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bipolar depression

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Q: How many people do you think have bipolar disorder/depression and aren’t aware of it?
i think some celebrities might have it-
britney spears, amy winehouse, naomi campbell, etc.
i am sure there are others-
but i am not psychologist-
but how many people do you think actually have bipolar disorder/depression and go undiagnosed?

A: I believe many people have bipolar and arent properly diagnosed with it. Since my son was diagnosed in September of last year, I now know all the symptoms of bipolar and I concur with you 100 percent that Britney Spears is bipolar. I believe she had a manic episode lasting over a year and a physcotic break which entailed her shaving her hair, etc. I believe Britney is Bipolar I with manic tendencies. Amy Winehouse, on the other hand, I think may be Bipolar II with depressive tendencies. From everything I learnt and read over the past months 2 million people having bipolar and many, many more not diagnosed.

Q: What do if between episodes of bipolar depression I still feel self-conscious and scared to socialize?
I am 14 years old and have been experiencing episodes of depression for over 6 months now. I am currently taking 300mg of seroquel as well as small amounts of ativan for anxiety and increasing my dose of lamictal. I currently am not in a depressive episode, however, am still experiencing mild symptoms. These include feeling very self-concious of my actions and behaviors including during converstations. This causes me to want to socialize less. These symptoms really are very mild and i am seeking some way to rid myself of them. Also, tips on deeling w. depression would be appreciated. Thanksss

A: Are you in any sort of individual therapy for your bipolar disorder? It’s hard enough to be a teenager, but being a teenager w/ a mental illness makes it even harder! I completely know where you’re coming from–I’ve been bipolar since I was a child, and I still have problems socializing. Of course, I didn’t get on meds until I was 19, then I didn’t find meds that WORKED until I was 21. It’s good that you’re starting to get a hold of your illness now so it doesn’t control you later in life.

Even still, you need individual counseling. You need to learn some techniques to help you feel comfortable in your environment. Another thing you might want to consider is looking for a support group. Your local chapter of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) might have a group for families that are dealing w/ mentally ill children, and you might be able to meet other kids there that are just like you.

Know that despite what you feel, you are NOT some kind of freak. You’re just as much a child of God as anyone else and are entitled to be happy and enjoy life to the fullest! Also remember that you don’t know what someone else is going through in life. We tend to put people on pedestals, thinking that they have perfect lives. In all honesty, you don’t see their private struggles, and you never know what they’re going through.

One thing that’s helped me reach out is volunteering. Especially to work w/ older people or sick kids. You want to feel better about your life? Visit a 5 y/o w/ lymphoma. Seriously, you’ll cry, but you’ll appreciate your condition a whole lot more. Doing something to get outside of yourself will REALLY help, so get lost in service! Not only will it help you learn to interact w/ others, it’ll help you gain confidence knowing that you’re doing good for other people :)

Q: Do I have bipolar disorder or major depression?
I’m depressed severly a lot of the time, but there are times when I get happy like right now for no good reason. Sometimes it happens in days. Is that bipolar or depression?

A: It’s very difficult diagnosing someone from a few sentences on YA. There are actually 5 types of bipolar disorder, but the main categories are bipolar I and bipolar II. In bipolar I, a person can go into extreme states of elation, have racing thoughts, irritability, much less need for sleep, a tendency to make grand, unattainable plans, an overpowering sex drive, and may even have hallucinate.

Bipolar II has similar symptoms but to a much lesser degree. The person may talk too much or too fast, have racing thoughts, feel unusually happy, have less need for sleep, etc. However, the symptoms are less severe, and they still are able to function in the everyday world and don’t lose touch with reality.

In your case, when someone is severely depressed, that does not mean they may feel that way 24 hours a day. There may be lapses in the depression when one feels relatively normal or even happy. I suffer from major depression, but have short episodes of feeling less depressed, sometimes even happy. Besides a few positive experiences with medication, I almost always better after exercising or being out at the beach in the summer.

Without knowing more about you, I would guess you have major depression but are not bipolar I (You may possibly be bipolar II). Being bipolar is a very trendy diagnosis these days and is diagnosed or over diagnosed a lot. However, your best bet is to have a consultation with a licensed psychotherapist or psychologist. They can probably offer you a clearer diagnosis. More important, they can offer suggestions and a treatment plan to deal with your problems. They might refer you to a psychiatrist. You may need medication or you may not.

The problem with seeing an MD first is that many of them mean well, but they have a tendency to think almost everything can be solved with pills, pills, pills. You might walk out of an office with a bunch of prescriptions you may not need. This has happened to me and many others I know. I wish you the best.

Q: How do I find a good psychiatrist in sydney for depression and bipolar disorder?
I have had depression for a long time and have recently lost my job. It just comes and goes. Sometimes I can be more happy than usual and I am worried that it could be bipolar. I live in Sydney and am looking for a good psychiatrist who can help me.

A: being a piece of bread can help be a super hero

Q: Can you give me factual medical information on bipolar manic depression?
I was diagnosed with this. I take medication to keep at a stable medium mood. But at times my moods drop into severe depression and even suicidal modes. Last night was the first night that every two minutes I delt with a different mood. Happy, crying, panic attacks, self destructive, suicidal, worthlessness, and a medium stable clear headed mood. Every two minutes was a change. I know my stress levels have increased due to factors in my life. When in a stable medium mood I almost feel “normal”. In times like these I think maybe I need to be locked away in a psych facility long term with no people contact and be isolated. My mind runs rapid. My chest feel like it will explode at times. I cant breath. Then I feel worthless and hopeless and unloved and cry. Too much for one person to handle. I take medication. Should I take more? Or a different kind? I am going today back to the doctor for a check up on the bipolar. Do you have any helpful info to help me deal with this battle?

A: It hard to tell everything from what little you wrote, but it seems you have a few more problems than just bipolar, maybe some paranoia and schizophrenia. You say you take medication. Do you take it regularly everyday like the doctor prescribed, or do you miss a lot of doses? Most psych meds are meant to be taken continuously, even on days that you feel good. Don’t stop without asking your doctor first. Maybe you should check into a mental health facility for an extended stay, like 6 months to a year. Don’t think of it as a bad thing or being “locked away”. The doctors are there to help you get control of your life. They can monitor your meds daily and see what works best for you. You can’t do that by yourself. From what you wrote, it sounds like you are a danger to yourself and possibly others. Ask a family member to help you find a good facility close by. Don’t wait until its too late.

Q: How do unipolar depression and bipolar depression differ?
Also, which one has the higher rate of suicide?

A: Depressive episodes in major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder are often indistinguishable. There is some evidence that “atypical” depressive symptoms such as increased sleep, increased appetite, weight gain and severe fatigue may be more common in bipolar depression. Bipolar depressions often begin more abruptly and are briefer than unipolar depressions. The rate of suicide for both major depressive disorder (unipolar depression) and bipolar disorder are 10-15%. There are alot of factors that go into to suicide risk such as frequency, severity and chronicity of the depressive episodes as well as concurrent substance use or dependence.

Q: How much does an episode of bipolar depression change a person?
Do the relationships they have ever revert to normal or are they forever altered by this diagnosis? It seems as though a person with this diagnosis becomes a total stranger, while they’re being treated. Please help!

A: Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to your question. But that doesn’t mean that what we do know is always negative. Bipolar disorder is a serious, incurable brain disorder that affects 2.6% of our society, so it is not surprising that you know someone with the disorder. You imply that the person to whom you are referring has become a total stranger while they’re being treated. That is not the norm with bipolar disorder.

In most cases, medication can treat the symptoms of the disorder, while therapy deals with the long-term issues surrounding the person and their disorder. It could be that this person seems like a total stranger because their medication is not optimal for them – they may be on too high a dosage of it, or not be on the right kind. A psychiatrist can make that determination as well as adjust their medication.

As far as reverting to normal, someone with bipolar disorder does not continuallly cycle without a break. In between episodes, with proper treatment, they can be as “normal” as anyone else.

Q: How is someone who has generalized anxiety disorder & depression different from someone who has bipolar?
When I was in the 9th grade I was diagnosed with GAD, but then in the 12th grade my psychologist told me that I either have GAD & depression or bipolar. I haven’t been able to afford to see another psychologist or a psychiatrist since, but I am still wondering. What are the differences? My mother does not think that I have bipolar.

A: The anxiety Depression is neurotic or character Disorders
BiPolarism is a Biochemical Major Mental Illness ususally with psychotic episodes. And is a lifetime Disorder not like depression or anxiety

Q: Depression and Bipolar disorder-what can i do to help my girlfriend who has it?
My GF has depression (and I think bipolar too) and i need to know what to do. She is GREAT alot of the time- but she has panic attacks and depressed thoughts. She tells me as she’s having them that she wants to stop crying or be normal- but cant. And i believe her. She is on an anti-depressant and refuses counseling- what can i do to help her out? What does she need to do to get the adequate help?
My girlfriend has had two severe episodes of depression. One where she was suicidal and the other where she had a severe panic attack and ended up passing out for a short period due to breathing fast. She has always been very happy and upbeat- an amazing girl- but lately theres alot going on in her life- or was. she stayed happy through those hard times and is crashing through these easy ones. Any advice for me to get her some help? What can i do to help her out when she goes through this?

A: If she is bipolar, she’s on the wrong medication. Antidepressants do one of a few things for bipolars – work short-term then stop working, don’t work at all, cause a mixed state, or flip them to hypomania or mania. In short, wrong med.

If she has unipolar depression, the AD needs to adjusted or she needs a different one. It sounds like it’s not working.

What you can do is get her to see a psychiatrist. They are MDs. Mostly they prescribe medication and only rarely do counselling. They are the experts in psych illnesses and one of them is more apt to make the right diagnosis than a gp or other type of doc. Right now, you don’t know what it is, and based on your description, I wouldn’t jump to bipolar. Depression and anxiety is more likely.

And, yes, therapy would be very beneficial whether she has depresion or bipolar, but she has to want it. That’s not something you can force her to do.

Q: How do you tell your parents that you have Bipolar Depression?
I want to tell them in an indirect way, i dont have the confidence to just straight-out tell them. Im 14 by the way

A: Its a really scary thing to tell them, I was diagnosed at 16 and was so scared my parents would be disappointed (I was so wrong, they were and are great) The way I did it was brought home some information from the hospital about bi polar and left it for them when I stayed at a friends place, when I got home we had to have a big talk, but they had time before I came home to read about it, and I had time to work out what to say, its kinda cheating though.

Q: Can being teased be the result of depression or bipolar disorder?
Well you know how a person can constantly be teased and taunted and that makes them sad and empty ….can that lead to depression or being bipolar?

A: Depression but bipolar, i don’t know. If it is already in you, it could bring it out.(if that makes any sense) It would make me sad and mad. People like that do not like their own life. Try to talk to a counselor . I am assuming you are in school. Good luck!

Q: Anyone out there suffering from bipolar depression?
For the past six months I have been experiencing extremely unbearable symptoms of bipolar disorder (from laughing and enjoying life to a somewhat mild degree to feeling like i am about to commit suicide…) and now I realize i am depressed. Severely.

I just want to know that i am not alone in this and that there are other people out there who are also experiencing the exact same things.
Thank you.

A: Believe me, you are not alone.
At one point I’d be so excited and content about something.
Then something else that’s not even that BAD happens
(like seeing a girl getting more attention from a boy I like than me-smh)
and i am SEVERELY hurt to the point where i actually cry!!
sometimes i’d cry for NO REASON at all.
like, seriously, to the point where i feel like i want to roll
up in a ball and die.
And i throw things around in my room, bang against the wall,
SCREAM at the top of my lungs really loudly.
all over nothing.
i need help.
and i plan on getting it soon.

Q: At what point after remission of bipolar depression is it STATISTICALLY safest to try coming off combo meds?
I know you that within a year of remission going off meds is very risky, with a high relapse rate. How about after a year of remission? Two years? Anecdotes are still appreciated but I am really looking for some statistical information,studies, etc. (Combo meds: abilify, effexor)

A: When is it safe to take a diabetic off insulin? An HIV patient off antivirals? A transplant patient off immune-suppressants? It isn’t. Bipolar is not a transient illness, it’s chronic, lifelong, and it always needs medical intervention. It’s not like an infection

Sorry, but this is a rock solid No, Not Ever.

Q: What happens if a person who is most likely bipolar receives a depression dx and is given meds for depression?
My brother in law is so classically bipolar. He recently went to the doctor in a depressed state. THe doctor gave him Effexor (a SSRI medicine for depression, anxiety). What will this do for him? I have heard this is a common misdiagnosis for bipolar. Anyone have any stats, info on this situation?

A: Wow…some of the people on here should not be allowed to post answers.

It is common for somebody with BP to first be diagnosed with depression…often times they only seek treatment for those symptoms related to depression. Antidepressants can trigger manic/hypomanic/mixed episodes in some bipolar people…but it is not something that happens in every case. Very often antidepressants are needed…the lows of bipolar can be extremely bad and persistent…but when treating BP, doctors will almost always use an anti-D in combo with a mood stabilizer (like lithium, depakote, lamictal, trileptal, etc) or antipsychotic (abilify, seroquel, zyprexa, etc …these often have mood stabilizing effects).
Treating bipolar generally necessitates the use of several medications and it can be difficult to find the right combination.

One last thing…Effexor is not an SSRI, it is an SNRI – targeting 2 types of neurotransmitters – serotonin and norepinephine.

Q: Whats the difference between being bipolar or having depression?
I go through fases or being really upset and feel really depressed for weeks, and then i will be fine.
Me and my friends seem to of grown apart and i don’t see them much anymore which always upsets me and i always feel like i have no one to talk to.
My sisters dont live at home anymore either which really gets me down as i hardly see them anymore.. But when i do see them i’m always really happy.
But just little things can make me really upset, and i’ll often just cry for no reason.

I don’t know if im bipolar, or if i have depression.. Or even if it’s just me getting upset/PMT/me just being a teenager..

My mum and one of my sisters have had depression through-out their lives.. Would that make it any more likely i would have it?
My mother has thought about taking me to the doctor to see but i just dont dare go. Would that really be the best option?

A: Bipolar used to be called manic depression.
With bipolar disorder, life can be like an emotional roller coaster. One day your mood is low and you feel sad. Then your mood gets really high and you feel great. Then the sadness comes back.

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