessary develop the disorder

Answer 3

She may have had Depression. If she has gotten over her Depression she wouldn't have it any more.

The other name for Bipolar is Manic Depression

My mom has Manic Depression and she can be like that. Some times she acts like she has Multiple Personality Disorder or something,.. her persona will change,.. and then when she switched it for whatever she will forget some stuff she said or I said or someone else said. >.< It's a pain.

Alot of people are horrified of lables,.. ESPECIALLY since the dipicttion and lable given are always wrong in entertainment.

Such is the case of the saying " I'm a Scitzophrenic and so am I" Multiple Personality Disorder and Scitzophrenia are completely different and are in people for different reasons.

The Multiple Personality Order is something gained from abuse,.. it's on the same scale/realm/range of disorders as Post Trumatic Stress. When someone is pushd and pushed and pushed... these emerge as defence and survival mechanisims.

Whatever your mother is she may deny because it is misunderstood and something else in her mind,... something scary like a mass murderer.

So it may be posible she is Bipolar.


Yes,.. you may or may not develope it. Odds are you will but it could be so light noone will know. Don't worry about it,.. that's how your mom got trapped in De'nile.

Answer 4

Was your mom diagnosed with it by a competent therapist? If not, this is your fathers opinion. I suggest you find out which it is. Someone is not telling the truth.

Bipolar can run in families, sometime not. I wouldn't worry about that. I do suggest you have a very honest discussion, both parents present, tell them to level with you. Tell them your concerns.

If she does in fact have bipolar, she needs to be seeing a professional in the field of psychology on a regular basis. She will most likely need to be on medication to help control her symptoms. All family members need to be understanding, but not allow her to go off medication if it is helping her.

Answer 5

If your mother is Bipolar disorder, you have over 50% of getting it. It is genetic.
It will show up in your late teens or in your twenties.

Answer 6

There is a chance you can develop it....it is genetic..I dunno who to believe ....your mom may just suffer from major depression but then again she may have bipolar disorder and not want you to know.

Answer 7

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