Bi-Polar Questions..

[Dragon Fly]

Just wondering how you knew you had Bi-Polar, was there certain symptoms or behaviors that made you think?
I was diagnosed with depression, anxiety and PTSD years ago but as of lately bi-polar has had a huge question mark next to my name.
My husband thinks I could be and my councilor is thinking I could be also but is not qualified enough to diagnose so would have to refer me onto a psychologist for a proper diagnosis.
I've always felt like something wasn't quite right mentally, I make very frustrating decisions, for example like buying and selling a lot. I will buy and sell cars, baby and childrens items for the kids, household items etc.. I'll go and buy something that I desperatly want and seem to be unhappy until I've bought it then once I buy it few days later I'll change my mind and up and sell it, but it happens time and time again. My husband gets frustrated with me as obviously it has wasted lots of money over the years. I'm always very emotionally dramatic, as in I can be completely happy one moment then few moments later I'm very flat and depressed, but then it can switch again at the drop of a hat, there seems to be very small imbetweens it's just up and down and up again...

Anyways just thought I'd ask what others experiences are before I officially announce that I'm a total freak of nature...

[sherlock holmes]

As you mentioned you'd need to see a doctor or psychiatrist for an assessment as none of us here can diagnose.

Your symptoms could be indicative of bipolar, borderline personality disorder or something else entirely really.

The 'basis' of bipolar really are mood changes- depressive episodes and manic episodes. In Bipolar I they tend to be long lasting (like 6 months a time) and the mania is usually quite intense. In Bipolar II the mood swings tend to be shorter and usually a person experiences a lesser form of mania called hypomania, but still depressive episodes.

Usually experiencing many mood swings per day points towards something like borderline personality disorder, though BPD and bipolar can present quite similarly to each other so this is where your doctor would need to assess you properly.

[tiptoes]

For me, acknowledging that my mood changed dramatically with time and seeking help to manage the fluctuations came before considering a diagnosis of bipolar.

Whether or not you have bipolar or any other illness is irrelevant. Changes in your mood are effecting you and that is enough to warrant further investigations. Has your councilor offered to refer to be assessed?

[random.swirls]

Firstly people with bipolar are not freaks of nature so maybe think about the language you use as if you think like that your stigmatising yourself should you have bipolar but also being fairly offensive to those of is who have bipolar as a diagnosis as I certainly don't see myself as a freak!

Secondly realistically if you think you have bipolar you need to be diagnosed with it and gain appropriate treatment all of which is important if you are struggling but also it's important to get the right diagnosis as what you describe could be any number of diagnosis or no diagnosis at all and all of these will have differing treatments etc.

Bipolar mood swings are generally longer than changing a few times a day eg a depressive episode should last at least a week if not longer and a manic episode at least 4 days and again often longer.

Good luck

[Ballerina123]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherlock holmes

The 'basis' of bipolar really are mood changes- depressive episodes and manic episodes. In Bipolar I they tend to be long lasting (like 6 months a time) and the mania is usually quite intense. In Bipolar II the mood swings tend to be shorter and usually a person experiences a lesser form of mania called hypomania, but still depressive episodes.

This is rarely the case. I would really worry if a person had a manic episode that lasted 6 months.
I'm schizoaffective with bipolar 1 and i've had a full blown manic episode which got me sectioned and it only lasted 10 days.
It's generally just refered to as bipolar affective disorder now because there is no typical type of bipolar it works on a spectrum.


OP - you need to speak to a doctor. Also be careful what you say it's not nice to refer to certain illness as freakish.

[bitomato]

If in your last line you were feeling you were alone in your struggles you aren't. Mania does not necessarily come under bipolar as someone mentioned- and your symptoms may not constitute mania- but anything from impulsiveness to addiction to other emotional challenges.

There are many armchair doctors- including ourselves who love to diagnose when it is not in their skill set. You and your husband may be perceptive or way off base and it is best to get a psychiatrist or I guess in your case you are talking about a clinical psychologist to make a formal diagnosis so you can be prescribed medication or appropriate treatment.

I was initially diagnosed with clinical depression and after going onto anti depressants I had a period of hypomania or elevated mood which led to the bipolar diagnosis. There is to my understanding something such as rapid cycling, but again the DSM changes so often- a doctor is best qualified to give you a "label".


However, I am a strong believer in the issues- and i think if you have compulsions such as spending you may need to put protections in place such as needing your husband to countersign for any big purchases (over $1000?) or sales and possibly engage in family counselling. Your card could have a limit and not be linked to your main account so you only put on a certain amount each week. Put rules in place- I must take 24-48 hours between looking at and choosing to make a purchase of more than $100 that is non essential. You have to walk away and come back and stop all impulse buying. It is an addiction of sorts IMHO and a cross between disordered thinking and adrenalin in the midst of it. Putting things on lay away can help reinforce the fact that it is not about you not being allowed to have some things but also about reflection and responsibility. Same with the giving away. You need to work as a team with your husband. It is better to explain why you want to sell ?cars? and other significant items like your childrens' belongings without his input.

It is possible to be functional with these challenges. I am more concerned about a label becoming an explanation or excuse for behaviours. If I am moody I still have to deal with the consequences of upsetting people. I cannot just get away with it. So at some point it needs to be addressed as to what is triggering it and how you can adjust the behaviour.

Hang in there.

[sherlock holmes]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ballerina123

This is rarely the case. I would really worry if a person had a manic episode that lasted 6 months.
I'm schizoaffective with bipolar 1 and i've had a full blown manic episode which got me sectioned and it only lasted 10 days.
It's generally just refered to as bipolar affective disorder now because there is no typical type of bipolar it works on a spectrum.


OP - you need to speak to a doctor. Also be careful what you say it's not nice to refer to certain illness as freakish.

Bipolar I and II are still used in the UK to differentiate. And according to Mind

Quote:

You may have very few bipolar disorder episodes, with years of stability in between them; or you may experience many more. Episodes can vary in both length and frequency from weeks to months, with varying lengths of time in between.

Mania usually starts suddenly and lasts between two weeks and four to five months. Depression often lasts longer, on average around six months. It can last longer, but usually less than a year.

So it does vary for everyone but in BP I the episodes do tend to be longer, up to 6 months long and in BP II much shorter and the mania is hypomania.

[tiptoes]

My team have told me the opposite that bipolar II tends to involve longer but less severe episodes. Maybe there is too much variation for sweeping generalisations.

One other thing I wanted to say was that there are times when my anxiety to a casual observer looks like hypomania but if you have seen me hypomanic it is clear when I am anxious and when I am hypomanic. There are often more subtle indicators beyond that the list of symptoms that makes a professional go ok I think this person is suffering from X rather than Y which is why it can be easy to misdiagnose yourself.

[Ballerina123]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sherlock holmes

Bipolar I and II are still used in the UK to differentiate. And according to Mind



So it does vary for everyone but in BP I the episodes do tend to be longer, up to 6 months long and in BP II much shorter and the mania is hypomania.

mind is not updated there is a current change going on in the use of a bipolar diagnosis where they are encouraging psych to use a "bipolar affective disorder" diagnosis because because using the 1 or 2 category has proven to not be that helpful because each person with bipolar suffers so differently. So looking at the disorder on a spectrum is easier.
I was told this by my current pay and last year on my mental health nursing course.

[sherlock holmes]

Thanks for clearing it up Kate. Sorry if I hijacked the thread.

[Dragon Fly]

I never meant to be offend anybody with my "freak" comment, it was merely just a reference to how I felt about myself, sometimes I feel like I'm losing my mind. I would never think so low of anybody who suffers from any type of mental health disorder, sorry if I upset anyone xx

[talaiporia]

Have the responses helped clarify your questions?
I think it's important to remember that having mental health issues doesn't make you a freak, and something like 1 in 4 people have mental health problems, including celebrities.