Is anyone bipolar?

Question

If u have bipolar can u tell me of the symptoms and let me know things that can help me find out if i am bipolar. please i really need help!

Answer 1

Signs of Mania: racing thoughts, confusion, feel like you are on top of the world, great ideas, spending money, loveing everyone, no need for sleep, driving fast, not eating, talking too fast, delusions, hallucinations.

Signs of depression: feeling suicidal, sadness, tiredness, sleep all day, eat too much, don't eat enough, ruminating thoughts about death, hating yourself, crying all the time

I am Bipolar and it is hard. I wish I wasn't. The only way you can know for sure is to see a doctor. But I really hope you are not, because it is not easy. I take 7 medications everyday just to hopefully keep me stable.

Answer 2

I think your best bet is to go to your primary care physician describe the systems to him or her and they can refer you to either a psychologist or a psychiatrist.

I have a friend who is bipolar and managing very well with medication and therapy. If you are diagnosed with bipolar, it does not mean you can not have a normal life.

With anything, having bipolar effect people differently, my friends psychiatrist told her that with medication it is possible never to have another episode again. Though, some people do and there are preventative steps to take when they feel a maniac episode is coming up. That can prevent a full manic episode such as calling the p doc and taking appropriate medication, taking days of work to recover.

While there are no guarantees in life, fortunately we live in a time, where there is enough support out there, that people with mental illnesses can live relatively normal lives if they take preventative care. Off course this is not the case for everyone. But don't despair if you are proactive I think you'll be okay.

Sometimes, faith in a high power can help too.

Answer 3

Blogbaba has a 21 year old daughter who is, among other things bipolar. As unprofessional as this may sound, you will have to help your doctor regulate your drugs, what ever he/she is proscribing for you. Recreational drugs are not an option, you have to artificially replace the chemical imbalances in your brain with just the right combination of proscriptions, then maintain the correct balance.

It is immensly difficult to even find the proper balance let alone maintain such a mix, unfortunately you don't have much of a choice. It is a long, frustrating and at times seemingly hopeless trial and error process, but it is the best medical science has to offer at present. Keep a positive dialog with the doctor, and help him/her do what is best for you. Each case has it's own set of circumstances, and there is not magic pill to cure all ailments.

Another thing to remember is, that no matter what you feel, people only can evaluate what you do, so try and understand that your feeling are just about meaningless to anyone other than you and those who love you.

Answer 4

Hi there

Speaking as someone with bipolar disorder, I suggest you talk to someone who can assess your feelings and experiences, and direct you to the next step. If you don't have access to a psychiatrist, I suggest you see your primary care doctor or other clinician, a nurse praticioner, or a counselor. Or call a mental health line. Those of us on Yahoo! can't really help you with this one.

Bipolar disorder is serious. You don't say anything about how you are now, if you are in crisis, feeling out of control, or terribly down. I know how hard it is. That is why I so strongly suggest you seek face-to-face help.

Take care

Answer 5

People who are bipolar go through phases of mania and depression, sometimes slow cycle, sometimes rapid cycle. If you think you might be bipolar, you need to see a psychiatrist. We can't just give you some characteristics and let you decide for yourself.
Someone very dear to me is bipolar, and it is a rough road, but its manageable. For your sake, I hope you're not.

Answer 6

extreme bouts of mania where you feel like you can take on the world and you do odd things like spend lots of money or have sex with strangers, followed by extreme bouts of depression where you are sad all the time and tired and feel worthless.

this is just a generalization, but these can be symptoms of bipolar.

Answer 7

There is bipolar 1 and bipolar 2 i'm bipolar 2. for me i will be to happy talk verey fast i'll go,go,go not sleep and at times i want to be sexuly peruscus. then i will get very,very mad the things i say when i'm like that.Then i'll drop so hard i want to kill myself.I cant stop crying i'll stay in bed all day sleep to much and not want to eat..So if you fell you are bipolar talk to youer D.R......

Answer 8

you should speak to someone about getting some help...because if you think you might be bipolar then you need to see a psychiatrist...just to make sure you aren't or that you are and for you to get treated..

Answer 9

You really should talk to your doctor... My father is bipolar. Try http://www.bipolar.com/

Symptoms may include;

Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings—from overly "high" and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these changes in mood. The periods of highs and lows are called episodes of mania and depression.
Signs and symptoms of mania (or a manic episode) include:

* Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
* Excessively "high," overly good, euphoric mood
* Extreme irritability
* Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
* Distractibility, can't concentrate well
* Little sleep needed
* Unrealistic beliefs in one's abilities and powers
* Poor judgment
* Spending sprees
* A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual
* Increased sexual drive
* Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
* Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
* Denial that anything is wrong

A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.
Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive episode) include:

* Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood
* Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
* Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex
* Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being "slowed down"
* Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
* Restlessness or irritability
* Sleeping too much, or can't sleep
* Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain
* Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury
* Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts

A depressive episode is diagnosed if five or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, for a period of 2 weeks or longer.

A mild to moderate level of mania is called hypomania. Hypomania may feel good to the person who experiences it and may even be associated with good functioning and enhanced productivity. Thus even when family and friends learn to recognize the mood swings as possible bipolar disorder, the person may deny that anything is wrong. Without proper treatment, however, hypomania can become severe mania in some people or can switch into depression.

Sometimes, severe episodes of mania or depression include symptoms of psychosis (or psychotic symptoms). Common psychotic symptoms are hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or otherwise sensing the presence of things not actually there) and delusions (false, strongly held beliefs not influenced by logical reasoning or explained by a person's usual cultural concepts). Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder tend to reflect the extreme mood state at the time. For example, delusions of grandiosity, such as believing one is the President or has special powers or wealth, may occur during mania; delusions of guilt or worthlessness, such as believing that one is ruined and penniless or has committed some terrible crime, may appear during depression. People with bipolar disorder who have these symptoms are sometimes incorrectly diagnosed as having schizophrenia, another severe mental illness.

It may be helpful to think of the various mood states in bipolar disorder as a spectrum or continuous range. At one end is severe depression, above which is moderate depression and then mild low mood, which many people call "the blues" when it is short-lived but is termed "dysthymia" when it is chronic. Then there is normal or balanced mood, above which comes hypomania (mild to moderate mania), and then severe mania.
double-sided arrow listing range of moods, from severe mania to severe depression

In some people, however, symptoms of mania and depression may occur together in what is called a mixed bipolar state. Symptoms of a mixed state often include agitation, trouble sleeping, significant change in appetite, psychosis, and suicidal thinking. A person may have a very sad, hopeless mood while at the same time feeling extremely energized.

Bipolar disorder may appear to be a problem other than mental illness—for instance, alcohol or drug abuse, poor school or work performance, or strained interpersonal relationships. Such problems in fact may be signs of an underlying mood disorder.

It's a VERY helpful site, I promise. If you ever feel you need to talk about it feel free to click on my name and send me a message, good luck, hun...

Answer 10

i feel your pain im in deep misery myself, worst of all, i dont know whats wrong with me..