Bipolar?

WomanAtTheWell · Jul 24, 2006

Sometimes I wonder if I might fit the diagnostic criteria for Bipolar. In the past, I have been treated for depression, but the SSRIs and Wellbutrin never really helped me. Counseling hasn't been all that great for me, either... I had one counselor suggest that Bipolar might actually be a more accurate diagnosis, but about that time I switched health insurance due to changing employers and couldn't see her anymore. I think that the Bipolar Dx might actually be the more accurate one, the only major criteria that would be missing is sleep - I need a lot of it all the time. There has never been a time in my life when I could go for any length of time without a lot of sleep. I am a social worker, so I should know these things about myself, but sometimes I think that it makes it harder because I am a social worker - I didn't WANT that diagnosis, although for some reason, I could accept a diagnosis of depression.

I am going to see a new psychiatrist next month. I have gone for two years now with no meds and no counseling and I think (know) that I really need to see someone - unfortunately with my insurance (although, I thank God that I do have insurance!) it can take a while to get in to see someone.

I don't know if I am really asking any questions here... just putting words out there because I feel like I need to get this off of my chest....

maybe, there is a question...

For anyone out there who has been diagnosed with Bipolar, did you go through a lot of other (or any other) diagnosis/treatment before they figured out that it was really Bipolar? and how did it help (if it did) when they finally figured out what was really going on?

berry2000 · Jul 24, 2006

I'm sitting in between diagnosises right now so I do know how you feel. I'm on a mood stabalizer. One doc says just depression. Another says bipolar NOS (not otherwise specified). It is perpetually frustrating. Can't say I have any answers except having a label doesn't really mean much. Having the right med's now that's worth a lot.

WindandConfusion · Jul 25, 2006

The difference between unipolar and bipolar disorders is that mania/hypo-mania is (almost) only ever seen in bipolar patients. The most striking symptom of mania is insomnia and radically increased energy or agitation.

What mania-like symptoms did you show?

WomanAtTheWell · Jul 25, 2006

Some signs of Mania that I experience include:

Rapid speech (it is very hard for me to slow down my speech patterns, even when I try - sometimes I am very conscious of talking fast and try to slow down and can't - the counselor that thought maybe Bipolar was the correct diagnosis commented on it, but said that it wasn't troubling (I can't remember her exact word right now. I think she said that it doesn't seem "Pressured",) like in some manic patients... I have an opportunity for a sort of promotion at work... but this would include public speaking and my director told me that I have to slow down when I talk. I am worried that I won't be able to.)

Racing thoughts (especially at night, sometimes, when I am trying to rest)

flight of ideas (I talk about more than one thing at a time and can't seem to control it sometimes. I go off on a million tangents, but somehow always get back to the main point)

Distractibility - it's hard for me to concentrate on one thing - this could be a sign of depression, though...

Agitation & aggressiveness (I get angry sometimes and can't control it - sometimes over little things and I will consciously know that whatever I am upset about really isn't a big deal. This used to be a lot worse. I used to throw things... I have been able to control the aggressiveness, but I still WANT to throw things a lot!)

Reckless spending (sometimes I go into a store and really can't control the amount of shopping I do. I buy things that I don't need. Luckily, I haven't gotten myself into trouble with this.)

Sometimes I take on so many projects that I can't complete any of them.

I don't have the issues around sleep, although I suffer from insomnia frequently. I never want to "write the greatest American novel" in the middle of the night (just an example - I know that writing novels is not a symptom of Bipolar) or stay up doing things. I try to sleep and have so many things on my mind or wake up in the middle of the night with a lot of stuff on my mind and find it hard to fall back asleep. The thing about that is that I will be very tired the next day. I always NEED a lot of sleep to function properly.

If anything, my periods of "mania" would be considered "hypomanic". One thing about me is that even when I have been my most "depressed", most people around me had no idea because it seems like when I am around others, I am hypomanic - I seem very happy - even if inside I am not. A lot of people have commented that I am always just one big ball of happy energy - even when I am feeling my worst. I don't know if it's a mask that I unkowingly put on for others or a symptom of something else... The manic or hypomanic symptoms, for the most part, have sometimes actually helped me in some instances because they hide the symptoms of depression that I have experienced and enabled me to get up and get out when I otherwise would have tried to "hide under the covers" my whole life... (I don't know if that makes any sense...) It's almost like when I am around others I am hypomanic and when I am by myself, I am depressed. It seems like during the day, I am hypomanic and at night, I am depressed. I don't think that I fit into a classic pattern of Bipolar - maybe Bipolar 2, with hypomanic features - but even that isn't "classic", although I don't know if anyone really fits completely into a DSM-IV diagnosis.

With the exception of decreased need for sleep, I think that I definitely fit the diagnositic criteria for Bipolar 2, but the sleep part is a major component for the diagnosis. When I can't sleep, the next day, I do not feel rested at all.

When I was on SSRI's it seemed like the hypomanic symptoms were more severe. I can control the symptoms better without the medication.

I think that in the past, I have downplayed my hypomanic symptoms when I have sought professional help because they can actually be a pleasant reprive from depression. I also (and this may be due to my social work background or just a personal bias that has not served me well at all) didn't want to be "BIPOLAR", like somehow that would be worse than suffering from Major Depression... I know that doesn't make any sense at all.

I have a lot of history of mental illness in my family, although, most of it is *secret*, so I don't know what the actual diagnoses have been for my family members because it's been so hush-hush. I just know anecdotal stories about things people have done...

My appointment with the Psychiatrist is in August and I really hope that this time we will get to the bottom of this.

edit: I just took one of the online quizzes and it actually scored me very high for Bipolar I. Not that I put a lot of stock into online assessments, but I will tell the Psychiatrist that when I finally get to see her in the middle of next month.

PrairieGurl · Jul 25, 2006

Yes I do relate Womanatthewell !!! It was nearly 20 years...tons of different meds... "hitting rock bottom... & then finally seeing a VERY wise pdoc who diagnosed bp. This pdoc also realized that I am one of those people that antid's just do not work on by themselves. Since the new meds I (& my family) have noticed a difference in my moods, actually my whole over all exsistance I must say though, through out the years I was never really honest with the docs I saw (I guess we call this denial)

I work in the Healthcare system, CAN accept others with depression and bp but could NOT accept it in my own life, go figure.

May your pdoc be wise and listen to you!

Alive again · Jul 25, 2006

Hey, I relate as well. Spent m,any years with a diagnosis of chrinic unresponsive depression. Wasn't until we foudn out my
Dad who had died had a diagnosis of bp type 2 (hypomanias) that both my son and I were accurateolt diagnosed and we found meds that have given me my life back-non of them antidepressants, although I ddi have to continue them for awhile or I would slip back into derpession. Over time they started to trigger manias and I was able to stop them without the return of the depression. I also need lots of sleep and have insomnia troubles. So in many ways I relate. My main hypomania symptom is irritabily and anger. I spent prob 99.9% of my time in depression and very little time in mania.

GO SEE THE DOC AND TALK IT OVER!

Alive again · Jul 25, 2006

Hey, I relate as well. Spent m,any years with a diagnosis of chrinic unresponsive depression. Wasn't until we foudn out my
Dad who had died had a diagnosis of bp type 2 (hypomanias) that both my son and I were accurateolt diagnosed and we found meds that have given me my life back-non of them antidepressants, although I ddi have to continue them for awhile or I would slip back into derpession. Over time they started to trigger manias and I was able to stop them without the return of the depression. I also need lots of sleep and have insomnia troubles. So in many ways I relate. My main hypomania symptom is irritabily and anger. I spent prob 99.9% of my time in depression and very little time in mania.

GO SEE THE DOC AND TALK IT OVER!

As has already been said the label doesn't matter but the right med does. However I can definitely relate to not liking the diagnossi and being foar more comfortable with the depression diagnosis.

YOu are wewlcome to pm or email me anytime, however I am currerntly having computer issues and must borrow time from friends until tech support solves it!

Love321 · Jul 30, 2006

Hi, hopeful I can jump in with questions.

I have a few questions ........of Bi-polar........
I hope you can answer.

My girlfriend is married to a man that has it.
They fight a lot.
He always says its her fault.

When she tries to defend herself........he says they need an arbitrator.
In his eyes he is always right.

He drinks on his meds..........and sometimes stops taking them.
Is this normal behavior for Bi-polar? For one to believe they are always right?

Also can bi-polar with the off and on med routine .......maintain a personal relationship?

One more....when he speaks........she must listen!
When she speaks...........he says get to the point!

Thank you for your insight.

God Bless
Love321

WomanAtTheWell · Jul 30, 2006

Love321 said:
Hi, hopeful I can jump in with questions.

I have a few questions ........of Bi-polar........
I hope you can answer.

My girlfriend is married to a man that has it.
They fight a lot.
He always says its her fault.

When she tries to defend herself........he says they need an arbitrator.
In his eyes he is always right.

He drinks on his meds..........and sometimes stops taking them.
Is this normal behavior for Bi-polar? For one to believe they are always right?

Also can bi-polar with the off and on med routine .......maintain a personal relationship?

One more....when he speaks........she must listen!
When she speaks...........he says get to the point!

Thank you for your insight.

God Bless
Love321

The controlling behaviors (acting like he's always right) that you have mentioned are not really symptoms of Bipolar, but could be a co-morbid condition, maybe indicative of a Personality Disorder (an Axis 2 diagnosis). It also sounds like he might be dually diagnosed - having a Substance Abuse problem, since you said that he is drinking on (and off) his meds. Maybe he's just got a controlling personality and not the co-morbid diagnosis. (Co-morbid is a fancy word for more than one diagnosis in the same indvidual.) (Dual Diagnosis is the term that's used a lot for Substance Abuse & Mental Health Diagnoses together.)

I think that it's common for lots of people with Mental Health diagnoses to stop taking their meds.... You feel better, so feel like you are cured and don't like the side effects of the meds. It's just like someone with any other health condition who feels better and stops taking medications that they NEED, but don't necessarily like taking, due to side effects or not remembering or just not liking or wanting to take medication. With psych meds, there can be a lot of side effects, so when people feel better a lot of times they stop taking them. That's not uncommon at all.

WomanAtTheWell · Jul 30, 2006

Thanks everyone for your kind words!

I am really going through a tough time right now. I am having MAJOR PROBLEMS at work with someone. I am overwhelmed because I decided to try to go to Nursing school while working full time and I am trying to get ready... The problems at worked have helped to bring the depression stuff back on full force - I don't feel like doing anything but I have so much to do (because I got myself into more than I feel like I can handle right now). And I have financial worries because I don't know how I am going to buy my books, and pay my tuition and all the other little nickel and dime (well, $25 & $50) fees that nursing school is charging. I have myself so overwhelmed right now that I don't know where to start and I just want to lay down (or play on the computer all day) and not address everything that I need to do.

Thanks for letting me vent!!

WomanAtTheWell · Jul 30, 2006

Love321 said:
Also can bi-polar with the off and on med routine .......maintain a personal relationship?

I forgot about this one.

It depends... how patient is the other person? How severe are the symptoms?

Every person's experience with Bipolar (or any other mental illness) is different. Symptoms can ebb and flow, seem better, get worse again. I don't think anyone can say what a person with Bipolar can or cannot do. Especially on a message board.

So, it depends is my final answer.

Love321 · Jul 30, 2006

WomanAtTheWell said:
The controlling behaviors (acting like he's always right) that you have mentioned are not really symptoms of Bipolar, but could be a co-morbid condition, maybe indicative of a Personality Disorder (an Axis 2 diagnosis). It also sounds like he might be dually diagnosed - having a Substance Abuse problem, since you said that he is drinking on (and off) his meds. Maybe he's just got a controlling personality and not the co-morbid diagnosis. (Co-morbid is a fancy word for more than one diagnosis in the same indvidual.) (Dual Diagnosis is the term that's used a lot for Substance Abuse & Mental Health Diagnoses together.)

I think that it's common for lots of people with Mental Health diagnoses to stop taking their meds.... You feel better, so feel like you are cured and don't like the side effects of the meds. It's just like someone with any other health condition who feels better and stops taking medications that they NEED, but don't necessarily like taking, due to side effects or not remembering or just not liking or wanting to take medication. With psych meds, there can be a lot of side effects, so when people feel better a lot of times they stop taking them. That's not uncommon at all.

Thank you ..........I appreciate your time and advice.........

Do you have any insight as to personal relationships with bi polar?
Any comments at all?

Thank You
Love321

Love321 · Jul 30, 2006

WomanAtTheWell said:
The controlling behaviors (acting like he's always right) that you have mentioned are not really symptoms of Bipolar, but could be a co-morbid condition, maybe indicative of a Personality Disorder (an Axis 2 diagnosis). It also sounds like he might be dually diagnosed - having a Substance Abuse problem, since you said that he is drinking on (and off) his meds. Maybe he's just got a controlling personality and not the co-morbid diagnosis. (Co-morbid is a fancy word for more than one diagnosis in the same indvidual.) (Dual Diagnosis is the term that's used a lot for Substance Abuse & Mental Health Diagnoses together.)

I think that it's common for lots of people with Mental Health diagnoses to stop taking their meds.... You feel better, so feel like you are cured and don't like the side effects of the meds. It's just like someone with any other health condition who feels better and stops taking medications that they NEED, but don't necessarily like taking, due to side effects or not remembering or just not liking or wanting to take medication. With psych meds, there can be a lot of side effects, so when people feel better a lot of times they stop taking them. That's not uncommon at all.

Thank you ..........I appreciate your time and advice.........

Do have any insight as to personal relationships with bi polar?
Any comments at all?

Thank You
Love321

Love321 · Jul 30, 2006

Love321 said:
Thank you ..........I appreciate your time and advice.........

Do have any insight as to personal relationships with bi polar?
Any comments at all?

Thank You
Love321

didnt mean to respond twice............sorry

WomanAtTheWell · Jul 30, 2006

Love321 said:
Thank you ..........I appreciate your time and advice.........

Do you have any insight as to personal relationships with bi polar?
Any comments at all?

Thank You
Love321

You are welcome!

I am trying to find out if I might be Bipolar myself, so I don't know if I am necessarily the right person to be addressing this... but, I will try to give you some suggestions....

First and foremost, your safety is the most important thing. If the person who suffers from Bipolar is physically abusive, get out. If you can't get out, develop a safety plan. You can contact the nearest Domestic Violence center for advice on how to do that. (I am not saying that all people with Bipolar are abusive - I think I probably have it and I am not physically abusive to anyone, but sometimes people with Bipolar can be. It is important to know that no matter what someone's diagnosis is, we all have a right to be safe from physical (and emotional) abuse.)

Develop a support network. Maybe join the local chapter of NAMI or any other support group that might be available in your area. It's important to be able to have someone else to talk with about things that are going on.

I guess it depends on how the person's symptoms present in some cases. I guess, I would advise not "feeding into" things - trying to not allow yourself to be pulled into any arguments. Be able to remain calm in the middle of the storm.

Have a life outside of home... Friends to visit with... What I am getting at here is that sometimes people who live with someone who has a mental illness find themself getting so caught up in the other person's symptoms and don't have a life outside of that. I think that joining NAMI or another type of support group would help with being able to separate yourself from the other person's disease.

I hope that this was helpful.

Love321 · Jul 30, 2006

WomanAtTheWell said:
You are welcome!

I am trying to find out if I might be Bipolar myself, so I don't know if I am necessarily the right person to be addressing this... but, I will try to give you some suggestions....

First and foremost, your safety is the most important thing. If the person who suffers from Bipolar is physically abusive, get out. If you can't get out, develop a safety plan. You can contact the nearest Domestic Violence center for advice on how to do that. (I am not saying that all people with Bipolar are abusive - I think I probably have it and I am not physically abusive to anyone, but sometimes people with Bipolar can be. It is important to know that no matter what someone's diagnosis is, we all have a right to be safe from physical (and emotional) abuse.)

Develop a support network. Maybe join the local chapter of NAMI or any other support group that might be available in your area. It's important to be able to have someone else to talk with about things that are going on.

I guess it depends on how the person's symptoms present in some cases. I guess, I would advise not "feeding into" things - trying to not allow yourself to be pulled into any arguments. Be able to remain calm in the middle of the storm.

Have a life outside of home... Friends to visit with... What I am getting at here is that sometimes people who live with someone who has a mental illness find themself getting so caught up in the other person's symptoms and don't have a life outside of that. I think that joining NAMI or another type of support group would help with being able to separate yourself from the other person's disease.

I hope that this was helpful.

Thank you so much for the advice..........I appreciate your time.

I am concerned.....I will pass it on.

God Bless
Love321

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