Manic Episodes?

[invisiblebabe]

Hey all,

I've had major depressive disorder since I was thirteen. However, I am wondering if it developed into bipolar rather recently (and the psychiatrists I have talked to have said it was possible). in the past year and a half or so I have noticed some extremely odd symptoms, including:

1) laughing hysterically for no reason, when I was about to set up for a standing back flip or back handspring (this is back when I was in gymnastics, in October-November). It was extremely weird and made me unable to do the skills.

2) psychomotor agitation... ie not being able to sit still in class, hypervigilance

3) inability to sleep for very long, for some nights (think 3 hours a night probably)

4) elevated mood and/or unpredictable, rapid ups and downs



So I am totally confused. Sometimes this has gone on for three or four days straight. In some senses, it seems like a manic or mixed episode that I am describing here, yet it is not extreme in the sense that I stay up for days on end or something of the sort.

For those of you with bipolar, what are your manic episodes like?

Thank you and God bless!

 

[California Dreamin']

I have had the same things as you, and also spending related problems. I was tested and hospitalized and they told me I only have mild depression and that I am not bipolar, yet. My dad is bipolar and I might develop it later but right now I don’t have it, in my opinion I have the extreme highs and lows that come with bipolar but according to mental health professionals, I don’t.

 

[Jeshu]

Hey all,

I've had major depressive disorder since I was thirteen. However, I am wondering if it developed into bipolar rather recently (and the psychiatrists I have talked to have said it was possible). in the past year and a half or so I have noticed some extremely odd symptoms, including:

1) laughing hysterically for no reason, when I was about to set up for a standing back flip or back handspring (this is back when I was in gymnastics, in October-November). It was extremely weird and made me unable to do the skills.

2) psychomotor agitation... ie not being able to sit still in class, hypervigilance

3) inability to sleep for very long, for some nights (think 3 hours a night probably)

4) elevated mood and/or unpredictable, rapid ups and downs



So I am totally confused. Sometimes this has gone on for three or four days straight. In some senses, it seems like a manic or mixed episode that I am describing here, yet it is not extreme in the sense that I stay up for days on end or something of the sort.

For those of you with bipolar, what are your manic episodes like?

Thank you and God bless!

Hi I've got bipolar and your episodes appears to follow the bipolar route somewhat, however the duration/intensity seems wrong. My manic episodes bring me months of 3-5 hour nights and highly elevated moods -- which can cycle to sickening lows within a very short time span. (I'm an ultra rapid cycler though.)
One thing you haven't mentioned is what kind of medication you are on for your depression, it is possible that your medication is causing these added symptoms as well you see.

Some other classic symptoms you may recognise if you are developing B/P

Racing thoughts. (Or thinking about more than one thing at the same time.)
Rapidly changing moods.
Irritability.
Manic ideas/thoughts about yourself or others.
Eating too much or too little.
drug abuse -- legal or illegal drugs.
Thoughts of death or suicide.
Rapid speech/ talkativeness.
Avoiding people
Being arrogant. (feeling that you are someone important.)
Extremely short attention span.
Loss of energy feeling very tired. (yet not sleeping well.)
Hard to concentrate.
Hard to make decisions.
Over spending.
Short psychotic episodes.
Overwhelming feelings of sadness or joy.
Over religious.

Some of these symptoms you may all ready have because you suffer from depression, however a Bipolar manic episode, I think, is best recognised by the constant and intensive/radical mood changes.


All the best and wishing you God's Blessing.

 

[invisiblebabe]

Unlucky-

The strong implications I perceived from your reply is that you seem to think bipolar disorder (and possibly other mental disorders) are all in our heads and primarily spiritual problems, not physiological or emotional ones.

If that is indeed what you are implying, I strongly disagree with you, as there have been many studies done that show bipolar disorder is linked to heredity. Major depressive disorder also has been proven to have genetic predisposition. Emotional problems are also linked to hormonal imbalances in women.... and what does our biology have to do with our relationship with Christ?

Please realize I am not trying to say, "Oh, it's not our fault, so we can sit back and not do anything about our symptoms." That isn't true. I am simply stating that the problem is not always, and I would wager to say almost never, a spiritual problem.

All the symptoms I describe go on for several days in a row, and they do not stop no matter what a person tries. It is nowhere near as easy as trying to calm down or focus on other things, and I would have no reasons for these symptoms, as they appeared out of nowhere. I would imagine it is very difficult to understand unless you have been through it yourself (and you only stated that you have a friend who had bipolar, so I am then deducing that you yourself do not have the disorder and never did).

I am very glad that God healed your friend from bipolar. However, I don't think that just because He would choose not to heal someone else with bipolar, means that said person is not a true believer. Even Paul had a "thorn in the flesh" and through that learned what it meant when God said, "My grace is sufficient for thee."

Blessings,
Kayli

Laughing is good medicine for our hearts. Joy and happiness are strong attributes to a healthy lifestyle and future.
Gymnastics... do you do stretches? maybe in meditating and taking it one step at a time you can learn to relax not only your mind, but your physical body such as your hands and feet. I personally think you possibly jumped the gun a bit in getting sore hands/feet. Stress can contribute to this, as does depression, you must free your mind of all thoughts. Maybe your thinking of something else while you're doing gymnastics, this can contribute to lack of focus.


lack of possible patience? Are you waiting for something to happen, are you bored in the way the material is tought to you? do you think this information you are learning is a good experience or boring? If you can try to notice a pattern in this, that may help out also, in identifying the trigger(s ).


I used to have same problem, problem is that you have too much on your mind. I tried to write down my thoughts, listen to very quiet music at night such as Enya, Enigma, Lord of the Rings soundtrack, etc. Maybe even reading or watching TV may make your eye lids heavy. When you are having thoughts racing through your mind @ night, too much blood flow is going up to your head, resulting in less sleep and less rest.
Drink a glass of warm milk (Don't microwave) about 45 minutes before going to sleep, tea may also help out, and don't try to exercise or eat 3-5 hours before going to sleep. All these will help in providing you with better quality sleep, I guarantee you. Except go light on the TV/reading, take it as a relaxing hobbie.

Take a step back and observe your surroundings, if you can possibly identify triggers, this is a great step forward. It's in stillness we discover life, and that is an encouraging thought. Patience is a virtue, write down your thoughts and act in fear and in wisdom, for it is by our words that we are justified and condemned. Don't be scared but know that God will always love you, as will Jesus as the son of God. I bury myself in the books to keep myself busy, it's amazing at how many christians and catholics go right against the teachings of Christ and of God.... it's through knowledge and understanding of the scriptures that we start a journey of faith through fear of wrongdoing, but we also find the courage in Jesus by humbly following him and quoting him, and never taking credit for the works of Jesus and God through us. We are but shadows and dust - grains of sand in the hourglass.


Here my words sister as a true word from Christ above, may his spirit dwell within you so that you may walk in peace, peace of mind, peace in body. Find your passion, let this passion lead to Jesus, for it is through this that we find out who we truly are, and who we truly are to become.
Write what you know, understand, see, feel, fear, are thankful for, fearful of, wishing for, hope for, and do.



I had a friend who had bipolar, but he was reborn in Christ, and since than, he has never showed symptoms, nor fault. He learnt the true mistake of his actions, the mania was buried deep within him. He bottled too much stress and thought he can endure it all, but that one evening, he exploded because he lost all love, all faith, all consciousness of his mind. A demon came within him, but in dear time, an angel of the Lord came to him and spoke to him, and cured him of his illness.
As sick people, we are meant to be quarantine in a way, or left in rest.... family members are meant to visit us, as it is said in the new testament, truly I tell you, a direct quote from Jesus.
Discover your passion and follow it!

Humble caring brother in Christ,
UC

 

[Jeshu]

Unlucky you wrote;

"I had a friend who had bipolar, but he was reborn in Christ, and since than, he has never showed symptoms, nor fault. He learnt the true mistake of his actions, the mania was buried deep within him. He bottled too much stress and thought he can endure it all, but that one evening, he exploded because he lost all love, all faith, all consciousness of his mind. A demon came within him, but in dear time, an angel of the Lord came to him and spoke to him, and cured him of his illness.
As sick people, we are meant to be quarantine in a way, or left in rest.... family members are meant to visit us, as it is said in the new testament, truly I tell you, a direct quote from Jesus.
Discover your passion and follow it!"


For years I believed wholeheartedly that Christ would heal me of my sickness -- it was my passion. I refused medication and? .... it landed me time and again in hospital with major psychosises. I know believe that Christ will NOT heal me as I had thought -- though I still believe He can -- but rather through modern medication my illness can be kept in check. (somewhat.) For me this has to be His will I think.

Sure, Unlucky, all the things you wrote above contain truth for 'healthy' people who have unhealthy life-styles, but I don't think that any of these things you mentioned can set a sick brain straight (apart of Jesus of course.)

 

[invisiblebabe]

In my opinion, it's based on the lifestyles and the choices we make in every day life.

*confused*

How can bipolar disorder be a result of anything we do? Please explain and let me know of any research that attempts to show this.

Blessings,
Kayli

 

[invisiblebabe]

For years I believed wholeheartedly that Christ would heal me of my sickness -- it was my passion. I refused medication and? .... it landed me time and again in hospital with major psychosises. I know believe that Christ will NOT heal me as I had thought -- though I still believe He can -- but rather through modern medication my illness can be kept in check. (somewhat.) For me this has to be His will I think.

Totally agreed.

I think that often He allows sicknesses to be healed by modern medicine, in order to raise up people to become doctors, study hard, and the like.

I also think of it this way... If He didn't choose to "need" us to work at healing these disorders.... what use would the Body of Christ be as ambassadors and healers on this earth?

 

[kidsminister]

You're right, invisiblebabe! God does not always wave a magic wand and then POOF! make all our problems and sicknesses go away...

My dearest friend in the world is bipolar, and she is an amazing, on-fire Christian. God has not completely taken away her bipolar disorder - she still struggles with highs and lows - but He has given her the grace and ability to manage it. Her life is a testimony that you can be bipolar and still lead a productive and meaningful life and serve God.

Mental disorders are very real...and because we live in a fallen world, there are people who live with them. There are people who live with diabetes, with asthma, with terminal illnesses. God is sovereign and He heals, but often, as with Paul's thorn in the flesh, he allows us to live with them so that His strength can be made perfect in our weakness!!

 

[LostnFound]

AMEN!!!! To answer your original question...Yes, those could well be manic symptoms. My mania is actually hypomania...mania to a lesser degree. As Jeshu pointed out, sometimes anti-depressants can drive someone into manic episodes. I actually take an anti-depressant AND a mood stabilizer. The combination keeps me very stable, for the most part. Still have occasional hypomanic episodes, but they are short lived and mild. And, the mood stabilizer allows me a higher dose of the SSRI that keeps me out of the utterly black hole of suicidal depression!

 

[invisiblebabe]

Yep, it is official. I do have some form of cyclothymia or bipolar. My episodes are indeed more hypomanic than manic, and on the milder end of the spectrum.... but the psychiatrist did say they qualify for that diagnosis.

No wonder my SSRI was making things worse Haha.