So, you find out that the author of this blog has bipolar disorder. What are your first thoughts? Do you think I'm depressed? Or that my moods fluctuate between happy and sad? Do you think I manipulate people? Or that I'm a psychological liar? Do you think I'm crazy?
There are a lot of stereotypes when it comes to bipolar disorder, or any psychological disorder as a matter of fact. Did you know that there are two types of bipolar disorder? They are known as bipolar 1 and bipolar 2. A lot of people don't know. So, many things need to be cleared up.
A person who is bipolar is not insane. I wouldn't even call it a mental illness. I mean, everyone is blue once in a while, everyone has idiosyncrasies and quirky habits. No one's perfect.
Bipolar one is the manic part of bipolar disorder, what I have. That is why I said I have had a "manic" episode. When I was "manic" I acted like I was hyper. When I went to the ER, I had to have a drug test because I was hallucinating. When one has a manci episode, one has a lack of need for food or sleep. On one occasion during the episode, I went to bed at 12 and woke up at 3. The weird thing was that my body felt like it had received eight full hours of sleep. My body also had a lack of need for food. I did not eat for almost a week, and thus lost about ten pounds. For me, the weight loss was drastic. I barely even weighed 100 pounds. I probably weighed about 88 pounds by time I came back to my senses.
Occasionally, during an episode, one will say or do impulsive things. Some people make impulsive buys during an episode.
Bipolar 2 is the more well-known type of bipolar disorder. The type where a person has "mood swings" or fluctuates between feeling happy and sad. But "happy" and "sad" are underestatments in some cases. A person may feel ecstatic, and feel like they can do no wrong. Then, in what feels like the blink of an eye, they are in the blackest depression they've ever experienced.
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I exhibit some of the things you mentioned...and I don't feel crazy...people need ot let that go.
is bipolar. It's hard to live with, but he's my brother. He's better than he used to be. I totally understand the manic episodes. I'm sorry, I can't imagine how hard it is for you, or my brother. And no, I didn't think you were "crazy" or "moody" when you said that. Besides, EVERY teen is moody, not saying you're a teen (but if you are it' true haha). And you're right, everyone has blue days. Shoot, I think I'm bipolar at times. Actually, I think my fiancée might be, but he's ADD so... wouldn't be surprising (my brother has ADD too).
And this same progeny of evils comes from our debate, from our dissension; We are their parents and original. -- A Midsummer Night's Dream Act II, Scene I, Lines 115-117
This was great! very informing.
One of my best friends was diagnosed with the bipolar disorder at the beginning of this year. She, as well, has type one.
Her manic episode was one of the scariest things Ive experienced in my life.
Because it happened in our Freshman year of high school, everyone was so quick to judge her.
They had no idea what was going on! it made me so mad and upset, and everyone was calling her crazy and insane.
She also had halluciniations, and she still believes that the outrageous things that she thought happened really did happen.
It's kind of said and scary.
It was a really difficult time to go through.
The one thing you didn't mention is that being bipolar is somewhat hard to diagnose and in the process of diagnoses or lack thereof, this disorder can quickly ruin lives.
I agree too. Well, it can ruin lives. My brother was diagnosed with a lot of things. They tried him on one medication that made him have a psych episode. It's not just bipolar disorder that can be mis diagnosed.
And this same progeny of evils comes from our debate, from our dissension; We are their parents and original. -- A Midsummer Night's Dream Act II, Scene I, Lines 115-117
I have Bipolar 1 and OCD, and at one of my worst times a couple years back before I knew what was going on....I hallucinated the sky was falling. I had been having severe nightmares about the end of the world, and one night while looking up at the sky, I saw shootings stars just falling all over the place. Let's just say it was not a very good night and I ended up in the hospital shortly thereafter. It's a very scary, very painful thing to go through. Everyone thinks you are crazy and assumes you're suicidal, including family and friends sometimes. It's just that a lot of people do not understand. Luckily right now I am mostly stable, and have learned to deal and live with bipolar through coping skills. I used to be on 11 different medications, and I felt like a zombie. I probably didn't come off my meds right, but thank God I am okay now.
I definitely feel you're pain and where you're coming from. You're not crazy, and you're not some lab study. You're just you.....and you just happen to have bipolar.
;-)
Anna
hi! I have bipolar 1, and I was reading what you wrote, and I don't hink it's enitrely accurate. Bipolar 1 is not just about mania. It comes with the depressive lows as well. Bipolar 1 is just a more severe form of bipolar, like type 1 and 2 of diabetes and such