Bipolar Disorder

PotentialPledge · #1 08-14-2002, 07:12 PM

I was reading the current Time Magazine, and there is this great article on bipolar disorder and how more and more children and adolescents are being diagnosed with it. I myself have had a few friends that were diagnosed and its terrible, but the cool thing is they all recovered (if there is such a thing). I was wondering if anyone else read this article, and if anyone had thoughts on this subject.

For those of you that dont know bipolar disorder is a form of depression. People that have it change moods rapidly from happy and upbeat to sad and depressed hence BIpolar.

dzandiloo · #2 08-14-2002, 08:30 PM

Doesn't surprise me that more people (kids) are being diagnosed. My mother was bipolar, before it was called bipolar (formerly known as "manic-depressive" but that term is not considered PC anymore, for some reason). She would have the wildest mood swings, depths of despair one minute, then utter joy the next. Totally unpredictable and scary as all get out. The manic was just as disturbing as the depressive. I don't think there is a cure--but it can be managed. My mom got hers under control with Lithium, but I'm not sure if that is the drug of choice anymore.

I haven't seen the article you referred to, but will have to find it. My biggest fear is that my daughter is bi-polar (I'm hoping her moods are just a product of her being female!)...

SATX*APhi · #3 08-14-2002, 09:07 PM

I THINK my biological sister is bipolar. I know that she has some form of depression, but it has been kept hush-hush. I once overheard my mom ask my sister if she had taken her medication; she said the name, but this was a while back, so I do not remember it. Of course, my sister told my mom that she would never take the medication -- she didn't need it.

My sister will blow up at me for something so petty, such as leaving her bedroom door open a crack. I can't just stay quiet, so after we exchange words, I will leave the "argument." Not even a minute later she will come up to me and say, "Sister, let's go to the mall" or "C'mon sister, let's go to the gym." She will all of a sudden get all chummy with me. I am not one to hold a grudge, but I promise you I am also not the type who just forgets about something a minute after it happens!! This is one thing I absolutely hate about my sister. It makes living in the same house with her very difficult.

Hootie · #4 08-14-2002, 11:03 PM

I have a friend that I think is depressed because she is so moody and suffers physical ailments (sp?) like headaches, backaches, grouchiness, weight gain, unmotivation, suspects people dislike her for simple looks...etc.
I don't believe she is bipolar by anymeans, however I do think she needs help.

I'm certainly glad that my depression was linked to homesickness and factors with my relationship while with my ex. I'm no longer depressed but I knew at the time I needed help when I was so upset I said some things to my mother I shouldn't have.

Hootie

Hootie · #5 08-14-2002, 11:11 PM

I have a friend that I think is depressed because she is so moody and suffers physical ailments (sp?) like headaches, backaches, grouchiness, weight gain, unmotivation, suspects people dislike her for simple looks...etc.
I don't believe she is bipolar by anymeans, however I do think she needs help.

I'm certainly glad that my depression was linked to homesickness and factors with my relationship while with my ex. I'm no longer depressed but I knew at the time I needed help when I was so upset I said some things to my mother I shouldn't have.

Hootie

PotentialPledge · #6 08-14-2002, 11:19 PM

Yeah the Article is in this months TIME. There is boy on the cover. The article also mentions how this adolescent girl after being accepted to Columbia started having symptoms of bipolar disorder. She wrote a book titled the Detour. Here is a link to it on Amazon http://130.94.21.174/gcforums/showth...385#post240385

Dionysus · #7 08-14-2002, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PotentialPledge
Yeah the Article is in this months TIME. There is boy on the cover. The article also mentions how this adolescent girl after being accepted to Columbia started having symptoms of bipolar disorder. She wrote a book titled the Detour. Here is a link to it on Amazon http://130.94.21.174/gcforums/showth...385#post240385

Uhh....that link just takes me to another thread on GC.

PotentialPledge · #8 08-15-2002, 12:00 AM

sorry about that here is the correct link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...197624-1398325

Fewdfreak · #9 08-15-2002, 12:31 AM

My best friend believes she is bipolar, but I think she may just have depression because she isn't really manic, and she doesn't seem to be that extreme. I know two people (married) that are bipolar, and while both of them have different types, my friend doesn't seem any like them. The thing was she didn't think anything about it until after she saw Real Life on MTV one night. The next day after she watched it, she was all depressed and told me that by the shows standards, she is bipolar. I think she needs to talk to someone because she tried to commit suicide two years ago. She swears she will never try anything like that again, and I believe her, because she has changed. I still think she should see someone though because she self-diagnosis herself from information she got off the internet, and if she is clinicly depressed, she should get some relief at knowing what is wrong with her--small things will make her obsess over herself and she will get down. IE, if someone says a comment about her, ugly, fat, too skinny, she will obsess about it for months. Sometimes I don't tell her things that are said about her because she will ask a million questions, and she can't let things die, she has to open up and rehash the past. I do think she is under a lot of stress, and cares a lot of what others think, and believes what others will say about her, so I think that may be part of why she feels the way she does, and she should get treatment, may it be just someone to share her problems with, or if necessary, medication.

Dionysus · #10 08-15-2002, 12:42 AM

I find the differences between bipolar, depression, ADHD, PMS, and cyclothymia to be soooo confusing.

Rudey · #11 08-15-2002, 01:10 AM

I'd tell them to take qualudes, but, seriously, that is sooooo eighties!

-Rudey

aggieAXO · #12 08-15-2002, 04:40 AM

My father, grandfather and great aunt were bipolar. As far as I know there is no cure and my father takes lithium and about 10 other different medications plus sees a psychiatrist. Even though I am not bipolar I am afraid I may pass it along in my genes and thus probably won't have children (maybe adopt?). It is a very difficult disease to live with as a family member.

Eirene_DGP · #13 08-15-2002, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SATX*APhi
[BIt makes living in the same house with her very difficult. [/B]

I know exactly what you mean... It makes it even worse when the person with the problem doesn't know or want to acknowledge the fact that they do have a problem. It seems like our society puts such a negative connotation on psychologists and psychiatrists that people don't want to go because they are afraid they might actually find out that something is wrong.

ladybug1116 · #14 08-15-2002, 10:03 AM

We just had the magazine come into work and I have it sitting open at my desk as I type this. I haven't read the whole article yet but the checklist "Is your child bipolar?" is really inappropriate. This checklist has a list of 40 characteristics to determine whether or not "your child" may suffer from the illness...however the checklist is vague and not truly indicative of the disease. Some sample items on this list..."Complains of being bored", "has difficulty arising in the a.m.", "is hyperactive/excitable in the p.m.", "lies to avoid consequences of actions" The list continues pretty much in the same manner. These are not extraordinary characteristics and certainly do not really illustrate the manifestation of bipolar disorder.

As a general FYI about Bipolar Disorder, there are 2 main classifications (Bipolar I and Bipolar II) but each type has several subtypes and the subtypes have further classifiers that distinguish them from one another. To find accurate diagnostic criteria of Bipolar Disorders and exactly what constitutes a "manic" or "depressive" episode you should look in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, otherwise know as the DSM. I believe the most current is the DSM-IVR (revised) but they may still only have the DSM-IV (which is the volume that I own). This is a huge book which contains information and diagnostic criteria for ALL mental disorders and is what the American Psychiatric Association (APA) uses to officially diagnose patients. You can probably find it in any library but it is also available for purchase in normal venues.

Dionysus · #15 08-15-2002, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ladybug1116
We just had the magazine come into work and I have it sitting open at my desk as I type this. I haven't read the whole article yet but the checklist "Is your child bipolar?" is really inappropriate. This checklist has a list of 40 characteristics to determine whether or not "your child" may suffer from the illness...however the checklist is vague and not truly indicative of the disease. Some sample items on this list..."Complains of being bored", "has difficulty arising in the a.m.", "is hyperactive/excitable in the p.m.", "lies to avoid consequences of actions" The list continues pretty much in the same manner. These are not extraordinary characteristics and certainly do not really illustrate the manifestation of bipolar disorder.

Exactly, I have those above "symptoms"

and I'm not bipolar.

I think people these days are turing certain normal behaviors into pathologies.