Is bipolar a spectrum disorder?

Hello all!

I have a doctor that sees my illness as basically "black and white". If you do not fit the formal definitions as provided by that DSM-IV '"bible", then you do not have that illness, which implies that you do not have a problem that can be medicated accordingly. So instead of medicating the disease, he singularly medicates for symptoms. And if he does not see specific symptoms as outlined in the DSM, then he adjusts the diagnosis accordingly.

According to Dr. Nassir Ghaemi who has an international reputation with his specialty of Bipolar Disorder, he sees that Bipolar is a spectrum disorder. Even those with just documented episodic depression may be able to be placed on this bipolar spectrum, which means they will still respond positively to mood stabilizers.

So what do you think? Interesting question, eh?

My psychologist (who I just started going to so I've only hear a little about it) sees it as a kind of spectrum. But I don't know if she considers people with MDD on it as well.

I have hit every form of mental illness by severity of.

My diagnosis is Bipolar 1 from 15 years ago, I would say your lucky if you can be classified for treatment although I would say that is rare.

As far as spectrum disorder, you need Lithium to decrease the severity of imbalanced moods.

I, II, III your lucky if you can be classified, most of us have active minds that change, lol

Psychiatry needs something to relate the severity to, always be careful and just listen, that's what they are paid to do, tell you!

Less is more, say less and act more

Author: James T heart

I've always seen it as a spectrum disorder, it just makes more sense to me that way.

Short answer: I think b.p. is a spectrum. I think only two things do not belong on a spectrum... being alive and being pregnant. Either you are or you're not.

I most certainly view my bi-polar disorder the way an artist does. I see all the different shades of blue for depression and orange for mania. As a matter of fact, I did a drawing that I have hanging in my room titled "Mask", which depicts this phenomna. Also the mixed state belongs on a spectrum of "blue and orange paint swirls." I'd put mood stabel as white, ready to be colored on. So, I think bi-polar could use some more colors to be a true spectrum disorder, like autism is.

I disagree with some here, black and white is false we think in color we are people of different colours. Nothing is just black or white.

Spectrum would be the truth we all need to take care of ourselves or this disorder gets to far out of control.

And if it is black or white we seek color...

I can see bipolar being a spectrum, but I don't agree with classifying someone who only experiences episodic depression as bipolar. You don't need a bipolar diagnosis to be prescribed mood stabilizers.

Excellent point. I agree with you.

I agree with the spectrum for sure. Most diagnoses are on a spectrum from mild to severe, not just bipolar or psychiatric diagnoses. For example, a person could have mildly impaired fasting blood sugar, or they might have really severe diabetes with unstable blood sugars and complications like blindness. Definitely a spectrum. I don't think bipolar i is necessarily always more severe than bipolar ii though, because BP II can have very severe depressions or even die by suicide, and a person may have a single episode of mania and be diagnosed BP I even if they never have symptoms again. so i think the spectrum is unique to the person, and not just the classification of the illness.

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Definitely a spectrum. Look at us here. Some of us have mostly manias while others are stuck in primarily depressive states. Still others function in mixed episodes a majority of the time. The severity of the episodes varies from person to person as well. Some of us report large periods of relative stability and others aren't there yet. Some people with bipolar disorder can work full time, some only part time, others not at all. I do think there's a difference between unipolar depression and bipolar though, so I would disagree with diagnosing someone who had never had any manic or mixed symptoms. Of course, I'm not a doctor, so that's not really my job.

Love and Fear was my battle.

she left me

wonder why when i left her 1000 times, sad story, will she take me back?

yeah i got a 3 tattoo, opened the three up the arm with a suicide attempt months ago, arm was grosser than any film i have seen, real is scary, had a beer was let out of the hospital in two days after loosing most of my blood. cool story bro

no really, it sucked

""what a waste of clear skin, brb going to get a can of coke, be better than sniffing it
"bipolar comment"""

sad thing is we have great minds, we just need to find the world more interesting to use them, technology is so so so so, annoying. if we were farmers i would of traded you my cow, now that would be a story!

excuse me i just peed a little, be back after my lithium

Author: James T heart