Bi Polar disorder??

Guitar_Heroine · Jul 21, 2005

If you're really interested, I would strongly suggest the works of Kay Redfield Jamison, a psychiatrist with bipolar. I really like An Unquiet Mind - a memoir and Night Falls Fast - dealing with suicide. I'm not sure how to go about answering your questions, but if you could be more specific feel free to PM me and I can answer based as best I can from personal experience with the illness :) btw good for you for trying to learn more rather than being quick to judge.

cramble · Jul 21, 2005

If you're really interested, I would strongly suggest the works of Kay Redfield Jamison, a psychiatrist with bipolar. I really like An Unquiet Mind - a memoir and Night Falls Fast - dealing with suicide. I'm not sure how to go about answering your questions, but if you could be more specific feel free to PM me and I can answer based as best I can from personal experience with the illness :) btw good for you for trying to learn more rather than being quick to judge.

Yeah I am definetly interested just because I knew this girl a little bit and I just never thought it could happen to her just the way she was when I knew her. It just took my breath away when i found out. I did go online to different websites and checked out some info about it and I found very interesting things about it. I guess I am just wondering how do you know when you have it? Just anything from anybody would be great. Thanks so much:)

LydiaNN · Jul 23, 2005

As a first step to understanding this very complex disorder, I would suggest looking it up in the DSM-IV. That will give you the basics of "how you know if you have it", although the only way you really know is to have a clinical assessment done by an experienced diagnostician. You can get a good overall introduction to bipolar at http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=23037&lstid=325

If that link doesn't work, just go to http://www.nami.org and click on bipolar disorder. A co-worker has a daughter with bipolar, and I do know that she has been having suicidal ideations since she was prepubescent.

PMHNP10 · Jul 31, 2005

I guess I am just wondering how do you know when you have it? Just anything from anybody would be great. Thanks so much:)

Unfortunately, more often than not, you don't know unless someone happens to diagnose you. It's one of those disorders which initially people have very little insight to--specifically the manics. Often times it take multiple inpatient admissions before the bipolar pt. comes to terms with their disorder; unlike schizos and depression. When the bipolar patient is manic, they feel energetic, euphoric; indestructible, which is one of the reasons why it's so difficult for them to be compliant with their med regimen. They don't want to feel less energetic. Meanwhile, over the course of time, their brain is being damaged.

If you are wanting specific signs/symptoms of someone who is bipolar, there are seemingly unlimited possibilities. Also bear in mind that while it's easy to tell if someone is depressed or manic, they often share some of the same symptoms. Also, just because someone has some of these symptoms doesn't mean they are bipolar; otherwise everyone could be diagnosed as a bipolar at one point in their life or another.

Some examples of signs/symptoms could include: decrease in sleep; change in appetite; impaired judgement; increased irritability; agitation; hyperverbal; disorganized speech; increased energy; impulsive in spending and other life decisions which can include self harm attempts; increased sexual activity; many psychotic symptoms like hallucinations, delusions, and even catatonia; flat affect; suicidal ideations; increase in drug/EtOH use; and many many others.

leopold · Jul 31, 2005

To really get an idea one place to go is

http://www.nami.org

They have community message boards for people with all sorts of mental illnesses, and one specifically for bipolar. You can log in and just lurk around reading the posts, or even identify yourself as a nurse and say you're interested. You will get a really good idea about what bipolars go through.

CharlieRN · Aug 7, 2005

Just to add my two cents. Don't be afraid. Bipolar is almost always treatable with medication. That doesn't mean the Bipolar on medication is totally safe. But most of the time they can lead a normal life. They need to regularly see a therapist that they trust. Everyone trying to live with a psych d/o needs someone they will trust to tell them when they are off beam, because sometimes they will be.

If you are worried about your own mental health and can afford it, have a professional evaluate you. In general however, if it ain't broke don't fix it. As long as your life is working, you are probably pretty healthy.