Are you bipolar?

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  • vegg_head
    vegg_head Posts: 7 Member
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    Yes. Been sent to mental hospitals like 11 times, and diagnosed with manic depression. Since the age of 12 years old- I'm known as bipolar.
  • angelicasmommy
    angelicasmommy Posts: 303 Member
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    I'm confused about the cycling though...I can wake up some days and be in a good mood for most of the day then be depressed for the rest of the day, or be super hyper for a few days followed by being depressed for a few. Things that seem to really affect my mood is how healthy I eat (eating too much or eating a lot of junk food makes my mood even worse) and the weather. If it rains and I can't get outside, I get really irritable and angry.
    Based on what I have read, I understand it to be that you are one mood for a few weeks/months then switch for another few weeks/months. I never know how I am gonna feel from one day to the next.
  • crazy_ninja
    crazy_ninja Posts: 387 Member
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    Yes....thats the funny part of being bipolar :tongue:
    But sometimes its a little exhausting :grumble:
  • FitnessPal4L1f3
    FitnessPal4L1f3 Posts: 77 Member
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    To Crazy_Ninja - I so agree.

    Sure, I have Bi-Polar 2 - but I am "not" Bi-Polar. Having Bi-Polar does NOT confine me to who I am - it simply states something different about me!

    For anyone who is perfect and not flawed - please introduce yourself to me.

    Bi-polar does NOT define me, I define me from within the confines of what I am and what I have to work with.
  • FitnessPal4L1f3
    FitnessPal4L1f3 Posts: 77 Member
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    One more to add - having a range of emotions doesn't mean you are or aren't bi-polar.

    BUT - those who are perfect think that way.
  • JennyLisT
    JennyLisT Posts: 402 Member
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    One more to add - having a range of emotions doesn't mean you are or aren't bi-polar.

    BUT - those who are perfect think that way.

    And becoming stable does NOT mean that you won't experience emotional upheavals. I basically had to learn what a normal emotional reaction was after I became stable on lithium because the concept was so foreign to me, and I would second guess myself. It was an interesting experience. People without mood disorders have good and bad days, too.
  • ismiseciara
    ismiseciara Posts: 211 Member
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    yep i'm Part of the BP Club too :ohwell: I Personally stopped all meds (and appointments) because they were a constant reminder of it
  • angelicasmommy
    angelicasmommy Posts: 303 Member
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    I had kind of a rough morning this morning. I just started working at a job I had been at for 3 1/2 years before I quit 14 months ago to do in home daycare. This is my 4th day and I am remembering part of the reason it stresses me out. (It's in a fast food resturant)
    I am mentally "slow" I guess you could say. I have like a permanent brain fog and it seems like I can't do more than 1 thing at once. I get brain farts, forget what I was doing, lose count of what I am counting, and I just feel stupid and like I am not as fast as I should be after being there for so long. I was getting really frustrated with myself, and my chest started getiting a little tight? I don't know but does anyone else get like this? I thought going back to my job was such a great idea because I needed to get out of the house but now I feel like it's gonna cause me more stress.
    Plus, I find I tend to start having a ton of thoughts running through my head, I will start doing something and letting the thoughts run wild and unintentionally tuning everything and everyone out and forget what I am supposed to be doing. I have to write down when someone tells me to do something, and make a list, or I will forget. I'm just getting frustrated with myself.
    Ugh.
  • cookingcow
    cookingcow Posts: 78 Member
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    I am in the same boat! My parents did research and talked to me about it just this weekend. That led me to doing research on it and I had the same "whoa, this sounds like me!" reaction. I think I am type 2, or soft bipolar, but I am *trying* to contact a psychologist so I can get a professional opinion
  • KelliMarie89
    KelliMarie89 Posts: 9
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    Hi, I'm have bipolar and was diagnosed two years ago, two weeks after my darling daughter was born. I am currently on lithium carbonate 250mg in the morning and 750mg at night. I have just recently had my medication dosage reduced. I done a year worth of counselling to help me with my low stages and how to see the signs that I'm feeling down or having a relapse. I still have my bad days but I have a very supportive family that help me through it.
  • JennyLisT
    JennyLisT Posts: 402 Member
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    yep i'm Part of the BP Club too :ohwell: I Personally stopped all meds (and appointments) because they were a constant reminder of it

    ...what?
  • invincible_summer
    invincible_summer Posts: 35
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    I've had treatment for a mood disorder for a decade (both meds and therapies). Before Christmas my GP said she thought I had bipolar disorder (something I've thought myself at various points) although my psychiatrist later said I don't fit the criteria, despite having obvious episodes which tend to last between 3-4 months, at least once a year.

    All of the SSRIs and SNRIs I tried made it a lot worse. As does caffeine (especially energy drinks), the contraceptive pill and anything 'natural' that affects hormones such as the Saw Palmetto (progesterone related).

    I was diagnosed with PCOS around a decade ago, so that might have an influence too.

    I've been offered mood stabilisers, but my psychiatrist thinks I'm one of the 30% of people who never benefit from meds and only experience bad side effects. Instead I'm going to try psychoanalysis. I tried CBT a few years ago.

    As far as weight loss goes, I weighed 143lb last August. I put on about 25lb during two years on Paxil/Seroxat. Now I'm at 124.8lb. I stopped Paxil/Seroxat in November and I haven't felt as hungry since. Coming off it was completely hellish though. I was very ill for weeks, to the extent that I probably need to repeat this year at university.
  • jenilla1
    jenilla1 Posts: 11,118 Member
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    What kind of doctor told you this? Bipolar is kind of a "fad" right now, and everyone's kinda throwing the term around pretty casually, so it's best to see a specialist to confirm the diagnosis. If you think you're bipolar, please see a psychiatrist.
  • azanne07
    azanne07 Posts: 32
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    might have it but refuse medication
  • runningfataway
    runningfataway Posts: 262
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    Although I've never been diagnosed, I think I am.
  • invincible_summer
    invincible_summer Posts: 35
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    The diagnosis depends largely on where you live: in America it's over-diagnosed whereas it's under-diagnosed in the UK. Also America has loose sub-types that don't exist here.
  • sissiluv
    sissiluv Posts: 2,205 Member
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    It's been on the table for discussion, as has schizophrenia. In the end, my latest shrink just stuck with depression, prescribed me celexa and trazodone, and sent me for counselling sessions to equip me with the skills to attempt to handle it. At the time I was having outright delusions (I fancied myself an avenging angel sent by Heaven to cleanse the earth at one point), would randomly forget where I was, was under the impression that everyone was aiming to assault me and I'm still dealing with the bald patch that the stress brought me from being so anxious and terrified all the time. I went to the hospital twice due to anxiety attacks and ended up freaking out and cutting my face with a knife one night, freaking out all my MSNIM buddies who were chatting with me at the time.
    And yet it was just depression. Go fig. /Is not bitter at all

    There is a thing though, that I wouldn't be shocked if I had. Major Depression with Psychotic tendencies or something like that, which describes me to a T when I get bad (Bad being described above).
    Apparently it's also very hard to diagnose because the people who have it aren't fully truthful with their shrinks because they're ashamed of themselves as they are cognizant enough to recognize their delusions aren't real most of the time.
    Fun stuff.

    Just jump through the hoops OP. With any luck you've got a good shrink who will diagnose you properly and prescribe medication to improve your quality of life.
  • TheConsciousFoody
    TheConsciousFoody Posts: 607 Member
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    What kind of doctor told you this? Bipolar is kind of a "fad" right now, and everyone's kinda throwing the term around pretty casually, so it's best to see a specialist to confirm the diagnosis. If you think you're bipolar, please see a psychiatrist.

    I agree with this. It seems every Dr is quick to say an individual is bi-polar, just like when the Ritalin fad hit and every friggen kid was put on it. After hearing it from a few Dr's that all had different answers about what kind I supposedly had I switched to another Dr. He actually did tests and had a real conversation with me, not just yes or no questions. Turns out I have pretty bad anxiety. I was put on effexor and I've been feeling super fantastic ever since. I was able to quit smoking, finally got my motivation back, and started living a healthy life.

    Talk to more than one Dr and if things don't add up continue until it makes sense.
  • Topher1978
    Topher1978 Posts: 975 Member
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    No, I'm bi-winning!


    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9QS0q3mGPGg
  • JennyLisT
    JennyLisT Posts: 402 Member
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    What kind of doctor told you this? Bipolar is kind of a "fad" right now, and everyone's kinda throwing the term around pretty casually, so it's best to see a specialist to confirm the diagnosis. If you think you're bipolar, please see a psychiatrist.

    I agree with this. It seems every Dr is quick to say an individual is bi-polar, just like when the Ritalin fad hit and every friggen kid was put on it. After hearing it from a few Dr's that all had different answers about what kind I supposedly had I switched to another Dr. He actually did tests and had a real conversation with me, not just yes or no questions. Turns out I have pretty bad anxiety. I was put on effexor and I've been feeling super fantastic ever since. I was able to quit smoking, finally got my motivation back, and started living a healthy life.

    Talk to more than one Dr and if things don't add up continue until it makes sense.

    I definitely agree with getting multiple consultations (if possible) and definitely seeking a diagnosis from a psychiatrist- NOT a general practitioner. I spent years being tossed around by general practitioners, and I feel that they have no place diagnosing or treating mental illnesses.

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