[Wild Coyote]

I have had some predisposing factors for the development of a bipolar condition. However, it became clear I'd continued to need mood stabilization from an anti-epileptic drug after a traumatic brain injury approximately 4 years ago.

I was attacked from behind while seated on a park bench. I was talking with my elderly mother in broad daylight in a small city's park in New England, USA.

It was a severe attack on my head/neck. Multiple severe blows to the head and the violent shaking of my head back and forth (aka "shearing") while the perp had repeatedly punched me in the head, also shaking my head by having a tight grip on my hair.

I was tried on many AEDs for mood stabilization after that, and we'd settled on Depakote. I have not yet been able to get off of the Depakote since. I have tried many times.

Everyone around me sees a difference in me since the assault/TBI. They see a huge difference if/when I am not on Depakote and/or other mood stabilizing agents. Some of the changes may be exacerbated PTSD; yet, very irritable and can easily "run hot," when I have always been very calm, patient, easy going prior to the head injury. I feel horrible without a mood stabilizer now. Mood stabilizers bring me back to feeling more "normal," more like myself.

There are scientific studies showing a correlation between head injuries and bipolar, as well as other MI conditions.

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/doi/....2013.13020190
Head injury can cause mental illness | ScienceNordic
Psychiatric disorders and traumatic brain injury
Mood and Anxiety Disorders Following Traumatic Brain Injury | Psychiatric Times
Bipolar Disorder, Manic Depression - Causes and Prevention, head injury
Head Injury May Cause Mental Illness - Scientific American
https://www.researchgate.net/publica...c_brain_injury

Just to mention a few. There are many.

I find it interesting, especially considering my own history.

My husband was an avid football player. He and many of his teammates are diagnosed with BP-1 or 2 as they have gotten older. Almost everyone on his (former) team is diagnosed this way now. A couple of them have temporal lobe epilepsy diagnoses. They all had multiple concussions.

Have you had a TBI or concussion and have had chronic mood issues since the head injury?


WC

[BipolaRNurse]

My cousin was diagnosed bipolar 2 after a TBI he sustained in a car wreck. Myself, I've had a couple of pretty good concussions but I doubt they have anything to do with my BP 1. I don't know.

[Wild Coyote]

It's hard to know. Etiologies are more likely multi-factorial.

In my case, life has not been the same, although I see some slow improvements. The first two years were horrible.

My husband was an avid football player with many concussions. He and many teammates are diagnosed with BP 1 or 2. A couple of teammates have temporal lobe epilepsy.


WC

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I worked in a TBI rehab unit/facility for long-term care and bipolar diagnosis/behaviors like bipolar were so highly correlated that I just expected bipolarishness with all of my TBI patients and if they didn't have anything of it then I was just pleasantly surprised. The correlation is HUGE. I'd say off the top of my head 95-98% of the patients with TBI had bipolar features if not full-blown BP. It was so hard for them because many struggled to learn coping strategies and the pdoc at that place tended to just snow patients who were "difficult" (his definition, not mine as I thought he snowed people who really didn't need much medication at all if monitored carefully).

What a horrible experience! I cannot believe you had to go through that WC. It's understandable that you would be changed forever by an experience like that. I'm so, so sorry!

I was in a pretty bad car accident when I was 17. Crashed into a pole doing about 40 miles an hour. No seatbelt so my head crashed into and smashed the windshield. I was still picking glass out of my head years later. I forgot about that accident for years and just remembered it recently when they asked me in the hospital (IP) if I'd ever been in a car wreck or suffered a head injury. Apparently they think there is a connection between mental illness and Head injuries. I "think" I had a manic episode a few years before that accident, .....I definately already had paranoia and other mental health issues. So for me, the accident was not the cause. I have no doubt that head injuries can cause it though. Or something resembling it.

I'm still in shock reading what happened to you. I probably wouldn't have ever left the house again if that happened to me. You are STRONG! (((Hugs)))

[rustygrape]

I have heard about this correlation too. Eager to hear more from others.

[Wild Coyote]

Studies also cite brain inflammation from medical conditions like M.S., viral encephalitis, autoimmune vasculitis, etc.

There are many potential causes of brain inflammation and resulting brain injury, which are not caused by violent assaults perpetrated by other people.


WC

[melmyers1107]

i got bipolar caused from severe injuries to my brain from passing out and blacking out while drinking in dirt, hospitals, bath tubs, flipping cars, take brain mushing drugs.. they couldnt find out what it was for so long bc of all of the drug abused so they label me bipolar i due to general substance abuse disorder.

[Wild Coyote]

Originally Posted by melmyers1107

i got bipolar caused from severe injuries to my brain from passing out and blacking out while drinking in dirt, hospitals, bath tubs, flipping cars, take brain mushing drugs.. they couldnt find out what it was for so long bc of all of the drug abused so they label me bipolar i due to general substance abuse disorder.

I am sorry you have residual damage.

I have heard of certain street drugs causing/triggering bipolar conditions via either neuronal damage and/or via simply "kindling" the brain. We also hear of excessive alcohol causing brain cell issues. Certainly alcoholic encephalopathy caused by cirrhosis ( liver) can cause major brain problems.
Cocaine and other drugs can also cause major issues. Some docs/scientists swear THC also creates a "kindling" effect in the brain.

(I am sure some pharmaceutical meds probably also contribute, as do some excitoxins, such as MSG and others. )

Sounds like you have had chemical/toxin exposures and concussions.

We can be at least somewhat hopeful as scientists learn more about neuroplasticity.


WC