Does Bi-Polar Disorder cause you to hear voices all the time?

Answer 1

Well, I figure I'm well qualified to answer the question, seeing as how I am bipolar.

Bipolar (aka manic depression) is a condition that can cover many different symptoms - diagnosis is very difficult and many times bipolar will be misdiagnosed. That's what happened to me, actually, my first diagnoses was SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and they only began to consider bipolar when I responded poorly to the medication.

From what I've seen, the same area of the brain that gives us ADD, ADHD, and epilepsy also gives us bipolar/manic depression, and the symptoms seem to freely overlap at different periods of the mood cycle. Racing thoughts, emotional instability, and trouble concentrating are some of the possible symptoms of bipolar, but hearing voices (auditory hallucinations) are not part of most people's bipolar experience.

That said, there have been an occasion or two that I *have* heard voices, but once was because I was on a trial medication that ended up giving me a few really bad psychotic episodes (try having those at work, driving heavy equipment) and once was because I was self-medicating with a street drug and was on the brink of suicide.

If you know someone who is bipolar and is hearing voices, urge them to go talk to their physician. Their medication may not be well suited for them or there may be a misdiagnosis (schizophrenia for instance, as these other wonderful answers have pointed out). ONLY a doctor familiar with a patient and their history and familiar with the conditions is really qualified to make such a diagnosis.

Urge them to not take street drugs, and to minimize their alcohol usage. I will say that stopping drinking has been one of the best things I could have ever done for my condition.

And y'know, it doesn't necessarily have to be the meds or a misdiagnosis. When I'm stressed out, I go crazy. I mean, stress is deadly, literally, for people like me. Maybe if you know someone who is in that position, talk to them, spend some time with them, see if there's a way you can take a bit of stress out of their life (without being patronizing about it!).

Sometimes a shoulder to lean on or an ear that will just listen can make all the difference between making it through this next down cycle and ... well, not.


Saul

Answer 2

Voices are typically more a product of Schizophrenia from my understanding of the subject. Bi-Polar is more for manic behavior and extreme shifts in mood and energy. I think it also depends on the voices. If they are audible that would be indicative of a more severe disorder, but if its more like rushing thoughts or something that could probably be a part of bi-polar.

Answer 3

Not typically. Voices are usually associated with Schizophrenia. Bi-polar and Schizophrenia often go hand in hand with each other and the patient may suffer from both.

Answer 4

Psychotic symptoms can manifest in the manic phase of bipolar disorder if the manic episode is severe. Hearing compulsive voices in one's mind (not auditory hallucinations) also can be a symptom of anxiety disorder among a number of other mood and affective disorders.

Answer 5

Bi Polar are extreme depression and euphoria, hearing voices would be schizophrenia

Answer 6

No. The mental disorder most commonly associated with "hearing voices" is shizophrenia.

Answer 7

No. Hearing voices isn't that uncommon:

Voices in the head 'are normal'

Answer 8

No, or not normally.

Schizophrenia makes you hear voices often giving voice to very odd, abnormal thoughts ans impulses.

Answer 9

i think its just when you have serious mood swings. like you'll be happy one second and litterally the next second your angry as hell for no reason... then sad... so on.

Schizophrenics hear voices i think though

Answer 10

No I don't think so, but some certain medicine can make people think they're hearing things...