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manic depression symptoms

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Q: Manic-Depression (Bi-Polar) symptoms?
I have a family member who has really gone off the deep end. By the sounds of her actions (pushing people away, then angry when they’re distant, etc) I really think she is bi-polar and always has been. Problem is, she would never seek treatment and the thought of giving her any advice, frankly, scares me. She is highly unreasonable and irrational. We don’t know what to do. Any recommendations are welcome.

A: Get her some help they have meds for this and it used to be not much was known about this my oldest daughter was bi-polar she had mood swings, made bad choices in BFS, low self esteem no matter what we told her, one minute she knew she was loved the next minute she’d say you hated her, lives for today not thinking of tomorrow, anyway many signs and symptoms but most of all what I can say is get her help if possible share this with her my daughter is now dead she was shot and killed by her BF 12/08/05 during an argument one of many they had she just wouldn’t walk away from an argument even if in danger she was on meds which helped but stopped taking them they really do help with the moods

Q: Manic depression!!!!!?
I’m 13 and think I might have manic depression as I looked it up and I have most of the symptoms
should I tell someone or what because I don’t think I’ll be taken seriously
IT’S ok I’m just an insomniac

A: Hey hun!! :) )
Don’t worry. These feelings are normal.
Did you know a lot of people experience these exact same feelings??? :) )

I am also going through the same thing right now.
You have a lot of things going on in your mind…
and it seems like nobody understands you…

You might get mad easily, or frustrated that you feel this way…
You might say “I just want to be myself again.”

Well here are some things you can do…
Its not going to be easy!!

1. Try not to focus on these feelings anymore, tell yourself “This is just anxiety, it will go away eventually. A lot of people are going through the same thing”

2. To help your anxiety, make sure you don’t smoke any weed, or smoke cigarettes, because those two things will make you hate yourself. I used to smoke weed everyday for 4 years and after I quit for a month I felt a lot better. Oh and when you smoke cigarettes you may feel like you feel a little better, but a second later you will feel even worse! :( ( And you don’t want that.

3. Start exercising!! Do NOT sit on your hiney.. that is the worst thing that you can do. Just go out for a run!! Start lifting weights, just make sure you ALWAYS keep busy.

4. Play a lot of video games, if you don’t like video games, then start a new hobby and just make sure you keep busy.

5. Get a part time job so your not constantly thinking all the time.

6. Don’t drink caffeine, that includes SODA/POP!! Just only water or juices.

I hope this helps. I really want you to feel better.
If you really do these things for two months you will start feeling better about yourself right away.

If after two months you still feel this way, I would recommend you go to your family doctor so they can prescribe you a anti anxiety medicine. :) ) Good luck!!

Q: Is promiscuity a common symptom of manic depression?
Have you known bi-polars that act this way?

A: Yup, it is pretty common in people in a manic phase. I know a few people with it who have done a few questionable things while manic, but more than that, I’ve heard from clinical psychologists a little about what they’ve encountered

Q: wot r the symptoms and your experiences of bipolarmanic depression?

A: you go from a state of abnormal mania (where you are very excitable– can be either happiness or anger/irritablity or anxiety) and fall hard to a state of terrible depression (which may not have an obvious trigger). this becomes a continuous cycle.

if you think you’re bipolar, a psychiatrist can prescribe you medicine that can really help you out. they’ve made a lot of advances in medicine for this condition in the past few decades.
xx

Q: What are the main symptoms of major, psychotic and mixed depression, dysthymia and manic depressive illness?

A: A lot can be found by using a search engine such as Yahoo or Google.

The website below defines depression as “An illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts, that affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things.”.

Q: symptoms of bipolar disorder/manic depression?
hi my hubby was just told he has bipolar can someone please tell me what the signs are so that I can better understand him.

A: Bipolar disorder causes dramatic mood swings—from overly “high” and/or irritable to sad and hopeless, and then back again, often with periods of normal mood in between. Severe changes in energy and behavior go along with these changes in mood. The periods of highs and lows are called episodes of mania and depression.

Signs and symptoms of mania (or a manic episode) include:
Increased energy, activity, and restlessness
Excessively “high,” overly good, euphoric mood
Extreme irritability
Racing thoughts and talking very fast, jumping from one idea to another
Distractibility, can’t concentrate well
Little sleep needed
Unrealistic beliefs in one’s abilities and powers
Poor judgment
Spending sprees
A lasting period of behavior that is different from usual
Increased sexual drive
Abuse of drugs, particularly cocaine, alcohol, and sleeping medications
Provocative, intrusive, or aggressive behavior
Denial that anything is wrong
A manic episode is diagnosed if elevated mood occurs with three or more of the other symptoms most of the day, nearly every day, for 1 week or longer. If the mood is irritable, four additional symptoms must be present.

Signs and symptoms of depression (or a depressive episode) include:
Lasting sad, anxious, or empty mood
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed, including sex
Decreased energy, a feeling of fatigue or of being “slowed down”
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
Restlessness or irritability
Sleeping too much, or can’t sleep
Change in appetite and/or unintended weight loss or gain
Chronic pain or other persistent bodily symptoms that are not caused by physical illness or injury
Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts
A depressive episode is diagnosed if five or more of these symptoms last most of the day, nearly every day, for a period of 2 weeks or longer.

A mild to moderate level of mania is called hypomania. Hypomania may feel good to the person who experiences it and may even be associated with good functioning and enhanced productivity. Thus even when family and friends learn to recognize the mood swings as possible bipolar disorder, the person may deny that anything is wrong. Without proper treatment, however, hypomania can become severe mania in some people or can switch into depression.

Sometimes, severe episodes of mania or depression include symptoms of psychosis (or psychotic symptoms). Common psychotic symptoms are hallucinations (hearing, seeing, or otherwise sensing the presence of things not actually there) and delusions (false, strongly held beliefs not influenced by logical reasoning or explained by a person’s usual cultural concepts). Psychotic symptoms in bipolar disorder tend to reflect the extreme mood state at the time. For example, delusions of grandiosity, such as believing one is the President or has special powers or wealth, may occur during mania; delusions of guilt or worthlessness, such as believing that one is ruined and penniless or has committed some terrible crime, may appear during depression. People with bipolar disorder who have these symptoms are sometimes incorrectly diagnosed as having schizophrenia, another severe mental illness.

It may be helpful to think of the various mood states in bipolar disorder as a spectrum or continuous range. At one end is severe depression, above which is moderate depression and then mild low mood, which many people call “the blues” when it is short-lived but is termed “dysthymia” when it is chronic. Then there is normal or balanced mood, above which comes hypomania (mild to moderate mania), and then severe mania.

In some people, however, symptoms of mania and depression may occur together in what is called a mixed bipolar state. Symptoms of a mixed state often include agitation, trouble sleeping, significant change in appetite, psychosis, and suicidal thinking. A person may have a very sad, hopeless mood while at the same time feeling extremely energized.

Bipolar disorder may appear to be a problem other than mental illness—for instance, alcohol or drug abuse, poor school or work performance, or strained interpersonal relationships. Such problems in fact may be signs of an underlying mood disorder.

Q: Is anyone else utterly sick and tired of the symptoms of bipolar disorder (manic depression)?
I have bipolar II disorder. I have only been diagnosed relatively recently, and I am not taking medication (which is lamotrigine and sertraline) at a sufficient level for it to work yet (you have to start on a low dose and gradually build up over a period of months to reach a ‘therapeutic dose’).
I’m finding it so difficult. I’m so sick and tired of the dreadful depressions this condition brings. It is quite awful. I sometimes despair of it.
Is there anyone out there who has more experience of this condition than I do, and can they tell me please what they do when they are utterly fed up with the effects of the illness, and does the condition get better over time if you do all the right things, and is it a relatively treatable illness (as my doctor says so).
Thanks in advance for any answers.

A: I have suffered from Bipolar & Borderline Personality Disorder for 25 years. There were a lot of contributing factors that developed throughout my childhood. I was used, abused, ridiculed, teased, bullied & hit. I was sexually abused at 5 & 6 & gang raped at 17 (as a virgin), then a couple of months later abducted at knife point & raped again. I became a drug addict (50 Valium & 3 gms Marijuana daily) & I was a very angry person, self-harming & many suicide attempts, in & out of the psych ward, rehabs, counselling. Had a crap life, criminal record, lost my kids, lost jobs, cars & property repossessed, disowned by family, lost friends, became homeless, declared bankrupt 3 times-I tried everything to get my life back on track, I just wanted a normal life & to be happy. They say CBT therapy is best & I tried this for 5 years & it didn’t do much for me on it’s own, plus statistics prove that 80% of people fail to maintain change in the long-term. However, when I started this new therapy called ACT, Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, my life changed dramatically. I stopped taking drugs & I haven’t been back to the psych ward since. I had 65 admissions in a 5 year period, I’ve not had 1 admission in over a year & 3 months now since I started ACT therapy. I participated in a group therapy once a week for 6 months & also an individual therapy session once a week for 9 months. I learnt so much about understanding my thoughts, feelings, & emotions & that I may not be able to control these but I can control how I behave in response to my thoughts, feelings & emotions. They teach many methods to enable you to deal with the most unpleasant emotions & feelings, yet still react & behave in an acceptable way. This dramatically helps with improving self-esteem, confidence & relationships too. I’m closely monitored & take medication which gets altered according to if I’m starting to go ‘up’ or ‘down’, I know the warning signs & I’m able to control it before it controls me. I needed a combination of meds & therapy, one or the other on it’s own wasn’t good enough. I went from drug addict/basket case to a fully functioning, respected citizan who is now studying Drug & Alcohol Work & Counselling & running support groups myself now, I’ve become a role model-YES my life has improved dramatically!! I thought the marijuana was helping by relaxing me & putting me to sleep & making me feel ‘good’ but it was messing me up really bad, I’ve never been better since I stopped the drug abuse. Although I have learned to recognise the symptoms to control the Bipolar, I was re-diagnosed recently & have no BPD symptoms at all, when they once were very severe. It is hard to live with, it’s a lot of hard work to keep symptoms at bay, but I’m in control now & enjoying my life, I’m not going to let it sink me again. I’m seriously thinking of going on & studying Psychology because the more I learn, the more I understand & that gives me the confidence to keep on top of it & I want to help others cope with it too. Unfortunately it won’t just go away, give your meds time to work, & then learn to recognise & treat the changing symptoms before they take control of you. You’ll work it out with a positive approach, good luck!

Q: I would like to know if anyone could give me some information on manic depression.?
I have depression and i feel my medicine is not working and would like to hear from people who have manic depression what it the symptoms and how you deal with it all. thanks

A: i’ve dealt with manic depression before and it was hell. the depression episodes are of course the most miserable moments, you just want to end the pain. but the manic episodes can be the most dangerous. i had severe manic episodes where i would get severely happy and i’d also feel invincible. when i felt invincible and stuff, it made me feel like doing impossible things like flying, jumping off a building,..you get it. and once…i actually attempted something that could of easily killed me. but weirdly i didn’t die. i’m better now thanks to therapy and my doctors. if you are experiencing those ” invincible, powerful like ” episodes, it’s one of the biggest signs your manic side is getting out of hand.

Q: How common is it that a Doctor might misdiagnose a patient with manic depression with ADD instead?
I’m just wondering if this is a common mistake on the parts of doctors, since the two disorders share a few symptoms. And the effects on a manic depressive who’s been taking adderall for years instead of proper antidepressants. Any insight?

A: 30% of the time, seek second opinion

Q: manic depression and bipolar?
i have all the symptoms of manic depression and bipolar disorder. i feel suicidal almost everyday. Have no friends. On anti-depressants. i don’t want to tell my parents. they will mock me. You don’t know my parents so believe me they wil, my mother buys me alcohol and knows a smoked weed and didnt say anything. I NEED HELP, please

A: Hey there… first of all I am so sorry you are going through this. I am not bipolar myself but my older brother is and he has it very badly. I know all about this mental disorder and have so much compassion for you because it is SO HARD to deal with and people need to know that.. but.. there is a light at the end of the tunnell. I don’t know you personally but maybe my brothers story will inspire you. He has been to rock bottom too many times to count. In his life time (while battling bipolar and manic depression) he used to go about things in very dangerous ways. He became addicted to oxy cotten, among other drugs. He went to rehab and then left. he has contiplated suicide many times. He has said before that he thinks no one at all understands him and he feels so alone in the world. For FIVE YEARS.. I felt like I had lost my older brother (he is now in his later twenties).. he was like a zombie, and so unstable. Finally after realizing that nothing will change unless HE HIMSELF is pro active about it, accepts his mental disease, and makes a true full throttle effort to learn how to combat the bipolar. First off.. you need to get on medication. And do not get discouraged.. my brother had to try many many medications and combinations until he found what works for him. DONT GIVE UP! Also.. in many bipolar books you will read that when it comes to bipolar there is no magic pill… medication is about 20% of it. The other 80% is a combination of EDUCATING yourself on bipolar, observing triggers that set you off and think of ways to stay away from them, do things that make you happy and surround yourself with people who are POSITIVE in your life. My brother also sees a therapist a few times a month and she has done wonders for him. He used to claim he “knew it all by now” and thouhgt no one else could help him or tell him anything more but after agreeing to go through with it he says he wishes he would have gone to a therapist years ago. Don’t be embarressed.. these people are therapist because they want to HELP people like you ( and can!) and they get a joy out of helping to make your life better. I won’t comment on your parents because I don’t know them but sooner or later, for things to get better.. you are going to have to speak up and get help my friend. I will pray for you that you’ll find the right words and strength to help you through this. Oh yeah… one more thing, my brother says the MAIN THING and the only thing that keeps him going and has SAVED HIM was jesus Christ. I’m not preaching to you, but I think if God really helped pull someone like my brother out of a hole and made him a happy, content person today (He is still getting better too!).. then maybe he is worth a try. With God you are never alone and if you feel that no one is there for you or understands you, just ask God to listen or to show you he is there…. all you have to do is listen and ask for help. He created you, LOVES YOU AS IF YOU ARE THE ONLY PERSON, and his heart is breaking seeing you this way. He can help you, and YOU can help you. Good luck with everything!

Q: Anyone out there being treated for manic depression?
I have written on this site regarding a friends son who’s been suffering from manic depression about l5 years possibly(Bipolar)he has all the symptoms.His depressive states are getting longer,he has cut himself off from his family saying he just wants to be alone and doesn’t want to talk to anyone.He has suicidal thoughts all the time and says,every day he wakes up feeling empty and in hell.He has rejected anti-depressants,says they do nothing(but has only taken them for a few days).He has no self worth,can’t mix with people.Was recently emotionally slaughtered in a relationship which has completely wiped out any self esteem he may have built up.Anyone out there who can tell us what to do next.He can’t see any help out there.His parents are so desperate,sectioning him is being considered,as he won’t go willingly for help and they fear for his safety.Anyone been there,what happened to you and how did you get help.They don’t want to section him but don’t know what else to do.

A: I have been treated for manic depression for over 10years now, I have just been put on anti-depressants for the umpteenth time, I also felt like there was no light at the end of the tunnel. Tell your friend’s son that if he wants to talk to someone who won’t try to ’shink’ him then he can email me. I had the councelling a couple of times and didn’t find it that helpful, but I have a great support network at home.
All your friends have to do is be there for him when he finds a way through the darkness inside. He needs understanding not sectioning, I do understand that it would be a last resort but they should think very long and hard about.
I know it is hard on your friends and they should also try and find someone they can talk to so they find a way to help him and to cope with all the possible outcomes.

Good Luck with everything and I hope he finds a way through the darkness.

Q: Inheriting Manic Depression..?
My mom has a serious history of mental issues to say the least.
She’s diagnosed with:
Pretty bad ADHD, Anxiety disorder, regular depression, manic depression and epilepsy.

I inherited her ADHD. What is the likelihood I have inherited these others? Especially the manic depression, I have a lot of the symptoms… Does anyone know all the symptoms of manic depression?

A: The chances of you inheriting manic depression are still fairly low. Manic depression involves feeling high and low at different times. It is a chemical imbalance in the brain and genetics is only one of the factors that can play a role. Mania (feeling high) is characterized by irritability, high energy, lack of sleep and delusions of grandeur. Basically, you become an entirely different person and it is noticed by those around you. Depression is characterized by sadness, lack of appetite or too much of it, and suicidal thoughts. If you have any doubts, go see a doctor.

Q: Manic Symptoms returning.
about 10 months ago, I was diagnosed with manic depression. I was in therapy about 5 months, and then the symptoms went away, and I stopped taking the medication. I was fine until about a month ago when I started getting the manic symptoms again, only like 10 times worse. I’m becoming suicidal again. I worry about things, I probably shouldn’t worry about. Im getting afraid to do things because I think something will happen, and I’ll die. If someone is even one minute late, I think they are dead. Me and my mom and dad have started drifting away, Andd I just can’t deal with them anymore. They don’t really even do anything to make me mad. Its like everything, even little things make me mad as hell. People I used to always get along with, I can’t even stand anymore. The little things get to me alot. I feel like I’m just letting people down. Even when they say I didnt… im extremly paranoid. about everything. Every once in a while, something I did like 5 years ago will pop into my head for no reason. Its really annoying. what do you think it is thats wrong with me? And what should I do about it?
Manic depression is what i mean…

A: I had the same thing, and still do, I somehow always think I have something inside of me, like cancer, but if I find out I have it I will be afraid of death, even though death….is life….you sound a lot like me, do you have panic attacks? Because I do, and if you do all of those sound like Anxiety Disorder, but you can have Anxiety Disorder without panic attacks, I used to constantly beg my mom to take me to the doctor’s because every time I would possibly feel something, I would think it’s cancer, any pain and I would think it’s cancer, and I wouldn’t rest until I knew I didn’t have cancer, and I do not have it, just big time anxiety, sounds like you are uncomfortable with who you are, seems to me like you are confused on what life means, to live a happy one, until you die, life has a plan for ALL of us, and it’s to die yes, but if you were put on this Earth you might as well be happy until your day comes, so go to the doctor’s, I hate seeing people be unhappy, and if you have MySpace, you can add me and we can talk about your problems….http://www.myspace.com/mooshinanamikey.

Q: Is this manic depression(Bipolar Disorder)?
Okay i am 21 years old and i live in Scotland in Glasgow. Since February i have been treated with Fluoxetine for depression. But over hte last month or so i was experiencing what my GP said are manic symptoms:
Racing Thoughts
Only getting 2-3 hours sleep a night and not missing it
Increase in energy
Excessive Shopping
Difficulty Concentrating
Ontop of the world feeling.

Last week my GP changed my Fluoxetine to Citalopram and told me to come back and see her next week too see if that would help. But i am still experiencing these symptoms. I told my GP my mum is Bipolar.Do i suffer from Bipolar Disorder too?On my next GP visit will she diagnose me? Thanks

A: If you are indeed experiencing manic symptoms, then most likely she will prescribe a mood stabilizer along with the citalopram. Citalopram is a anti depressant used to treat depression and mood disorders, so your doctor is probably just trying to see if the citalopram is enough to treat your bipolar disorder.

Q: Any words of advice or comfort for the husband of a Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression) sufferer?
I have been married to my wife Josie for just over 7 months. She suffers from Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depression), though only really suffers the “manic” cycles. She is currently displaying her trigger symptoms, which are “suspicious thoughts” where she thinks she is in some kind of spy story. Although I thought I’d be able to be strong for her, I’ve found myself very scared and worried.
I am obviously encouraging her to keep the specialist up to date, especially while she is aware of it, in the hope that they can suggest medication etc to stop it ballooning into anything as serious as she has suffered in years gone by.
Just wondered if there was anyone out there with any words of wisdom?
Thanks in advance for your time.
Martin
You may have to forgive my spelling here, but my wife’s medication is Lithium and Olanzapine. The latter has been increased in dose recently, as she is also taking beta-blockers to combat recent migraines.

A: I really feel for you, my husband has bi-polar and we have been married for 17 years.
I found a great book that has helped me to understand the illness a little better, if you can get a copy, it is well worth the read. “Loving Someone with Bi-Polar Disorder” helping & understanding your partner, By Julie A Fast and John D Preston, PSY.D.

Staying on meds and taking at the right time and right dose does not always keep someone with bi-polar stable, it will help flaten out the mood swings but not stop them altogether. If that is the case for your wife, you should both sit down with her doctor and work out a plan of action for when the cycle starts to change.

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