I've always been under the impression that there are different severity's of bipolar. After being on meds for years I asked my doctor if I was bipolar because all the medication he prescribed to me were bipolar medicines. His answer was... you could be. The meds were working he did not find it necessary to "officially" diagnose me. I've read all the symptoms and I have experienced them all at one point or another so I consider myself mildly bipolar. My symptoms change as things in my live change. If that makes sense!?!
I've also found that the more scheduled my days are, the less likely I am to become despondent. The matter of actually willing myself to do the things on the schedule is another matter.
I'm not saying this works for everyone (or even anyone but myself), but I find it works for me.
yes, to both questions, bipolar comes in grades off severity and anti-depressant medication can trigger episodes of hypomania or mania.
First, there is something called cyclothemia which is often considered low grade bipolar and is characterised by a regular pattern of mild depression alternating with mild 'up-mood' (like one week down, one week up), the up is not of the severity that people will do crazy things or get delusional, more happy and productive, bit of risk taking. Needs to be consistent and prolonged pattern for diagnosis, it doesn't seems to be your thing
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I'd love to be added; I have the disorder, diagnosed 4 years ago and been a tough ride ever since...
You can definitely be a bit Bipolar during times you are medicated or not manic/depressed. The disorder is always present and displays itself in everyday life; it's when you have full blown mania or depression that you are fully experiencing all the terrible symptoms.
This isn't an annoying question! I think it's a very good question. I kind of think either you are, or you aren't Bipolar. However, it is from my experience that it CAN get worse with age. Mine did. I was probably, the doctors say, Bipolar since about 15 but it wasn't until I was around 21 and had my first daughter that everything started to really get bad. I'm 26 now and if I weren't medicated, I probably wouldn't be here today, if not from suicide, from being so reckless and not caring about my own safety.
I think you ought to really check into this, Sweetie.
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I've also found that the more scheduled my days are, the less likely I am to become despondent. The matter of actually willing myself to do the things on the schedule is another matter.
I'm not saying this works for everyone (or even anyone but myself), but I find it works for me.
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First, there is something called cyclothemia which is often considered low grade bipolar and is characterised by a regular pattern of mild depression alternating with mild 'up-mood' (like one week down, one week up), the up is not of the severity that people will do crazy things or get delusional, more happy and productive, bit of risk taking. Needs to be consistent and prolonged pattern for diagnosis, it doesn't seems to be your thing ( ... )
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You can definitely be a bit Bipolar during times you are medicated or not manic/depressed. The disorder is always present and displays itself in everyday life; it's when you have full blown mania or depression that you are fully experiencing all the terrible symptoms.
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I think you ought to really check into this, Sweetie.
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One of my best friends has bipolar.
I know how you feel, believe me
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