Bipolar: Hidden Symptoms

I was just thinking and inspired about how the list of bipolar symptoms puts together this neat little box but really we have "symptoms" that aren't on that list that no one discusses.

I was thinking that for one person they have a ton of risk taking, while another doesn't. Or in depression someone has insomnia but someone else sleeps. There is no box. But, at the same time, we have things in common that make you go "whoa, I thought I was the only one."

I guess what I'm saying is the diagnosis criteria may be missing the boat on certain aspects of bipolar, (and probably other things as well.)

So this is like a bipolar / schizoaffective bipolar type poll to loko at one of those. We have a thread right now about it, but I was thinking let's do a poll and see what comes up. This one is about impulses and intrusive thoughts. I know there are more of these type of similarities. As we think of them we should put up polls.

It's like when I was in psychology classes one of my teachers discussed how some tests seem really superficial like it will ask: "Do you like pea soup?" Because it turns out a huge population of people with a certain disorder all like pea soup.... but is that a clue? Hard to say. (This was just a silly example that always stuck with me.)

SOunds like a good Plan. I personally have both. I can be majorly impulsive on rare occasions and intrusive thoughts are always there which really sucks

oh yeah!

it sure misses...

we cannot be quantified..

there is no system available (exactly)...for the un-systematic...

the symptoms are not so hidden but more-so conveniently ignored

nobody knows what to do but those who go through it

The thing I'm curious about is why ignore? Intrusive thoughts and impulses are majorly disruptive to my functioning and annoying, and frightening as well. I am able to "cope," as in I don't act on these things. I know a lot of others are able to cope as well. But, what about those folks that are not able? It seems like a major red flag to me.

I have both, for sure.

I once read that many many many many many many have these thoughts.

what to do with it?

I say pray there's not thoughtcrime police, eh.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...-normal-or-not

both.

especially impulses- notice them a lot more

I have both. I'm able to control them, but they are very distressing.

Thanks, but I mean it in the sense that when it becomes an actual disruption. For example, causing you to have the "fight, flight, or freeze" reaction. These thoughts have actually pushed me over the edge into SI many, many times before.

So which disorder does a large population of people dislike pea soup? Now I want to know.

I know that if I drink tea I'm going to have obsessive thoughts for two days minimum. Then, they will gradually dissipate and I will decide never to drink tea again until the next time I slip up and drink the stuff. In the meantime, I'm drinking purified water just as much as I can tolerate!

Mine are always related to the ingestion of caffeine--that's how sensitive some of us can be to some liquids, not to mention foods.

They come and go. Like today I had been hunting and saw the rifle catridge full of powder I had been using to prime my pistol. The intrusive thought was, "I wonder if that would fly off like a rocket if I lit the powder." The intrusive impulse was to do it. And while trying to talk myself out of it in my head, I used an old receipt to lay a trail of powder to the catridge and struck my lighter. It blew up in my face and I now have 2nd degree burns on my thumb, but it did shoot off like a rocket. I could even hear it whistle through the air...

I have that pea soup disorder! I cannot stand peas, and this is a very recent development, never had a problem with them before...

I have both... But I assumed everyone does. I just cope with them.

Agreed. Both. More the thoughts than the impulses though. I always get comments about "thinking too much" and recently when giving me advice about a situation, a "friend" told me, "Well you're neurotic so you're gonna f it up anyway, so it doesn't matter," which was very upsetting. Now I'm dwelling on that, but I didn't screw up the initial situation so ha!

Interesting blog... Makes me feel more normal

I think he was just using it as an example and it's not a fact. But, he was using it as an example for schizophrenia.

The thing about this example is that liking pea soup isn't the the defining factor. If you like pea soup, it doesn't mean you have the disorder. But if you have all of the other symptoms combined together, and then you also like pea soup, ah ha! Red flag!