Bipolar 101 -- Answers to basic questions

I'm new to this too, but the sooner you ask for help, the better....wouldn't hurt to hear the words "nope, you don't have bipolar"!

You're not crazy You struggle....have you sought help? Treatments? Very necessary....

I'm young 20's and a mental illness casemanager and have currently had a severe decline in my emotional stability within the last year. I am up and down consistantly, mostly down, and its hard to hide these ups and downs from coworkers. Recently I went on a casemanagers convention in which we stayed in a hotel for a few days... terrible idea! I went from up to normal to severe low in three days and of course they noticed... idk what to do, the lows are bad and ihave absolutely no emotions or feelings at all. I have nooo sex drive whatso ever and prettymuch sleep all day... I just need some helpful tips, I need my emotions back, its been months with no feelings at all

Hi everyone. Just wondering, does BP medication, in this case lithium, reduce the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill? My fiance and I are considering using it, but I seem to be more concerned about it not working because of her medication thaan she doess. Thanks

My mom may be suffering from bipolar...She is happy one day & miserable..angry..depressed the next....Its like walking on egg shells around her...Never know when or what might set her off....She seems very depreswed most of the day....what should we do? helpo thx

Hi, I feel the seem way you are feeling. i hate the world and just want to curse everyone out that had wronged me from childhood to now. I was on meds for depression for 4 months so I dont know if it's the withdrawal symptoms. If you were never on meds and feeling this way for no reason you should try therapy to get your anger out and thoughts together and maybe take it from their. Take it one step at a time so that you will be 100% sure if you are diagnose. But you are feeling that way for no reason yeah it's a sign of BP II. I am giving myself a few months more before I got ot the dr. Goodluck to you dear!

I'm not diagnosed, but I've answered tons of tests online and they all have the same result, that I'm bipolar. I'm worried cause I've noticed it just gets worse, like, my last manic episode (supposing it was one) was talking a lot and people had a hard time keeping up, racing thoughts, hyperactivity, blah blah, it was more like hypo manic. But the one I'm currently going through, it's pretty much like that but now I'm so irritable, and it sucks cause I've been causing problems at home like fighting basically everyday. Oh, and I've also been up most of the night, I barely get to sleep 3 hours, and I'm not sure if it's also a symptom, but I'm being too paranoid by everything, including this. I dunno what I should do, how can I seek help? Should I even seek help or this is just a normal up in someone's life that's gonna go away?

geekinthepink,

Sounds likebipolar to me. I had many of the same symptoms when I diagnosed. It would not hurt to talk to a pdoc just to find out.

So I'm technically not diagnosed with anything, but I was in the library because of a panic attack yesterday and I started writing a story which turned into a description of what I experience when I'm high or low. After I left I gave it to one of my teachers and asked her opinion and she agrees that I might have bipolar. I score pretty high in all internet tests I take (the only tests I ever score high in are mental health ones.. oh god) and the only thing missing from my "manic" episodes is me talking faster. Right now I'm pretty depressed (see twitter for examples but be warned there are triggers, I have the same username there) and trying to persuade myself to send in the forms for counselling and a proper assessment. I'm only 16 though, and so I'm terrified they'll take one look at me and tell me to stop being a stupid teenager. :/

what do you guys think? would I be likely to be diagnosed with bipolar or am I just being a teenager?

This is my first time to post a reply and what I have to say is scary. ECT did not work for me. I had 24 treatments in 2000 and was significantly depressed for 6 months afterwards. I permanently lost 60% of my memory for events that occurred during the year prior to, and the year following the treatments. I developed psychotic symptoms towards the end of my treatment; that's why it was terminated. I was also unable to work for a year after, and lost my job as a result. No one told me not to drive and I accidentally hit a pedestrian. When I returned to moderate functioning, I proceeded to make a lot of huge life mistakes that I am still paying for.

In my opinion, ECT is like invasive surgery. The risks are very serious. I was living in a big city and had no one to look after me. My recommendation is that you make arrangements beforehand for someone to oversee your affairs during your treatments and for at least 6 months afterwards. That would include transportation, financial matters, medical care, important career decisions, etc., because your thinking might be impaired like mine was.

Hi! Im new to this forum.. I really dont know how to post something. I wanted to go on the chat room but I must have at least 5 posts... how do can I go about doing this? Can someone please help me??

You have to make five posts in the forums, the first five posts have to be approved by a moderator I think, someone correct me if I am wrong. But it's done in a timely manor.

You just made a post here so 4 more to go. I don't know if there is any way around that. Hope that helped.

Hi, I'm new here. I'm 57 years old, have been "not like the others" since I was a kid, and was diagnosed with "unipolar depression" when I was 35. I've been on every anti-depressant known to man, and after a while I'd feel really better, then crash again, even worse than before. I got fired from my last two jobs because I could not do the work. I've been doing the same work for 30 years, I could not figure this out. So I had another major depressive episode and ended up in an outpatient program for people with mental health issues. Tuesday I had some kind of weird AH-HA moment and when I saw my doctor Thursday I told him my entire life story beginning at age 1. His light went on - new diagnosis Bipolar II. I had no idea there was such a thing. This is my second day on lithium. I have no idea what to expect.

I had ECT 20 years ago. I still don't remember so much of my past. Also I had just finished Real Estate School and I have no memory of any of the studies or even walking in to the building. Beleive me finding the right meds are hard, but it is much better than losing memories of even raising my daughter. Stop and think this out first

Having same problem, I've made a couple of posts but they aren't showing up. Hopefully soon I can interact, I am in real need.

People react in different ways and have different degrees of memory loss. My brother had it done three times and had seemed like a zombie for a very short time...couple days....then he was suicidal for a short time ...he ended up in the hosp for about 60 days. I hope it goes well for you. Don't let the above experience effect your docs decision to do it. Ask your doc what to expect.

If you are diagnosed be prepared to advocate for yourself and do research because bipolar effects a lot of people differently. You will need to try different medications, coping skills, and different means of support.

so... i do not take med's for my disorder. some people wory that i should. i have a very good reasion not to. but that is mainly an opinion. my doctors sugest i do, but cant rly make me... should i listen to everyone else? or should i continue to try and work things through with out meds?

May I know what are your reasons?

I am also doing it without meds... because I just don't want to spend years and years discovering the right combo - I am afraid I might lose the real me under all those chemicals. Or that it may shatter the fragile balance I created, my inner peace and sense of serenity...

I guess it depends. If you are doing well (I would judge it on level of functionality... I do get real rough patches, but I manage to get through. Not that it did not bother me, but I see that people on meds still get episodes... so I am not sure I am willing to take chances.... I am used to feeling the way I do, and I learned to deal with it), I guess it is alright to continue the way you do. It is nice to have some support system (although it may be hard to find).

It is your choice. I don't think meds are something one should just try as some of the side effects can be long term... depends how you feel and if you think it is worth taking chances. We never know how it may go if we tried the other way...

be well.

I am currently having ECT for maintenance. I have minimal memory loss. I go to and back from ECT in a taxi. By afternoon I can drive again as the anesthesia has worn off by then. I don't need anyone to take care of me. I live alone with my dogs and take care of myself. I have never heard of some needing such drastic care for weeks or months. I will continue to have ECT as long as I need it.

some of the reasions you gave are very close to mine.
the main reasion though is that, my step mom is bi-polar
i watched her go through everything for 7 years
"everything" meaning, all the different medications,
doctors/specialists/counselors/theripists/psycholigists, ect.,
the ups and downs... it was a nightmeare!
she ranged every where from histerical to rageing psycho to normal to...
well just about every extreeme there was!
before she began taking the med's. i rarely ever noticed she wasnt normal
she became a completly different person!
i dont want that for me

it makes sense right?

Maybe. And maybe not. Everyone is different, so it's hard (impossible, really) to predict. Your fear is certainly understandable given the situation that you witnessed. Thing is, it's not universal. For instance, if it'd been me you'd seen, it would have been the exact opposite. I went from being extreme to being pretty "normal". Not boring normal mind you! Kooky personality and creativity totally intact (I mention those because they are often given as a med fear as well. Again, not universal, so I feel the need to stand up and be counted. Meds did not take those things away from me.)

Not saying whether you should or shouldn't. It's your choice. Just wanted to share my experience for your consideration.

thank you,
sometimes i forget that not everyone experiences things the same.
but i do know it.
i know that although i am not her,
and our disorders wont nessesarialy be the same,
that the thing keeping me scared is,
we are so much alike.
i hate it,
addmitting it, of course.
but i cant deny it.
i just dont see how i can take that risk.
it might be irrational.
but i have speent many days and nights thinking things over
-as rationaly as possible.
i do my best to do everything else i can, to manage it.
and 90% of the time.. it's enough
... what i cant figure out, is what to do with that 10%
i know i need help. i am getting it. i just dont know if the "help" is helping.

That was a good series of articles on bipolar disorder. Reminds me of when I did all the internet an library (old school) research during the six months or so after I was diagnosed. I think it is critical to be properly diagnosed by a professional.

Hi I'm new. And I have a question. Back when I was 16, now 20, I was seeing a psychologist I was told that she believed I was bipolar; she wanted me to see a psychiatrist for an official diagnosis, but I was never able to. Should I go off of her unofficial diagnosis because it fits my symptoms?