Bipolar disorder

Falstaff · Apr 28, 2006, 02:32 PM

Last night I spoke to my parents about my daughter and her recent problems dealing with much of the stresses in her life, I was concerned so I spoke to my ex-girlfriend, she instantly guessed correctly that my daughter probably has a personality disorder, but what I found interesting is that it is very very common among young people today as well as older people and is considered a disorder caused by local or enviornmental stresses in someones life, this I thought I knew but found interesting. I am not telling anyone to go out and diagnose anyone with a disorder, nor would I hazard to guess that I could as well, but now I am telling my daughter to get treatment or recommending that she seek help for her problems.

SYMPTOMS OF BIPOLAR DISORDER

Symptoms of the Depression Phase

The symptoms of depression experienced in bipolar disorder are almost identical to those of major depression, the primary form of unipolar depressive disorder. They include the following:

Sad mood.
Fatigue or loss of energy.
Sleep problems (insomnia, excessive sleeping, or shallow sleep with frequent awakenings).
Weight changes (either gain or loss).
Diminished ability to concentrate or make decisions.
Agitation or markedly sedentary behavior.
Feelings of guilt, pessimism, helplessness, and low self-esteem.
Loss of interest or pleasure in life.
Thoughts of, or attempts at, suicide.

Depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder often differ from those of unipolar depressive disorder in the following ways:

People with unipolar depression can still experience a variety of moods, but the moods are neither elevated nor pathological and the affected person does not meet the criteria for mania. [ See Well-Connected Report #8, Depression.]
Episodes of depression in bipolar disorder are less likely to have a specific trigger than are those with major depression disorder.
Bipolar depression does not typically last as long as major depression (although left untreated some bipolar disorder episodes can still last six to 12 months).
Bipolar depressive episodes develop more gradually than those caused by major depression.
Depressive symptoms in bipolar disorder patients also tend to be atypical, i.e., one sees an increase in sleep and appetite, a feeling of heaviness and slowness in the body, a tendency to feel rejected, and a preservation of volatile mood.
One interesting study reported that many bipolar disorder patients experienced dreams of death at the low point of their depression, and those dreams were soon followed by an upward mood change.

Symptoms of the Acute Manic Phase

The acute manic phase is always characterized by mood elevation, either presented as exaggerated euphoria, irritability, or both. The episode lasts for at least a week or for any duration if it was severe enough to cause hospitalization.

In addition, certain other symptoms are present to assist in making a diagnosis. Some mental health professionals use the mnemonic device DIGFAST to identify them.

In general, for a diagnosis of mania, patient must have experienced either euphoria with three DIGFAST symptoms or irritability with four of these symptoms:

D. Distractibility. This is the most common symptom and is usually characterized by the inability to pay attention to any activity for very long.
I. Insomnia in mania typically means having high energy and requiring less sleep. (This differs from insomnia in depression, in which the patient has low energy plus an inability to sleep.)
G. Grandiosity. Patients with this symptom have an inflated sense of themselves, which, in severe cases, can be delusional. Close to 60% of all manic patients experience feelings of omnipotence. Sometimes they feel that they are godlike or have celebrity status.
F. Flight of ideas. Thoughts literally race.
A. Activity. An increase in intensity in goal-directed activities occurs, which is related to social behavior, sexual activity, work, school, or combinations.
S. Speech. Excessive talking. Is present
T. Thoughtlessness. Excessive involvement in high-risk activities is present (e.g., unrestrained shopping, promiscuity). Mood disturbance may be severe enough to damage one's job or social functioning or relationships with others, or which require hospitalization to prevent harm to others or to the self.

Hypomania. With hypomania the symptoms of mania are milder and of shorter duration (but they last at least four days). They do not affect social or work life as dramatically.

Mixed or Pure Mania. Manic episodes themselves can be characterized as mixed mania or pure mania:

In pure mania, either euphoria or irritability is present along with other symptoms of mania and there are no indications of depression.
In mixed mania (also called a mixed state), depressed mood and manic symptoms occur for at least a week. Depression is present most of the day and nearly every day. Symptoms of mania are also present to a significant degree.

By the way, if your concerned about the mental health of a family member please seek guidiance from a qualified health care professional.

MiDri · Apr 28, 2006, 09:37 PM

I refuse to let science turn the normal cycles of human emotion (Things are always really crapy after somthing good, the human brain remembers bad things better then good things. Thus if you have a lot of good things happen, any small thing will suck horribly.) into a desises that can be treated with a concoction of drugs...

Zelig · Apr 28, 2006, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiDri

I refuse to let science turn the normal cycles of human emotion (Things are always really crapy after somthing good, the human brain remembers bad things better then good things. Thus if you have a lot of good things happen, any small thing will suck horribly.) into a desises that can be treated with a concoction of drugs...

You obviously don't know anybody with bipolar disorder. It is a disease, caused by an inbalance of chemicals in the brain. I have family members who were complete wrecks before they started taking medecine to treat their condition.

Falstaff · Apr 28, 2006, 11:24 PM

I learned today from our own clinician here that its is often mis diagnosed or mis-treated with medicine, she opts fora different approach, so I must, as well as her mother, get involved in my daughters treatment, apparently for youngsters, if both parents are patient and undergo the exhaustive inventory process as well, our daughter will feel like is she is part of a solution rather than a problem per se.
I am just concerned that the drugs will take the edge off of her scholastic abilities. She is was on the Dean's list for three years straight before she dropped out and married her current husband, he left for IRAQ on his second tour and she went right back to some destructive mechanisms and it scared us.
I am having a long talk with her tonight, her mother will as well, and my parents are prepared for an intervention if necessary...but if she feels that she doesnt need help, there is nothing we can do to help her. I guess that is the most important thing.

MiDri · Apr 29, 2006, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zelig

You obviously don't know anybody with bipolar disorder. It is a disease, caused by an inbalance of chemicals in the brain. I have family members who were complete wrecks before they started taking medecine to treat their condition.

Oh I know that there are chemical inbalances, but my point is that treating them and making every one "Happy" is just silly, some of our best litrature and art comes from the emotion that is brought on from sadness.

Judas · Apr 29, 2006, 12:22 AM

my mother has schizophrenia.... it's not a pretty sight....

Falstaff · Apr 29, 2006, 01:53 AM

I learned today that temporary forms of mental illness or disorders are very common....
I am wondering if it isnt all a racket to get people to take more drugs and see more psychologists.

Robert McClelland · Apr 29, 2006, 03:28 AM

for me I do have problems falling sleep take me almost 45min-to an hour fall sleep it just could be my bed lol going get new bed set tomorrow

and I do like sleep in during week sometimes to noon because there nothing else on hehe

MiDri · Apr 29, 2006, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falstaff

I learned today that temporary forms of mental illness or disorders are very common....
I am wondering if it isnt all a racket to get people to take more drugs and see more psychologists.

This is one of the reasons I don't like doctors, I was diagnosed with ADHD as a child. I am now in college and relize that the only reason I acted like I did was, because my parents did not give me atention as a child and I was acting out.

Drugs are not a good alternative to spending time with your kids, and being a good parent.

NeVeRLiFt · Apr 29, 2006, 05:09 AM

Chemical imbalances can't be cured, so the medicine only masks the symptoms.
Most of the medicines that treat the chemical imbalance have side effects and cause other problems.

ferret2004 · Apr 29, 2006, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiDri

Oh I know that there are chemical inbalances, but my point is that treating them and making every one "Happy" is just silly, some of our best litrature and art comes from the emotion that is brought on from sadness.

I think these days, people want their 'problems' to go away instantly. Instant everything, ya know. Load of crap if you ask me. Doctors and drug companies get richer from this.
On that note, I've often wondered what would happen if a cure for cancer and aids was released. How much money the drug companies would lose with no one to treat for these illnesses. How many charities would cease to exist. They would have to invent new illnesses to stay in business

cozumel · Apr 29, 2006, 03:12 PM

I work with a large number of people with either an enduring mental health illness or personality disorder.

For those that suffer personality disorders such as Bipolar medication can treat some of the symptoms and allow the client to stablise. This does not treat the underlying causes.

'Learned behaviour' is, in many cases (but not all) the cause of personality disorders and therapy can be extremely beneficial.

Example:

Child at school is given a physics project to complete
Can trigger thoughts such as "I am not able to do this", "I never will be able to do this", "I'm always gonna do this wrong", "I am a failure" "My parents will be angry" etc etc
Triggers emotions such as fear and sadness

Obviously the above is not rational. The thought processes are not balanced. The majority of people would have similar thoughts but would balance them with subconcious thoughts such as "what evidence do I have that I always do things wrong - none, 'cos I did this, this and this well". What evidence have I got that I dont have the ability to complete this task - 'cos I know that if I read some books, ask teacher, friends and parents they will help me and I will learn how - I've done it successfully before".

Because all the negative and positive thoughts happen on a subconcious level, they are by definition a thought process by habit. Good, bad, positive and negative habits of individuals can be changed. This is where therapy comes in to help change the pattern of thought to emotion processes. Learned behaviour can be changed and unlearned!!

I hope that this readable and understandable. I just wrote it on the fly and I may have expressed things poorly but it is correct.

All spellings are English (UK) style and not American style 'cos we learn proper English. HAH

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy rules IMHO

Falstaff · Apr 30, 2006, 10:19 AM

I know that I have been approached in the past by well meaning people to have my daughter evaluated by a clinical pyschologist simply because she occasionally has problems adapting to stress, but I always felt it was a cop out.
I recently learned that her mother, of whom I can truthfully say is a real nut, was evaluated and nearly commited at a very young age for psychosis...
both had one thing in common, being sexually molested at an early age and never getting care for it.
My daughter was treated and counseled when it happened to her, and I sought to destroy the very person who was accused of commiting the crime, but he fled the state, and to this day I promised to put a bullet into his head.
But I was told that people can inherit a variety of problems from their parents to include mental instability.
As for me, until I found out I was a diabetic and my blood pressure medication was reacting with other medication I was taking, I was sure I was losing my mind.
I weaned myself off of so much crap and started living again. That made a huge difference for me, but I wish it would work for my daughter.
I can only hope and pray....

cozumel · Apr 30, 2006, 02:12 PM

Some enduring mental health illnesses can be hereditary although this is not the norm.

Hope your daughter engages with the appropriate support service. She will never be able to forget what happened but can come to an internal resolution or conclusion that will enable her to move forward. Your support is vital and you need to hang in there. A lot of her emotions will probably be around guilt, anger and sadness. Could also be problems in trusting others.

No bullets from you for the perpetrator - you cannot support your daughter from prison and this would not help you or her.

I wish you and your daughter success, peace and happiness.

Falstaff · May 1, 2006, 01:30 AM

thanx man.....

Apr 28, 2006, 02:32 PM	#1
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	Bipolar disorder Last night I spoke to my parents about my daughter and her recent problems dealing with much of the stresses in her life, I was concerned so I spoke to my ex-girlfriend, she instantly guessed correctly that my daughter probably has a personality disorder, but what I found interesting is that it is very very common among young people today as well as older people and is considered a disorder caused by local or enviornmental stresses in someones life, this I thought I knew but found interesting. I am not telling anyone to go out and diagnose anyone with a disorder, nor would I hazard to guess that I could as well, but now I am telling my daughter to get treatment or recommending that she seek help for her problems. SYMPTOMS OF BIPOLAR DISORDER Symptoms of the Depression Phase The symptoms of depression experienced in bipolar disorder are almost identical to those of major depression, the primary form of unipolar depressive disorder. They include the following: Sad mood. Fatigue or loss of energy. Sleep problems (insomnia, excessive sleeping, or shallow sleep with frequent awakenings). Weight changes (either gain or loss). Diminished ability to concentrate or make decisions. Agitation or markedly sedentary behavior. Feelings of guilt, pessimism, helplessness, and low self-esteem. Loss of interest or pleasure in life. Thoughts of, or attempts at, suicide. Depressive episodes associated with bipolar disorder often differ from those of unipolar depressive disorder in the following ways: People with unipolar depression can still experience a variety of moods, but the moods are neither elevated nor pathological and the affected person does not meet the criteria for mania. [ See Well-Connected Report #8, Depression.] Episodes of depression in bipolar disorder are less likely to have a specific trigger than are those with major depression disorder. Bipolar depression does not typically last as long as major depression (although left untreated some bipolar disorder episodes can still last six to 12 months). Bipolar depressive episodes develop more gradually than those caused by major depression. Depressive symptoms in bipolar disorder patients also tend to be atypical, i.e., one sees an increase in sleep and appetite, a feeling of heaviness and slowness in the body, a tendency to feel rejected, and a preservation of volatile mood. One interesting study reported that many bipolar disorder patients experienced dreams of death at the low point of their depression, and those dreams were soon followed by an upward mood change. Symptoms of the Acute Manic Phase The acute manic phase is always characterized by mood elevation, either presented as exaggerated euphoria, irritability, or both. The episode lasts for at least a week or for any duration if it was severe enough to cause hospitalization. In addition, certain other symptoms are present to assist in making a diagnosis. Some mental health professionals use the mnemonic device DIGFAST to identify them. In general, for a diagnosis of mania, patient must have experienced either euphoria with three DIGFAST symptoms or irritability with four of these symptoms: D. Distractibility. This is the most common symptom and is usually characterized by the inability to pay attention to any activity for very long. I. Insomnia in mania typically means having high energy and requiring less sleep. (This differs from insomnia in depression, in which the patient has low energy plus an inability to sleep.) G. Grandiosity. Patients with this symptom have an inflated sense of themselves, which, in severe cases, can be delusional. Close to 60% of all manic patients experience feelings of omnipotence. Sometimes they feel that they are godlike or have celebrity status. F. Flight of ideas. Thoughts literally race. A. Activity. An increase in intensity in goal-directed activities occurs, which is related to social behavior, sexual activity, work, school, or combinations. S. Speech. Excessive talking. Is present T. Thoughtlessness. Excessive involvement in high-risk activities is present (e.g., unrestrained shopping, promiscuity). Mood disturbance may be severe enough to damage one's job or social functioning or relationships with others, or which require hospitalization to prevent harm to others or to the self. Hypomania. With hypomania the symptoms of mania are milder and of shorter duration (but they last at least four days). They do not affect social or work life as dramatically. Mixed or Pure Mania. Manic episodes themselves can be characterized as mixed mania or pure mania: In pure mania, either euphoria or irritability is present along with other symptoms of mania and there are no indications of depression. In mixed mania (also called a mixed state), depressed mood and manic symptoms occur for at least a week. Depression is present most of the day and nearly every day. Symptoms of mania are also present to a significant degree. By the way, if your concerned about the mental health of a family member please seek guidiance from a qualified health care professional. __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor." Last edited by Falstaff; Apr 28, 2006 at 02:52 PM.

Apr 28, 2006, 11:24 PM	Thread Starter #4
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	I learned today from our own clinician here that its is often mis diagnosed or mis-treated with medicine, she opts fora different approach, so I must, as well as her mother, get involved in my daughters treatment, apparently for youngsters, if both parents are patient and undergo the exhaustive inventory process as well, our daughter will feel like is she is part of a solution rather than a problem per se. I am just concerned that the drugs will take the edge off of her scholastic abilities. She is was on the Dean's list for three years straight before she dropped out and married her current husband, he left for IRAQ on his second tour and she went right back to some destructive mechanisms and it scared us. I am having a long talk with her tonight, her mother will as well, and my parents are prepared for an intervention if necessary...but if she feels that she doesnt need help, there is nothing we can do to help her. I guess that is the most important thing. __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor."

Apr 29, 2006, 01:53 AM	Thread Starter #7
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	I learned today that temporary forms of mental illness or disorders are very common.... I am wondering if it isnt all a racket to get people to take more drugs and see more psychologists. __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor."

Apr 29, 2006, 05:09 AM	#10
NeVeRLiFt Shadowrunner Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: In the shadows of the Megacorporations Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	Chemical imbalances can't be cured, so the medicine only masks the symptoms. Most of the medicines that treat the chemical imbalance have side effects and cause other problems. __________________ iAMD64. µ The World is changed, Some say Awakened. It's 13:53:33 . Do You Know Where Your Meat Body Is? Shadowrunner by trade... [COLOR="Blue"]Chaintech VNF3-250 / BIOS VN120916 Athlon64 3000+ Venice @ 2.6ghz / Zalman Fatal1ty FS-C77 2x1GB Gskill PC4400(DDR550) @ 2.5-4-3-8-2T Sapphire HD 3850 AGP @ 775mhz core/975mhz memory WinXP Pro Corp SP2 / DX 9.0c / Cat 8.3 2x74GB WD740GD Raptor SATA / Raid0 Creative SB Audigy 2 ZS / Logitech Z-5500 505 Watts 5.1 NEC ND-3550A / PLEXTOR PX-230A-BPS RAIDMAX Storm / APEX SL-8600EPS Hitachi V810 21"[/COLOR]

Apr 29, 2006, 03:12 PM	#12
cozumel I'm dangerous but cute... Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Under the waves... Posts: 3,577 Rep Power: 60 System Specs	I work with a large number of people with either an enduring mental health illness or personality disorder. For those that suffer personality disorders such as Bipolar medication can treat some of the symptoms and allow the client to stablise. This does not treat the underlying causes. 'Learned behaviour' is, in many cases (but not all) the cause of personality disorders and therapy can be extremely beneficial. Example: Child at school is given a physics project to complete Can trigger thoughts such as "I am not able to do this", "I never will be able to do this", "I'm always gonna do this wrong", "I am a failure" "My parents will be angry" etc etc Triggers emotions such as fear and sadness Obviously the above is not rational. The thought processes are not balanced. The majority of people would have similar thoughts but would balance them with subconcious thoughts such as "what evidence do I have that I always do things wrong - none, 'cos I did this, this and this well". What evidence have I got that I dont have the ability to complete this task - 'cos I know that if I read some books, ask teacher, friends and parents they will help me and I will learn how - I've done it successfully before". Because all the negative and positive thoughts happen on a subconcious level, they are by definition a thought process by habit. Good, bad, positive and negative habits of individuals can be changed. This is where therapy comes in to help change the pattern of thought to emotion processes. Learned behaviour can be changed and unlearned!! I hope that this readable and understandable. I just wrote it on the fly and I may have expressed things poorly but it is correct. All spellings are English (UK) style and not American style 'cos we learn proper English. HAH Cognitive Behaviour Therapy rules IMHO __________________ Don't worry about money - Be a beach bum! Scuba Rocks

Apr 28, 2006, 09:37 PM	#2
MiDri DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 930 Rep Power: 0	I refuse to let science turn the normal cycles of human emotion (Things are always really crapy after somthing good, the human brain remembers bad things better then good things. Thus if you have a lot of good things happen, any small thing will suck horribly.) into a desises that can be treated with a concoction of drugs...

Apr 29, 2006, 03:28 AM	#8
Robert McClelland PAX Tweaker, PAX Expert. Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Somewhere in Wood County Ohio Same Town :) Posts: 10,668 Rep Power: 196 System Specs	for me I do have problems falling sleep take me almost 45min-to an hour fall sleep it just could be my bed lol going get new bed set tomorrow and I do like sleep in during week sometimes to noon because there nothing else on hehe __________________ "XTREME AUDIO IS CRAP!" "There no support for it. It's crapist card on face of the earth it should be throw into the sun" http://www.speedtest.net/result/1949536385.png correct the correct one now

Apr 30, 2006, 10:19 AM	Thread Starter #13
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	I know that I have been approached in the past by well meaning people to have my daughter evaluated by a clinical pyschologist simply because she occasionally has problems adapting to stress, but I always felt it was a cop out. I recently learned that her mother, of whom I can truthfully say is a real nut, was evaluated and nearly commited at a very young age for psychosis... both had one thing in common, being sexually molested at an early age and never getting care for it. My daughter was treated and counseled when it happened to her, and I sought to destroy the very person who was accused of commiting the crime, but he fled the state, and to this day I promised to put a bullet into his head. But I was told that people can inherit a variety of problems from their parents to include mental instability. As for me, until I found out I was a diabetic and my blood pressure medication was reacting with other medication I was taking, I was sure I was losing my mind. I weaned myself off of so much crap and started living again. That made a huge difference for me, but I wish it would work for my daughter. I can only hope and pray.... __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor."

Apr 30, 2006, 02:12 PM	#14
cozumel I'm dangerous but cute... Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Under the waves... Posts: 3,577 Rep Power: 60 System Specs	Some enduring mental health illnesses can be hereditary although this is not the norm. Hope your daughter engages with the appropriate support service. She will never be able to forget what happened but can come to an internal resolution or conclusion that will enable her to move forward. Your support is vital and you need to hang in there. A lot of her emotions will probably be around guilt, anger and sadness. Could also be problems in trusting others. No bullets from you for the perpetrator - you cannot support your daughter from prison and this would not help you or her. I wish you and your daughter success, peace and happiness. __________________ Don't worry about money - Be a beach bum! Scuba Rocks Last edited by cozumel; Apr 30, 2006 at 02:19 PM.

May 1, 2006, 01:30 AM	Thread Starter #15
Falstaff Old Codger Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USAFA Posts: 19,048 Rep Power: 207	thanx man..... __________________ "Inspiration is always a surprising visitor."