What are some of the most recongnizable symptoms of bipolar disorder?
2006-12-21 01:43:54 · 11 answers · asked by panic_l0ve 1 in Health ➔ Mental Health
Mood instability is the hallmark symptom of bipolar disorder. However, this is not typically radical mood swings in the way that most people think of them occurring several times a day. People with bipolar disorder typically spend at least a few days to a week in a mood state before it resolves itself or switches. Depressed mood states include feeling down, not enjoying pleasurable activities, trouble concentrating, sleep problems (either too much or not enough), appetite problems, feeling worthless or excessively guilty, feeling tired or fatigued, being fidgety or moving very little, and thoughts about death or suicide. Manic mood states occur when a person's mood is excessively happy or irritable. They may be accompanied by feeling rested with very little or no sleep, feeling too good about yourself (grandiose), feeling pressured to keep talking, racing thoughts, distractibility, fidgeting or an increase in activity, and excessive involvement in pleasurable activities with a high potential for painful consequences (e.g. buying sprees, sexual indiscretions, etc.). If you believe that you or someone you care about has bipolar disorder it is very important that you seek professional help as this disorder is associated with a high risk for suicide. It has a strong genetic component so there is often a family history of similar problems, even if it was never diagnosed. Bipolar disorder used to be called manic-depression, so many people from older generations might call it that. Hope that helps.
2006-12-21 02:03:30 · answer #1 · answered by Lisa M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are 3 classifications of bipolar disorders and many differentials too.
Bipolar type I: manic or mixed episode w/ or w/o a depressive episode
Bipolar type II: hypomanic episode w/ a depressive episode
Cyclothymic: 4 episodes of rapidly alternating hypothymia & dysthymia
Manic episodes consist of 4 sx from below lasting for at least 1 week: increased energy, pressured speech (overly talking), lack of sleep, hypersexuality, spending money w/o thinking of consequences, flight of ideas, grandiosity (thinking your the best), increase goal oriented activities w/o completing them
Hypomanic episode is the same but only lasting 4 days.
Mixed episodes: mainly patients are agited (mix between depression & mania)
Usually onset is in 20s...if you think you have bipolar it is good to go to the hospital to get it checked out b/c it can be very dangerous to you and others.
2006-12-21 09:57:52 · answer #2 · answered by byc0181 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a cutter and i started bipolar medicine and it significantly reduced my urges to cut and I've been dealing with this for 6 years. The medicine that worked the best was Depakote. I don't have any other symptoms of biopar disorder which seemed so weird to me that this medicine worked. I hope you do ok with all the extreme symptoms that can come with this disorder.
2006-12-21 14:47:58 · answer #3 · answered by Melanie M 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't bother trying to diagnose this yourself-the symptoms are often very changable, and more people fit than would be expected. You need to go to a mental health professional, and let them decide what you might have, and your best course of treatment. I spent a long time psyching myself up to have a hard-to-'fix' problem, but I could've saved myself a lot of heartache by leaving it in the hands of someone who deals with problems like this every day.
2006-12-21 09:47:24 · answer #4 · answered by tye_dyedfan 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mood swings.
People with bipolar disorder changes their mind quickly. At times, they tell themselves that they want something. The next thing you know, they'd be convincing themselves that they don't want it.
They are very complex people. They are very hard to please. They always know what they're doing.
2006-12-21 09:54:14 · answer #5 · answered by Twojuly82 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many symptoms of bi-polar. One of the biggest indicators is a manic episode...If only one manic episode and no past major depressive episode then could be bi-polar I...I have tons of info if you want it...
2006-12-21 10:08:34 · answer #6 · answered by jonah 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can't sleep, when Your up. Can't get out of bed Your so depressed, when Your down. Things like that and a difficult time reasoning like others do.
2006-12-21 09:47:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Inflated self esteem
Inability to sit still or sleep restfull
Pressure to keep talking and switching from topic to topic
Racing thoughts
Difficulty concentrating
2006-12-21 09:48:38 · answer #8 · answered by xxblissfulxsinxx 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dramatic mood swings. One minute your happy and enthusiastic, the next you're very down and depressed.
2006-12-21 09:47:30 · answer #9 · answered by jim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depresses and ecited
2006-12-21 10:08:20 · answer #10 · answered by JAMES 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋