Q: Mood Disorder??
I am 17 years old and I have really bad mood swings. I generally have two times of being sad and two times of being happy in a month. Each time lasts about a week. When I have a bad week, it is really bad. I cut and I feel hopeless, helpless, and like there is no escape. A few times, I have thought of suicide but I don’t think I could ever actually do it.

When I am having a good week, I’m not manic. I am just normal. Things don’t bother me as much but I’m not as happy as what is actually described in bipolar disorder.

Basically I just fluctuate between depressed and normal moods. Anyone know of anything like this?

(BTW, it has nothing to do with my menstrual cycle. I have looked up PMDD and it doesn’t really describe me..)

Thank you all for your help! =]

A: Bipolar disorder is more complex than used to be believed. Bipolar II is a less severe form of bipolar, without the extreme mania and delusions.

“Bipolar Disorder has many variations. Bipolar II is one of them. You’ll read here about those forms which do not have “mania” to make them stand out or easily recognizable. Depression is the main symptom, including especially sleeping too much, extreme fatigue, and lack of motivation. What makes bipolar depression different is the presence of something else as well. But that “something else” often does not look anything like mania: “hypomania”, which you’ll learn about here, can show up as huge sleep changes, irritability, agitation/anxiety, and difficulty concentrating. And finally, some people can have some bipolarity without any hypomania at all. Really.”

The traditional description and diagnosis of bipolar is changing. You need to talk to your doctor/psychiatrist and therapist about your mood swings, and ask them about Bipolar II. (If you don’t have a psychiatrist or therapist, get one!)

You can go here: http://www.psycheducation.org/depression/frameset.html
and print out the questionnaire to determine how likely you are to be on the Bipolar Spectrum. Check out your results, and share them with physician or mental health professional.

Good luck.

Q: mood disorder ……???
my 15 yr was told she has a mood disorder may be schozo… i was going to try to get her SSI.. but she want to go to work in a month when she turns 16.. should i let her try.. if i dont i will never know if she could
cryoons what type of mood disorder.. the doc did not say she is schizo.. only that he is looking at that illness..she may not have it.. but diff a mood disorder
of course she is in school.. and if she can work i dont want her on SSI.. i would rather her have a college degree.. that way she get to move out and on her own as it should be

A: Shouldn’t she be in school at 16? Anyway, if she wants to lead a normal life including work even though she may have a mood disorder, then she should. Let her have a normal life if she can.

Q: What is the difference between a personality disorder or mood disorder in an adolescent?
I am curious as to exactly what the difference would be such as causes, symptoms, therapy, and treatment would be for an adolescent when it comes to a personality disorder or mood disorder.

A: Personality disorders and mood disorders are DRASTICALLY different. Obviously, mood disorders are disturbances in one’s mood while personality disorders are disturbances in the personality. You do recognize the difference between your mood and your personality, don’t you? If not, your mood is a set of your current emotions and your personality is a set of the traits you usually exhibit.

I cannot tell you the difference in causes or symptoms of mood disorders and personality disorders because there are many types of both of them. Examples of mood disorders are depression and bipolar disorder. Examples of personality disorders are histronic personality disorder, dependent personality disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. Personality disorders are often co-morbid with mood disorders. Different disorders have different causes and symptoms. But I can say that mood disorders often have a biological cause where as personality disorders often have an environmental cause (e.g. parenting types, childhood environments, etc.). This isn’t always the case for either one though, depending on the specific disorder in question.

Treatment and therapy also differ based on which mood disorder and personality disorder you are comparing. But overall, chemical treatments (like medicine) is much more common in mood disorders than in personality disorders because, like I said, mood disorders often have biological elements. Therapy is common in both of them, but personality disorders are harder to treat as they are ingrained in the person’s behavior and they have high rates of recidivism (relapse).

Hope that helps…I know it was probably a very uninformative answer but you asked a very broad question that’s a bit hard to answer precisely…

Q: What are battery of tests to test for mood disorder and memory impairment?
i need help on this one.. testing for mood disorder and memory impairment.. they are treated separately.. thanks

A: No specific blood tests or x-rays will tell the health care provider that a person definitely has bipolar disorder. The diagnosis is made on the basis of all the signs and symptoms.

If a person experiences at least four of the symptoms of mania and depression for a period of at least two weeks, that person may have bipolar disorder or another form of mood disorder.

The person may have a long history of feeling depressed and then finally have a first manic episode. This clinches the diagnosis. However, any potentially treatable medical condition that could account for severe mood swings should be ruled out first.

A complete physical examination is performed to check for enlarged glands, poor nerve function, or any other signs of a medical condition.

A detailed interview will focus on the signs of bipolar disorder such as periods of racing thoughts, risky behavior, and inflated self-esteem followed by periods of depression.

Certain tests may be ordered to rule out medical conditions that could cause mood swings, especially when the first manic episode occurs after the age of 40. Tests will probably be ordered to check the balance of salts and sugar in the blood, hormone function, blood cell counts, and drug and alcohol levels. These tests all are blood or urine tests.

CT scan or MRI of the head may be ordered to check for blood clots, bleeding, or tumors.

Rarely, an EEG (electroencephalogram), a brain wave study, may be ordered if the person is thought to have a seizure disorder. Electrodes are placed all over the scalp and secured by an adhesive. The electrodes are hooked up to a machine that traces brain waves. This is seldom performed in the emergency department.

A spinal tap (lumbar puncture) may be ordered to get a sample of spinal fluid. This will be done if signs suggest a brain infection, such as meningitis or encephalitis. Such an infection is generally only considered a possibility if the behavior change happened relatively recently or if a fever or other signs of infection are present. The laboratory will study the fluid and be able to tell if an infection is present.

Treatment is based on the results of these tests. If test results are all normal, the diagnosis is most likely a psychiatric disorder, such as bipolar disorder.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/bipolar_disorder/page5_em.htm

bipolar patients show declarative memory impairments, which are are present in both acute and remitted patients, and independent of their current state (manic versus depressive). These impairments were not a result of slowed motor or processing functions, and were not a result of inability to utilize strategic and organizational memory skills (such as clustering).

http://www.pendulum.org/bpnews/archive/001830.html

Q: How could one with bipolar mood disorder get a good job?
I have been diagnosed with bipolar mood disorder 2 months ago and my medicines areworking good in me , I should say because I feel better and better each day. Of course, I give credit to God who is my greatest Doctor and my Healer!!! I believe that God uses instruments to heal us. I have taken one step at a time. I don’t hurry because I don’t want to disappoint myself. Few years ago, I have been in 3 to 4 businesses but everything failed. I have a good side of it, being good in designing and production but on the financial side, I am very bad at it. Knowing just now having bipolar, I have realized that all of my failures were caused by my illness. Now that I am being treated, I am praying for God’s guidance so I can be back to work or have a business which can help my family. I am married with a very supportive husband who did not leave me despite of my illness.. I have 2 beautiful children age 11 and 12. Please give me your encouragements to help me on this concern. Thanks…

A: People with bipolar illness are able to live normal happy lives. They can be successful in business and their personal life.
However, you have just been diagnosed and are just getting adjusted to your medication.
Give yourself a little time to feel better before you go out and work.
Right now, take care of your kids (they probably need extra attention from you after living through your illness) your husband, and yourself.
The best way you can help your family is to stay well. Keep taking your meds and don’t be so hard on yourself.

Q: I’m looking for someone who takes meds for bipolar or some other kind of mood disorder?
I think I may have Cyclothymia– although I know how inaccurate self diagnosing often is. My family has a history of mood disorders though.

I am considering going to a psychiatrist so I can be diagnosed have given whatever mood stabilizing prescription there is for whatever I have.

For those that have some kind of mood disorder, what do the drugs do for you? Do you feel significantly better with them? What are the side effects?

Thanks!

A: I’m Bipolar with psychotic features. I take prozac, invega, ativan, lithium, lamictal, welbutrin, abilify, and some kind of sleeping med that I can’t remember right now.

Before the meds I went for a while cutting, burning, branding, beating, and one suicide attempt and being convinced to stop another time right before I tried again. Then I was put in a psych ward. After that I was put on some meds and they have been changed and used in different combos several times over a 4 year period. Once they got it right I was more stable. I feel more like a “normal” person with “normal” emotions. Once I tried taking myself off the meds and I started seeing and hearing things at night so I went right back on them. That was from my own brain not an effect off stopping all my meds at once.

Q: what can i do about bipolar mood disorder ?
I have no parents that care about my belief that I have bipolar mood disorder… So I am unable to seek their help… What can I do to get help…
I have not been professionally diagnosed, that is wat i wanted to do. But my parents don’t believe I should be tested for it…. Wait till i get a car?

A: you mean you’ve not been professionally diagnosed??♦

Q: How could i describe Alfred Adler diagnosing a mood disorder?
I’ve searched everywhere on the internet and it doesn’t really relate him to any mood disorders. can someone help me please? send a link? brief description.

A: This should help you. Click the Adler link and scroll down to Psychological types.

http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/perscontents.html

Q: what would you say about a mood disorder?
I have been anxious and suffered with depression my whole life and been put on lots of different medicine that has not worked. The psychologist wants to put me on lithium carb but i am nervous that it will cause problems for my future. Has anyone been on these or know of useful treatment for a mood disorder?

A: Hi,
I have been suffering from anxiety and depression since I was 15. I see a psychiatrist. I am now 18. I have been see my psychiatrist for about 2 1/2 years. I know what it is like to have a mood disorder. I had some good days but mostly bad. My psychiatrist put me on Lamictial. This medication has helped me a lot. It doesn’t cause weight gain. I am not as depressed as I use to be. I am taking Lorazapam for my anxiety. It helps but it make me really sleepy. It also doesn’t cause weight gain. I think you should stick with your psychologist advice, Medicine has different effects on different people. I have been though about 5 medications to find the right one for me.
GOOD LUCK
I hope your mood improves !!

Q: What is the best book that you could recommend me for guidance and self help about Bipolar Mood Disorder?
I have been diagnosed with Bipolar Mood Disorder 2 months ago and I have been surfing the net for possible info that I could get to educate myself and my family. Well, things are gettings better everyday as I pray hard and take my medications regularly. I got so interested with this topic knowing that there are many people out there like me. I searched amazon.com and found many references but I can not pin point which of those is the best. So, I am asking those who have tried purchasing books for Bipolar Mood Disorder and please do give me your suggestions based on your reading experiences. I will greatly appreciate your answers. It will help me and some who are in this condition. Please do specify the Title and the Author of the Book/s so it would be easy for me to look for them. I am from the Philippines and it’s quite hard to look for books like these because in our Country, BMD is not yet that accepted in the society. So, please help me. I believe you can.. thanks a lot. Bye…….

A: By far the best book on Manic Depression is entitled:

A BRILLIANT MADNESS

This book is an autobiography of the actress Patty Duke who has been diagnosed with Manic Depression. The book is well written and entertaining.

Patty Duke will write a chapter, then a lady by the name of: Gloria Lochman will write a chapterf, Ms. Lochman focuses on the medial aspect while Patty Duke’s wrtitings are of a more personal nature.

There are a lot of books out there on Bi Polar.

I consider it a priveledge to reccomend this book to you.

It is by far Number One!

Q: Do you know somebody with a mood disorder?
Do you know somebody with a mood disorder?
Can you tell me what its like ?

A: I know many people..
It can be very difficult because you don’t always know what to do/what to say that can be helpful in their times of struggle.

I, myself, have Bipolar and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and I know I’m difficult to deal with ;] agh..

Mood disorders can be quite frustrating, but don’t get too frustrated with the person, and don’t ever give up.

Q: I think I need to seek help for a mood disorder but I don’t want people to label me as a crazy person?
I know people aren’t supposed to self-diagnose but I could swear on my life I have a mood disorder. It’s greatly affecting my life and I want to seek treatment but I’m so worried about others considering me a loon. I think people will shun away from me and others won’t love me as much as they do now.

A: If people love you, they will encourage you to get help if thats what you think you need. You could go talk to a psychologist and see if they can figure out whats wrong with you (and no one has to know). You could just say that you are going to run errands when you have an appointment if you dont want anyone to know.
Allot of people go see psychologist, it doesnt mean they are crazy.

Q: How to use differential differences and DSM-IV-TR together to diagnosis mood disorder/ drug abuse?
I need to know how to diagnosis a client who shows the symptons of mood disorder and with possible history of drug abuse using the differential difference and DSM-IV-TR coding system together

A: Hmm. Well if you are looking for some drugs for the client I highly suggest these:

· Anafranil**
· Asendin
· Aventyl
· Desyrel
· Effexor
· Elavil
· Ludiomil
· Luvox (SSRI)
· Marplan (MAOI)
· Nardil (MAOI)
· Norpramin
· Pamelor
· Parnate (MAOI)
· Paxil (SSRI)
· Pertofrane
· Prozac (SSRI)
· Remeron
· Serzone
· Sinequan
· Surmontin
· Tofranil**
· Vivactil
· Wellbutrin
· Zoloft (SSRI)

If you are not looking for drugs put the client under psychotherapy.
Good Luck!

Sincerly,
Jordan

Q: My teenage son has a mood disorder and is out of control?
My son has had a mood disorder dx 4 yrs ago & in March he went to residential tx finally after a life time of hell at home, school & everywhere. He was suppossed to stay one year, but his dad took him out after 31/2 mos. He claims he has greatly improved. He did not give it a chance to work and my son just screamed & fought w/me for 11/2hr. then went outside and jumped all over the hood of the car we are trying to sell & hit it with a skateboard denting it from front to back. I can’t get his dad or his family to agree there is a serious problem. He has been dx 4 times, but they wont agree with any Dr., school district, child protective services or anyone that tries to help. In his last regular school year, he went thru 5 schools in 1 yr cuz of his uncontrollable behavior. We finally had a yr or more of guaranteed peace and tx, but his father refused it. I don’t know what to do anymore I feel like I am going to lose my mind. I have to cry and hide in my room to get away from him.

A: I work for aplace called BOST. it is a waiver facility for mentally ill, mood disorder people, mentally retarded and autistic people. I am the case manager there and see this thing every day with my clients. But before they started the program they were worse than they are now. He really needs some medication for this, a doctor def. Pschycologist and look into some kind of medicaid waiver program. They train staff to deal with these kinds of things and also train you as well to better control things that happen with your son. I dont know where you live to help you find somewhere in your area to see if they have have such program. Your husband is so wrong to not want to do anything about this. I do believe a special program , meds and a dr will alleviate some of these problems, even though your son will have this for the rest of his life he will be much better in his intermittent displosive behavior. Which he will probably be diagnosed with when he sees a Dr. IF you can get ahold of me some way in email or im i will so further help u with this situation as much as i can ncooper69_2003@yahoo.com I do believe in maybe the police to help you in case he is hurting himself or someone else in your family but i also believe it will make things worse for him and will not help him get better in any way

Q: how can a doctoer tell you have a mood disorder?
Is the doctoer going to ask you questions about your mood?
Or are they going to take any kinda of blood test? Or how do they find out??
and also what is the medication for mood disorders called?

A: first of all there are no blood tests for mood disorders, the dr. will have to do an assessment after talking to u. about medication there are several. i alone am taking three different ones.

Q: mental disorders?
I am doing a speech on mental disorders and I need to come up with 3 to 5 main poijnts, Can anyone think of any?
in general
all types of mental disorders, the effect it has on people, how to treat it, etc

A: Well, I would say that they are diagnosed using the DSM-IV-R (the diagnostic and statistic manual 4th edition revised) – that’s the most current – it’s published by, I think, the american psychiatric association. AND that the diagnoses are relatively artificial because they are based on a checklist. So, if you have 8 symptoms but the disorder requires 9…too bad – you don’t have the disorder. Also, some people may have a disorder (according to the DSM) but it may not affect their daily life … so do they really have a problem? That should be a major consideration – does the disorder disrupt their life.

Anorexia Nervosa is the deadliest psychological disorder – I think it’s 19 or 20% lethal.

I would also talk about the stigma associated with psychological disorders (our society’s idea that it’s OK to be sick and go to the hospital, but if you have depression you must be a bad person.) To that end you may want to mention that in some cultures, very important people in the community (often shaman or spiritual leaders) would have diagnosable disorders – but they held a high position in society….does that mean they had a disorder or not?

Q: Mental disorders?
what mental disorders existed in the 1940-1950’s

A: All disorders were there. Do you mean ones they classified or made treatment for?

Here are some helpful links I read:

http://www.exampleessays.com/viewpaper/45828.html

http://www.bipolarworld.net/Bipolar%20Disorder/History/history.html

Q: Mental Disorders…….?
The government should not have to spend taxpayer money to provide services for people with mental disorders. It is up to the families of these individuals to care for them. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? and why?

A: disagree~people have not chosen these illnesses for themselves~and fyi the family does try to care for them to the best of their ability~for as long as they can~walk in those shoes for a week or 2 & see if you feel different♦

Q: What do you think causes mental disorders?
Etiology is the study of the causes of disease or disorder. So what do you think causes mental disorders? Use one example of abnormal psychology–either a well-established severe disorder, or another psychological problem that meets the criteria for psychopathology–and explain what you think causes this disorder. Finally, how do you think society views individuals with the disorder you describe?

Any help?

A: Wait, there’s only one cause now? Since when?

You could explore the diathesis stress model, in which a traumatic even *triggers* the mental disorder to which the person has an underlying predisposition to, because that is common in the etiology of many disorders. Schizophrenia is a good example of this, but also depression, PTSD (obviously) and other anxiety disorders. You will have to review the other causes in your answer, to say how much whatever you chose to right on is the cause and how much other factors contribute.

Q: What kind of mental disorders do men that rape young girls have?
I am writing a poem for my English class about rape. As an aspiring writer I want to get to know then subject a little better before writing about it. So I would like to know the condition of the men’s mental health. Do they have mental disorders? Are they just attracted to younger girls? Is it sometimes because of things that have happened in their past? Tell me as much information as you know, Thank you.

A: Rapists dont have to be crazy or psychopathic to rape someone. The same as psychopaths aren’t rapists.

I was raped when i was 15-years-old by a school friend. He wasn’t much older than me, about six months. He was really popular at school and all the girls fancies him, and i wasn’t really… i was shy and a bookworm. I was on my own at a party and he started flirting with me. He had been flirting with me at school too, and i have low self-esteem so of course i liked him instantly.
We went into a bedroom and started making out. But then he pushed me down and held me by the neck so i couldn’t scream. He was saying things like “your going to love it” and “this is what you wanted you prude”..
Anyway, i just kind of took it, because i was scared he would hurt me even more if i fought back. I told my friends who told the police, but he only got two years on the sex offenders register.

The police told me that he did it because i was an easy target. Rape is about power, not sex.
i hope my story has helped you xxx

Q: What mental disorders are strictly genetic?
I have to do a research paper for school and i wanted to know what mental disorders are strictly genetic. I was going to do something like schizophrenia or bipolar. However as some of you may know, these disorders are highly debated whether they are genetic or acquired.

A: none that are 100% proven to be genetic, although there can be some genetic factors. Honestly, it’s a mix of lots of things. Think about it: if evolution and natural selection did happen what would be the benefit in a genetic mental disorder?

here are some that are thought to have some genetic factors:
Depression
Postpartum depression
Schizophrenia
Dysthymia
Delusional disorder

Q: What are some interesting and unusual mental disorders?
What are some interesting and unusual mental disorders?
I’m really interested in rare interesting mental disorders such as Trichotillomania (the urge to pull out your own hair) and Body Integrity Identity Disorder (The desire to amputate your own limbs). Can anyone give me a list of other really interesting and crazy mental/psychological disorders?

A: In east Asia there is one called (IIRC) koro, which is the belief of a man that his penis is shrinking.

Previous commenter mentioned pica – if they mean the compulsion to eat normally inedible things such as dirt and chalk, this is actually more biological, it is the body telling you you’re lacking nutrients and craving things that might give them. Similar to food cravings in pregnancy.

http://www.cas.appstate.edu/~kms/classes/psy3202/Latah/latah.htm is an article about regional-specific mental illnesses.

Q: What kind of mental disorders could you be admitted for?
A little help please.
We’re doing a project for psychology and we wanna know, what types of mental disorders can you actually be admitted into an asylum for?

A: Almost any of the disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Borderline Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder to name a few. If someone is a danger to themselves or others, Depressed with suicidal thoughts….

Q: What are some mental disorders that start with d?
I need to know!! Someone told me this and now I can’t even remember it. What are some mental disorders that start with d, along the lines of autism. I know down syndrome but that’s not right. Give the nicknames for them, like schizophrenia nicknamed as schizo. Please help!!

A: Delirium
Delusional disorder
Dementia
Dependent personality disorder
Depersonalization disorder
Depression
Depressive disorder
Derealization
Developmental coordination disorder
Disorder of written expression
Disruptive behavior disorder
Dissociative amnesia
Dissociative disorder
Dissociative identity disorder
Down syndrome
Dyspareunia
Dyssomnia
Dysthymic disorder

Q: What percentage of Americans have mild forms of mental disorders?
Okay. So I know that 26.2 percent of Americans suffer from mental disorders, and that 6 percent of Americans have serious mental disorders (as according to NAMI). However, I need to know what percentage of Americans — or, at least, what percentage of those who have mental disorders — suffer from less severe mental disorders such as mild depression? Thanks!

A: My professors are always telling me that everyone has some sort of mental disorder, but the part that disqualifies most people from being DX is that they are able to cope and don’t see that it disturbs their life.

Q: What’s an interesting topic involving mental disorders?
I need to write a six page paper, and the prompt is mental disorders. My teacher is pretty lenient, so as long as it can be vaguely related back it’ll work. I’d rather not write about something common, like depression, bipolar disorder, OCD, etc. In fact, I’d rather not write about a single disorder at all. Any suggestions?

A: serial killers

Q: What jobs involve research for mental disorders?
I find mental disorders quite interesting, and I think researching and trying to help find cures and such would make a good occupation. Is there one like this? If so what is it? How much do they make? Thank you! <3 Please don't give me cocky or jerky comments, thanks again.

A: You may want to work in the Clinical Trials area of a psychiatric hospital. It would involve documenting procedures that are used, therapy/medications . Best Wishes for your future.

Q: Why do people stigmatize others who have mental disorders?
If I tell people that I have depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, it’s like a big red flag for them to just not talk to me anymore. I don’t know what I have because doctors are unable to really diagnose my symptoms and they have all said different things.

I just don’t understand why people treat people with “mental disorders” differently then if the disorder was diabetes, cancer, or any other “physical” illness. I am just as smart, funny, and overall a good person as anyone else. It bothers me and I want to know why people are so judgemental about it.

A: It has nothing to do with you. You are simply telling the truth, or an assumed truth diagnosed into a label by a psychiatrist. It has to do with the ones who ostracize you, because they fear losing mental or emotional control, if they as well, suffered from these disorders. I don’t think I know one person in my life who has not some disorder; emotional or mental which causes a problem or dysfunction. I think this can be categorized into the territory of simply being complicatedly human, in a very complex life and world. It is to what level of dysfunction it causes in one’s life that should be important.
People don’t like to view themselves as having problems, that is, for most. So they put it into their minds that they are near perfection and you lack as much. It seems so much the case to point a finger outwardly, doesn’t it, than at oneself! But that takes honesty and courage, not cowardliness and avoidance.
If I were you, and you’d be committing no untruth, but instead exercising discretion for your own welfare, I’d not speak so much about whatever diagnoses have been given to you. And remember as well, that these are labels which one comes to trust because a”doctor” gave them to us.
Also, I would quickly lose what people make fun of you, or put you down because of their cruel ignorance. With friends such as those, do you really need enemies???
If a person is afflicted with diabetes, or cancer, as you mention, there is less fear of “A contagion” because the illness is tangible, however when it comes to the mind, the illness is amorphous, it has no form, no comfortable handle. That is very frightening to people who live by fear of the unknown, yet live by a FALSE valour. Stay away from such miserable hypocrites, and truly believe what you yourself know of YOU : You are smart, funny, an overall good person, who’d deserve respect, not ridicule. Set aside how moronic these judgmental these people choose to behave. Make worthier friends and enjoy yourself!
Good Luck with this!

Q: What are all the mental disorders you can think of with descriptions of each?
i’m doing a project in photography class, and i decided to portray mental disorder awareness, but i need help with all the different disorders & what they are. so please & thank you.

A: innit youve got the internet lol but my favourite is Dissocaitve fugue Google it

Q: Why are mental disorders misunderstood in society?
It seems if you know someone with cancer, you immediately feel sorry for them, but if someone has serious depression they are just considered crazy by lots of people, or people say they just need to get over themselves. In reality, mental disorders are typically not self-caused, but by problems in your brain or hormones. Am I the only one who thinks that people are undereducated about mental illness?

A: This is difficult and please don’t let my answer offend you, it’s not my intention.

If someone has cancer or some other such illness there is typically nothing they can do about, medically there’s only so much available and the person has to show a certain amount of courage to live with their illness.
Now mental disorders…*some* mental disorders are more treatable than others. Those who have a genuine chemical imbalance in their mind do often require medical help and a little more understanding and/or sympathy because mostly it’s not something that can be cured and without constant treatment it can have terrible consequences.
However there are some conditions where the person can control their input and output to treat their condition by themselves.

In certain places around the world, mental disorders tend to be be over-exposed, over-categorised and often used as a means to justify an action or lifestyle.
The problem with any illness is that you can become too exposed and if you reinforce something enough the mind will often start to believe it.
It someone is having a bad patch in their lives and everyone starts muttering about them being depressed and maybe looking for help then the person starts accepting that they’re depressed and can dig themselves into their own pit of despair rather than trying to over-come the problems that are making them depressed.
You can also get the ones who are genuinely faking their illness to excuse their actions or to gain sympathy from those around them. The difficulty comes in trying to filter out the true sufferers from the fakes who may use it to avoid work or other such commitments.

Now where I work there is someone who often claims to have depression and she uses it as an excuse, she does it to avoid work, to get out of certain tasks and to earn the “aww you poor thing” response. I’m not meaning to be horrible here because I know that some people have real problems coping from day to day, but this girl has a loving and supportive family, she isn’t pressured and she has never tried to understand or improve her “problem” she just goes from day to day with the idea of “either I am going to do something today or I’m just not going to bother at all” and it’s at this point that I lose almost all sympathy for her.

I went through horrible depression, I had so many family deaths and pressures put on me at exactly the same time, coupled with entering puberty and I just snapped. Complete mental break-down. It took me three years of pretty much being a shut-in and re-training myself before I could even walk about my town again and see my friends.
I wanted to kill myself many times and my Counselors made it worse by suggesting that I go to a mental hospital away from my family (I had a very loving and supportive family who really helped me through, this wasn’t a wise suggestion)
Throughout all this I never once went on medication though it was suggested numerous times. I made the effort to pull myself out of my pit and take my G.C.S.E’s normally. I made the effort to find regular work. By this point I was in the “zombie mode” that comes with Depersonalization and Derealization. It is so difficult to wear a smile for people and interact with the world around you when you’re in that state, but I did and I never said anything about it.
I then went on to college like this and had to re-teach myself to interact with peers my age, to smile and laugh and joke normally, to come back from the detached state because I was just sick of feeling nothing all the time, going from day to day like a programmed robot.

It took me another year before I could really feel things again and first of all was the tail end of my depression with a very weepy and over-whelming feeling. Once I accepted that I started to feel some happiness and excitement about life again.

I went through the worst of the worst and it lasted from the time I was 12 until I was 18 and I never complained or said a word about it even though I would be crying for hours on end almost every day and literally just curling up in a dark room wishing for it to all end, I didn’t think it was fair to impose my problems on others lives, only my immediate family knew about my problems. I never went on medication and for years I wasn’t comfortable to admit any of this but I later learnt to offer my opinion on the matter and be open with people if they asked.

A lot of the common mental disorders *are* self-treatable, even if people don’t realize it, but it takes time and effort and a lot of people aren’t willing to make the effort, they would sooner take the easy way and cover it up with medication and excuses. When this happens I can’t sympathize with them. I just think of everything I went through and how I just dealt with it and how people, like this girl I work with, will use it as an excuse.
I never think anyone is crazy when they say they have a mental disorder, be it a genuine one or not but in some cases I

Q: BiPolar Symptoms?
what are the symptoms of bipolar

A: the following can be symptoms of bipolar disorder:

-Inflated sense of self-importance (e.g., may have grandiose delusions or overestimate abilities and talents)
_Decreased need for sleep (e.g., may go days without sleep and not feel tired)
-Loud, rapid speech (e.g., may talk nonstop)
-Racing thoughts (e.g., may abruptly jump from one subject to another)
-Distractibility (e.g., may not be able to screen out irrelevant details)
-Agitation or restlessness (e.g., may pace or hold multiple conversations at once)
-Increase in goal-oriented activities (e.g., may have an increased sex drive or become excessively and inappropriately social)
-Unwise involvement in pleasurable but potentially risky activities (e.g., may rack up significant debt, have sex with strangers, abuse drugs, or make rash investment decisions)

i hope this helps

Q: Bipolar symptoms?
Can somebody tell me about the symptoms of being bipolar? I have unexplainable moodswings over the course of minutes, hours, days, weeks, months; I don’t know if I am going to wake up and feel on top of the world or feel like the scum of the earth. I’m not sure if this is just depression, or if there is something more wrong with me.
gmonte33; I was not asking simply because I get moody from time to time. Anybody with eyes and a brain understands that moodiness is normal, and I find your response rude. I am not asking to be petty, I have researched bipolar disorder in the past and was hoping for a more personalized answer as to what it is, partially because I have suspected myself of being bipolar for years and partially because I’m going in for a diagnosis this week and want to know what to bring up.
It isn’t as simple as, ‘gee I feel better some days than others’, because really, who doesn’t?

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

Q: Bipolar Symptoms?
Is laughing near-uncontrollably at trivial things a symptom of the maniac phase of bipolar disorder?

A: my ex-girlfriend years ago was bipolar and she would get like this when she was manic, especially cuz she wasnt like this usually. i remember distinctly one time when i literally expected her head to spin around! by itself this is not enough to make a person bipolar, but in someone who has been diagnosed with it already it may be a warning sign of an approaching manic episode. it was always a clue for me with her.

Q: bipolar symptoms ??
what are the symptoms??

A: Euphoria or irritability
Excessive talk; racing thoughts
Inflated self-esteem
Unusual energy; less need for sleep
Impulsiveness, a reckless pursuit of gratification — shopping sprees, impetuous travel, more and sometimes promiscuous sex, high-risk business investments, fast driving
Hallucinations and or delusions (in cases of bipolar disorder with psychotic features)
In the depressive phase:

Depressed mood and low self-esteem
Low energy levels and apathy
Sadness, loneliness, helplessness, guilt
Slow speech, fatigue, and poor coordination
Insomnia or oversleeping
Suicidal thoughts and feelings
Poor concentration
Lack of interest or pleasure in usual activities

Call Your Doctor if:
You notice some of these symptoms in a family member. Note: Persons with bipolar disorder often deny anything is wrong, especially in the manic phase. If you are worried about a family member or close friend, a doctor can offer advice on how to handle the situation.
You notice some of these symptoms in yourself.

Q: Does anyone else think Spencer Pratt is exhibiting the symptoms of being Bipolar?
I’ve been watching this season of the Hills, and he is totally losing it. He’s at that ripe age when bipolar symptoms start appearing.

I think MTV should stop using him for drama and advise him to get help. he needs drugs to manage his moods.

A: This has been on my mind since the start of Season six, i was shocked by his behaviour in the recent episodes, one second he was fine, then the next second he was shouting abuse at someone and literally shaking with anger, did you notice how he was getting spasms as if literally fighting to hold himself away from violence. His friend Frankie looked absolutely terrified. He is at the age where schizophrenia,and manic depression symptoms can begin to show. I was angry MTV have not done anything to get him and Heidi help, he needs to be sectioned and she needs to be with her family. I honestly think if these two dont get help, i can see him killing her then killing himself. This is going too far.

Q: Could bipolar symptoms be a sugar problem?
I have bipolar II symptoms like paranoia, wild mood swings, sometimes racing mind, irritability, distorted perception of reality maybe (maybe).

Could it be a sugar problem? Or a lack of vitamins or something? I eat a lot of sweets, but still have a very healthy diet.

A: first of all let me say I am a Bipolar I patient so you know where I am coming from.

With that said…first impression is you may be Bipolar I not Bipolar II. You sound like you have some amount of pyscotic symptoms that would benifit from drugs like Zyprexia or Abilify. If you are not already talk to your Dr. about these sympotoms!

Next…sugar problem…quick answer, maybe.

If you are diabetic or insulin resistant excess sugar can and most likely will affect your mood and your symptoms. In addition to sugar, the caffine in your sugary drinks are even more disrupting to a bipolar patient at times.

Having an abnormal sugar level especially when diabetic very often affects one’s behavior.

Only a Dr. can tell you for certain though if your symptoms are bipolar or something else. Talk to him or her soon

Q: If you are bipolar, what symptoms do you have that you attribute to it that are not listed in the diagnostic?
If you are bipolar, what symptoms do you have that you attribute to it that are not listed in the diagnostic criterea?
I have been diagnosed as bipolar type I and i guess i’m sort of in denial.

A: Extemely trying to please people and become frustrated by it. Bi Polars have extreme mood swing (that is in the criteria) but what most do not realize is that some of that comes from the “let down” of trying to be nice to people and not having that returned.

Q: What is the response time for Lamictal 25 mg tablets for mild, depressive bipolar symptoms?
I’ve tried many medications over the years with no positive results for anxiety and depression symptoms. I’m now trying this medication in the hope that it will work in a positive manner very soon like maybe in a week or two.

A: I’m on it for depression and mood swings, and it works very well for me. No side effects at all. It should start working in 2-3 weeks. Good luck!

Q: How to consult professional about possible bipolar symptoms without parents finding out?
ok, i think i have bipolar. honestly and i would like to get it checked out. how can i do that without my parents or family finding out, i dont want them to freak out, especially since they’re pretty conservative and not very open about these things.

thanks.
Australia and 17

A: Your family not being open about these things ‘conservative’, in my experiences (yes I do have experiences) usually cause a bigger problem which can lead you to suffer from depression. I would definately go to a doctor, if you ignore it it doesn’t go away, it just builds up. So see a doctor, if they tell you you may well have bipolar, then get the doctor to consult/ talk to your parents about how to help with the treatment. Honestly, don’t let your parents get in the way of the issue, this can affect you a lot through your whole life.

Q: What are some other symptoms of bipolar disorder?
I have been diagnosed with bipolar type I, which I understand has hallucinations and is more extreme than bipolar type II. I know the symptoms that every website lists for bipolar- increased energy, decreased need for sleep, etc…for mania and decreased energy, feelings of hopelessness or guilt, etc…for depression. What I’m looking for is individual experiences with this disorder. For example, I get really involved in things like painting, then feng shui, then collecting several different things, then geneology, then physics, etc… when I’m manic. I switch from one thing into a completely different thing and completely lose interest in the thing before. Does that make sense? I know that each person’s experiences will vary, but I would like to hear about behaviors besides those listed in the typical diagnostic criterea.
These answers are great. I have to laugh because I can relate to so many of you!

A: If you have halluncinations – you may have schizophrenia becuase halluncinations only occur during psychosis in bipolar patients.

I hope you are taking something to manage the symptoms even though the medication may not act right away.

Q: Can Bipolar symptoms change with in a day?
Can someone with bipolar go from normal to sad then get angry then be happy within a day or so?

A: My boyfriend is bipolar and his cycles last from 2 to 3 weeks for the manic phase and several months for the depressed phase. He even has a normal phase that lasts a few months so I don’t know if the symptoms can cycle all in a day or so. I will be watching for the answers also.

Q: do i have the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
is it possible for you to become bipolar or are you always born with it? i think i have the symptoms, i get mad really easily and i get upset easily but little things make me really happy. i just noticed this a few months ago before i would never cry but now i feel as though i cry once a week and i dont know why sometimes. am i bipolar?

A: It could be any number of things. It could be that your mind is trying to process some changes in your life situation, you’re trying to process some stress…

Maybe you’re going through hormone changes…

You might even just be a naturally very sensitive person. That is a gift, although you’ll probably need to work on the anger thing…(and if you’re like me, you might even need to work on acting calm even when you’re so happy you want to be bouncing all over the room).

I wouldn’t consider myself bipolar, but I struggle with depression sometimes, and at the same time when I’m happy, I can get a lot happier than other folks. I don’t think that’s quite the same as bi-p, though, because I see my “disorder”–my struggle–as being with the depression. The “happy” is just me. Just my kinda EXTREME personality. =)

Q: what are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
i have been writing a book for the past year about a teen boy that is going through bipolar disorder. at first he was just depressed but i moved on to bigger and better things. i have gotten a couple of books on this topic and researched it quite a bit.
but
i need a couple of new ideas. i have the basic plan, so what i am asking is:
can anyone give me a list of symptoms and discription of biopolar disorder. do you know anyone with it and could you tell me how they act?
thank you!

A: Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that causes episodes of depression (sadness and hopelessness) and episodes of mania (severely elevated mood). This disorder affects how a person feels and acts. No one knows exactly what causes bipolar disorder. Doctors and researchers believe that it may be caused by chemicals imbalances in the brain.1

People with bipolar disorder will have times when their mood is “normal” and balanced or close to that. But they will also have times when their mood changes are extreme for a period of time. These are called bipolar disorder “mood episodes.”2

Types of Bipolar Disorder Episodes
People with bipolar disorder have two different mood extremes: “depression” and “mania.”

Depression is a low kind of mood. During an episode of depression, people feel sad or empty and lose interest in doing things that they usually enjoyed. It’s also common to be slower in thinking and movements. A person may have less energy and need more sleep. They also may have difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep2
Mania is a high mood. During a manic high, people feel unusually great. It’s common to be overly talkative, have lots of energy, and need little sleep2
An episode of depression or mania can last for days, weeks, months, or sometimes even years.1 A person with untreated bipolar disorder may have more than 10 total episodes of depression and mania during his or her lifetime.

Bipolar Disorder Symptoms: Depressive Episodes2
Someone in a depressed state of mind may…

Feel sad
He or she may feel sad or just plain “empty” inside, be tearful or cry.
Lose interest in things
He or she may stop doing things usually enjoyed and feel that those things just aren’t worth doing.
Gain or lose weight
He or she may lose weight without trying or gain weight from eating more than usual.
Have trouble sleeping
He or she may have trouble getting to sleep or staying asleep.
Sleep too much
He or she may sleep longer than usual and not want to get out of bed in the morning.
Appear restless or do things more slowly
He or she may appear restless or move slower than usual in doing everyday tasks.
Feel tired
He or she may just not have the energy to go about everyday tasks.
Feel worthlessness or guilt
He or she may feel undeserving of anything good or feel responsible for having done something terrible.
Have trouble thinking
He or she may have problems concentrating and/or making decisions.
Think about death
He or she may think that life is not worth living or make a plan to take his or her own life.
Bipolar Disorder Symptoms: Manic Episodes2
Someone in a manic state of mind may…

Feel unusually great
He or she may feel in possession of special qualities or abilities, extra power, importance, knowledge or ability.
Sleep a lot less
He or she may feel that “sleep is a waste of time,” feel rested after a few hours or just not feel tired at all.
Talk too much
He or she may feel pressured to get out thoughts, to talk faster or more loudly than usual.
Mix up their thoughts
He or she may have thoughts coming so fast that it’s hard to keep ideas straight.
Be distracted easily
His or her attention may be drawn to little, unimportant things.
Set new goals
He or she may launch into several new projects.
Take risks and go to extremes
He or she may do things that could be considered “risky” or unwise. Examples include running up credit card debt, making gambling bets, and even having casual sex with strangers.
Fidget more
He or she may be unable to sit still for very long or may pace.

Q: What are some symptoms of Bipolar Disorder?
I might have Bipolar Disorder. What are some symptoms of it and what do I do if I have it? I am 13 years old and am wondering if I should tell my parents and if they know anything about it. I currently take effexor and have been taking it since I was 7.

A: Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic-depressive illness, is a condition that affects more than two million Americans. People who have this illness tend to experience extreme mood swings, along with other specific symptoms and behaviors. These mood swings or “episodes” can take three forms: manic episodes, depressive episodes, or “mixed” episodes.

The symptoms of a manic episode often include elevated mood (feeling extremely happy), being extremely irritable and anxious, talking too fast and too much, and having an unusual increase in energy and a reduced need for sleep. It’s also very common for someone to act impulsively during a manic episode, and engage in behaviors that are risky or that they later regret, like spending sprees. And in over half of all manic episodes, people are troubled by delusions or hallucinations. For example, they may think they have a relationship with someone famous, claim to be an expert in an area they really know nothing about, feel paranoid (unusually fearful), or hear voices that are not there.

The symptoms of a depressive episode often include an overwhelming feeling of emptiness or sadness, a lack of energy, a loss of interest in things, trouble concentrating, changes in normal sleep or appetite, and/or thoughts of dying or suicide.

A mixed episode includes symptoms that are both manic and depressive.

Q: Can you describe the symptoms of bipolar?
I recently found out that a friend of mine is bipolar. Can you give me specifc symptoms and examples so I can better understand her?

She seems to trust very few people and distrusts other females.

Is this a symptom?

I go to AA and a lot of people there are bipolar. Why is this?

I would love examples such as what are the manic stages like and what did they do specifically during them?

What is the depression like?

A: There are four ’stages’ in bipolarness.
1. Content. This is self-explanitory
2. Depression. This typically comes with feelings of being worthless, sometimes suicidal tendancies, suicidal ideations (where you think about suicide but wouldn’t actually do it), cynicalness…
3. Mania. You feel on top of the world. You have full confidence in yourself, to the point of arrogance sometimes. You feel invincible. Like if someone were to push you off a building, you’d just KNOW that something would keep you from getting hurt. You feel euphoria, and are often extremely creative, ideas bouncing back and forth in your skull and riccocheting out of your mouth so fast you can’t keep up. Or, you can feel extremely irritable, and if someone looks at you, it pisses you off. If someone doesn’t look at you, they’re being annoying and immature and so they are pissing you off.
4. Mixed (I completely forgot the word for this one…). It’s where you feel both mania symptoms and depression symptoms. You’re often extremely confused and irritable and it is very hard to carry on a conversation. You feel like you’re exploading but you can’t because you’re already imploading. For me, this is the most traumatic and most difficult to deal with. You want people to be there for you, but you don’t because if they were around you it just pisses you off. You have no idea what you’re feeling and often have difficulties preserving any semblance of normalicy.
Mood Changes: For some people, they go in and out of these stages every few months. For some, every few days. For people like me, it changes by minutes if not hours. This is on a person-to-person basis and something you just have to get a feel for.

As for the mistrust, this is not a symptom. However it may be an effect of the symptoms. When you’re bipolar, you know that you’re difficult to be around, and because it’s chemical, very few people can understand what you’re going through if they aren’t going through it themselves. This could definitely lead to a mistrust of people, as trust leads to opening up about your feelings. Especially if you’re in a depressed stage, where you’re positive everyone hates you and is out to ruin your life or are just humoring you and making fun of you behind your back.

btw, the spell check is being really retarded, so forgive spelling mistakes and stuff…

Q: Why is anxiety and depression an epidemic compared to 40 years ago?
Why do you think depression, anxiety and mental health problems have grown to be an epidemic? What do you think would help slow the progression of mental health problems? Do you think mental health problems are genitic, situational, environmental, or is it due to a chemical imbalance? When a person becomes depressed; do you think it is because our brain stops producing certain chemicals or does our brain produce a chemical that aggravates depression/anxiety? Why is it when we feel anxious, our bodies react in strange ways such as pounding heart, dizzyness, can’t breath, and intestinal problems?

A: Why do you think depression, anxiety and mental health problems have grown to be an epidemic? What do you think would help slow the progression of mental health problems? I think we just talk about them more than we used to. However, there are some social changes that may lead to anxiety; family structure isn’t what it used to be, people feel more isolated, etc. Maybe having a stronger sense of family and being part of a group of people who care about you, people you can talk comfortably with about anything.

Do you think mental health problems are genitic, situational, environmental, or is it due to a chemical imbalance? It can be any of those; it’s generally considered a “chemical imbalance”, but that could be triggered by genetic, situational factors, physical disease or head injury, or any combination of these.

When a person becomes depressed; do you think it is because our brain stops producing certain chemicals or does our brain produce a chemical that aggravates depression/anxiety? At least some of the time, yes. More often the brain still produces them, but they break down too quickly before they do what they are supposed to do. No one is absolutely sure why that happens in some people and not others.

Why is it when we feel anxious, our bodies react in strange ways such as pounding heart, dizzyness, can’t breath, and intestinal problems? The autonomic nervous system controls mood, anxiety, digestion, sex, etc. I think it’s a kind of imbalance in the autonomic nervous system. It might have been there to help our prehistoric ancestors get away from an enemy or something but maybe the purpose of this isn’t as practical in modern times. Kind of left over instincts for survival that are no longer applicable. (Just an idea.)

Q: What are some natural ways to treat depression and anxiety?
I have been living with extreme depression for years. In 2007 I experienced my first bout of panic attacks and anxiety developed as well as hypochondria. I won’t take western medication unless I absolutely have to. So instead I look more towards natural methods of healing. What are some ways to help control and prevent depression, anxiety, panic attacks and especially hypochondria? Advice, personal experience and links are welcome! Thanks!

A: I lived with depression for decades, tried different kinds of anti-depressants, but nothing seemed to work until I tried St. John’s wort. I’m still upset that no doctor thought to try it in that time, it’s usually the first thing tried in Europe rather than expensive medication.

I wasn’t expecting anything at all, but the effects were immediate and dramatic. I had been living with depression for so long, I didn’t remember what not being depressed was like. I remember thinking, “So this is what anti-depressants are supposed to do.”

I also take Valerian root and melatonin for sleep and depression and fish oil which promotes brain function and has tons of positive physical effects. At the same time, I quit using vegetable oil and margarine, switched to canola or olive oil and real butter.

Q: I have gone through anxiety and depression and stress. How do i stop worrying so much?
I started all this as a nine year old. I am now 12 and still worried. Now i have insomnia, depression, anxiety, and stress. I get really worried about puking how can i stop being afraid?

A: I’d recommend firmly telling (not gently asking) your parents about these problems and ask them (not demand) if you can see a therapist to help you with these problems. If you can’t tell your parents, you can tell a guidance counselor at school. They’re required by law to be discreet (upon request), as long as you aren’t self-harming or suicidal.

Q: How do I find inexpensive therapy for depression/anxiety?
I really need to lessen my feelings of depression and anxiety but I’m really tight on money and can’t afford to pay a psychologist for private sessions. Is there some other way?

I have an aunt and uncle who are both psychologists but I’m very hesitant to ask them for help because I don’t feel comfortable sharing this with family or friends for that matter. I don’t know if it is worth it to ask them or not? What other options are out there?

A: Depression – caused by chemical imbalances of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and other important neurotranmitters in the brain which balance emotions is a serious issue. Psychologists state that depression is a unhealthy state which we ‘can’ work through in order to experience greater levels of happiness. Some who daily experience deep chronic depression may require both prescribed medication along with ‘Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy {M.B.C.T.’) provided by Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapists and there are some who experience chronic-but not deeply chronic depression who work well with M.B.C.T. alone. *Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn PhD along with Psychologists Mark Williams, John Teasdale, and Zindel Segal have authored an Excellent self-help book called: “The Mindful Way through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness”. Mindfulness, a simple yet powerful way of paying attention to your most difficult emotions and life experiences, can help you break the cycle of chronic unhappiness once and for all, that you may experience greater levels of happiness. In ‘The Mindful Way through Depression’, it is explained why our usual attempts to “think” our way out of a bad mood or “just snap out of it” leads us deeper into the downward spiral of depression. Through very insightful lessons-drawn from both Mindfulness and Cognitive Therapy – Dr Jon Kabat-Zinn PhD and Psychologists- Mark Williams, John Teasdale, and Zindel Segal demonstrate how to sidestep the negative habits that lead to unhappiness and despair, including self-blame and rumination so you can effectively face life’s challenges with much resilience.

Q: Anyone know of any herbs that actually work for depression, anxiety, and insomnia?
My friend takes remeron for anxiety depression and insomnia. He wants to stop taking it and go with natural remedies. Does anyone know of anything that works just as well as prescription meds? Any personal experiences? Please only answer if you are sure the herbs actually work for these 3 things

A: I think you should consult your own medical practitioner before embarking on any program that affects your health and well being.
My personal experience:
-Depression
Persistent depression is a serious disorder and you should see your doctor for treatment. In the meantime you might like to try a Licorice tea. Simply add some to any of your favorite herbal teas. Using up to approximately 3 cups of tea a day or more or ingesting larger amounts can produce headache, lethargy, sodium and water retention, loss of potassium and high blood pressure. At least eight Licorice compounds are monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors which are compounds capable of potent antidepressant action.

-Insomnia
Lemon Balm is a sedative as well as a stomach soother. Try a tea made with two to four teaspoons of dried herb per cup of boiling water

-Anxiety
Chamomile
The total list of benefit and treatments for Camomile is huge. Just a few come to mind, insomnia, anxiety, menopausal depression, loss of appetite, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, colic, aches and pains of ‘flu, migraine, neuralgia, teething, vertigo, motion sickness, conjunctivitis, inflamed skin. This may seem too good to be true, but it reflects the wide range of actions in the body.

Q: How many Acupunture Sessions will I need before I am cured of Depression & Anxiety?
I am currently undergoing Acupuncture treatment for Depression & Anxiety. The Treatment is going ok, I seem to be really good then really bad, but have a lot of faith in Chinese Medicine so am bareing with it. I have currently had 6 sessions and have been great after some but bad after others. Can anybody advise how many treatments I will need to stabilize my moods, and to be free from Depression & Anxiety?

A: As things are getting better you should continue for at least another 6 sessions and then assess if you have improved even further; if you have then carry on, if your not it maybe that your accupunturist isnt the best and maybe you should consider seeing a different one.

Definately ask your current accupunturist about how much longer they think you may need.

From the sounds of things it seems to be helping you, if you have been depressed for a long time it may take quite a while for you moods to fully stabalise and you may continue to experiance mood swings for a while but this is just you body sorting itself out so dont worry.

The good news is that once your 100% well you probably wont relapse, especially if you have a ‘top up’ session every 6months or so after you finish your current treatment.

Please dont give up the treatment, chinese medicine is very powerful and much safer than conventional western treatments and more effective in the long run; so dont believe the sceptics who dont accept scientifically tested fact.

I wish you very success and hope you feel better soon. I had accupunture for a similar problem and it does work – just have faith

Q: What medications for depression/anxiety will not make you put on weight?
Help! I have been struggling with horrible anxiety and depression, and I know I will have to get back on meds to help myself. However, I’m afraid of putting on weight after working so hard at getting the pounds off from being on Zoloft a couple of years ago. Any suggestions of which medications can work without the weight gain?

A: Wellbutrin (buproprion hydrochloride) is very effective and is known best for not causing weight gain or sexual dysfunction. Wellbutrin is dopemigenic and does not affect your serotonin (the neurotransmitter that effects appetite and labido). Zoloft and all serotogenic antidepressants will cause weight gain and sexual dysfunction.

Wellbutrin is a derivative of diethylproprion, which is a stimulant like substance. Some people don’t react well to it and get the shakes and feel speedy from it, however, these side effects usually go away within a week.

If you decide to go with Wellbutrin, I’ve had success taking the extended release tab (Wellbutrin XL) once daily in the morning, so it won’t effect your sleep. I started on 150mg for 2 weeks and then bumped up to 300mg daily.

Ultimately, it’s your Dr’s call on whether or not you should take this drug based on your mental history. It would be a good idea for you to do some more research and discuss it with your Dr and decide together if it’s the right drug for you.

Effexor is another antidepressant that won’t make you gain weight. However, Effexor is hit or miss, it either works really well or it doesn’t and it comes with a high risk for dependancy making it difficult to stop taking. Another thing you can talk to your Dr. about.

Good luck

Q: Can anyone recommend an aromatherapy recipe for depression / anxiety via essential oils?
I just got a diffuser / a basic set of oils and would like to learn a few recipes to use for both depression and anxiety. If you have any recipes that have worked for you, I would appreciate them. Thank you.

A: For depression: any citrus, geranium, juniper
For anxiety: ylang-ylang, lavender, chamomile, bergamot

Q: Has anyone experienced depression and anxiety after taking a decongestant, specifically Bromfed PD?
My daughter who is 15 has been suffering from depression, anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, confusion and lossof appetite after the doctor doubled her dose of Bromfed PD which is a decongestant and antihistamine.

A: not so much the depression (this can be just a side effet of feeling so terrible from everything else ) but decongestants definitely can cause, anxiety, nervousness, insomnia, confusion in people, especially those succeptible…i myself have anxiety and stay away from decongestants or any stimulants of any kind and decongestants are stimulants, its pseudoephedrine
as for the loss of appetite, if she is feeling this way, its no wonder she doesnt want to eat

Q: What is a typical day like for those of you who deal with depression/anxiety?
I’m just curious. I have minor social anxiety and it’s really starting to get in the way of my personal life. I was just wondering how others here with depression and/or anxiety make it through their days.

A: i just got diagnosed with depression a few days ago. i also experience a lot of anxiety. my day is pretty normal. i’m a stay at home mom so i usually just take care of my kids but when things go bad or i think they will go bad i worry a lot and it makes me very sad. sometimes i think about things so much that i feel like i’m losing control and i think about dying. i just started taking antidepressants hopefully they will help. the one thing that helps me is to just stop thinking about the things that make me worry. i just sometimes need a dose of reality and realize that i can’t control everything some things are just out of my hands. the thought of my kids not having a mother and what they will go through without me is what keeps me going. they are truley the ones that make me happy. so you just have to think about that one thing that will keep you going. good luck.

Q: What is the difference between regular depression/anxiety and borderline personality disorder?
What is the difference between regular depression/anxiety and borderline personality disorder?

A: This is a great question. Some of the similarities are sadness, irritability, and mood swings but i would say that borderline personality disorder is much more severe because of the following:

frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment
very unstable relationships (love-hate)
Unstable identity- they change according to the people they are around so others will like them
Suicidal behavior is very common
They are very impulsive- they will do things without thinking, often stealing or having random sex.

Hope that helps!

Dr. S.

Q: How is binging related to depression, anxiety and/or stress?
I am on the lowest dose of fulvoxamine (anti-anxiety/anti-depression/anti-OCD med) for my anxiety and depression.

But I still get moments of depression (although not as bad).

Also, I tend to binge once a week and then feel disgusting after.

Are these things linked? Although at the moment I don’t feel like binging is related to my stress, could it be even though I don’t feel it?

A: No one knows for sure what causes binge eating disorder. Researchers are looking at the following factors that may affect binge eating:

Depression. As many as half of all people with binge eating disorder are depressed or have been depressed in the past.
Dieting. Some people binge after skipping meals, not eating enough food each day, or avoiding certain kinds of food.
Coping skills. Studies suggest that people with binge eating may have trouble handling some of their emotions. Many people who are binge eaters say that being angry, sad, bored, worried, or stressed can cause them to binge eat.
Biology. Researchers are looking into how brain chemicals and metabolism (the way the body uses calories) affect binge eating disorder. Research also suggests that genes may be involved in binge eating, since the disorder often occurs in several members of the same family.
Certain behaviors and emotional problems are more common in people with binge eating disorder. These include abusing alcohol, acting quickly without thinking (impulsive behavior), and not feeling in charge of themselves.

What are the health consequences of binge eating disorder?
People with binge eating disorder are usually very upset by their binge eating and may become depressed. Research has shown that people with binge eating disorder report more health problems, stress, trouble sleeping, and suicidal thoughts than people without an eating disorder. People with binge eating disorder often feel badly about themselves and may miss work, school, or social activities to binge eat.

Q: How depression & anxiety affect sleep, eating and money matters? What solutions beside medicine are available?
I want to know how depression or anxiety affects people sleeping pattern (especially narcolepsy), eating habits (over-eating) and money matters, like impulsive shopper or addicted to shopping. What treatments are available besides medications. I want to treat the cause and not just the symptoms, but would also like any information on dealing with the symptoms.

A: Depression and anxiety can hurt you in a big way. Your more vulnerable to diseases, weight gain, loss of energy, and premature death. The best treatment with depression is exercise and exposure to positive people. Nothing else comes close. There was a test done with Zoloft and exercise. Exercise alone helped depressed subjects more than zoloft. When exercising your brain creates some kind of hormone (don’t know the details) that actually gets you a natural high. That’s why some people actually get addicted to exercise (not saying it’s a bad thing). So exercise makes you happy. And get those negative people out of your life. They’re parasites feeding off of you. Surround yourself with those positive people in your life.

Q: What are some good websites for depression/anxiety?
I have had depression/anxiety as long as I can remember. I’m now 27, just lost a job on the first day because I kept having panic attacks, and have now sunk into a deep depression. I have an appointment with a therapist in a few days and my other doctor has put me on Wellbutrin (on top of xanax and zoloft). I need some more support. Does anyone know any good websites?

A: There may be a support group in your area that has been very helpful to me. It is called DBSA (Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance).

Q: What benefits do pets have for people with depression, anxiety, etc?
Do pets/animals have benefits for people with depression, anxiety, and stuff like that?

is there an actual study?
What is your personal opinion?

A: My opinion is that pets can help.
I believe that may be one of the reasons therapy dogs exist, to help with that.
Something about the presence of an animal calms people down.
That’s why dentists, doctors, etc often have fish in their offices, it helps keep people calm.

Dang, I read something about this, I read it a few years back and saw something on TV about it…
It think petting a dog was supposed to lower either your heart rate, your blood pressure, or something likewise.

Q: Do you have to be suicidal to have borderline personality disorder?
I match with almost all of the symptoms of borderline personality disorder (abandonment issues, impulsiveness, extreme moods, bad temper, black/white relationships, etc.) except that I don’t cut myself. I sometimes will have suicidal thoughts but never get close to actually doing it. Does everyone have to hurt themselves in order to have BPD? I have been speaking with a therapist for about a month or so and she has said she thinks I have obsessive compulsive disorder, and lots of anxiety, etc. and hasn’t mentioned BPD, but through my research online it seems like I have tendencies towards those, but actual Borderline Disorder. Any info or opinions would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you.

A: I have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and I also do not cut myself. I sometimes feel suicidal if I am under a lot of stress, but never to the point of actually making plans on how I am going to carry it out.

I have also had some confusion/ disagreement with regards to my diagnosis. I have been told by my current therapist that I am BPD, but when I went for a second opinion was told that it was more anxiety and OCD and not BPD.

I have almost given up trying to sort out what the diagnosis is and am trying to concentrate more on the symptoms. i.e. medication and cognitive-behaviour therapy for the OCD and anxiety and psychodynamic psychotherapy for the relationship issues/ BPD type symptoms.

It might be worthwhile to look at what is concerning you the most in terms of your symptoms and work on them without being too concerned with an overall diagnosis. The diagnosis is just a way for psychiatrists to categorise people into different groups as a way to sort out what the most appropriate treatment is. You might also find that there is a significant cross-over in treatment approaches for a few different diagnoses anyway.

Q: My friend cuts herself, Can someone you tell me more about this borderline personality disorder?
I have bipolar disorder. A friend of mine has borderline personality disorder and she cuts herself. Can someone you tell me more about this borderline disorder? Do you know anyone who does this?

A: I know someone who does it & I do it but I’ve found that when you wear a rubberband on your wrists and snap it whenever you feel like cutting it REALLY helps. I do it alot & it reduces the cutting but does not stop it. The only reason people do it is because they have alot going on in their life and they feel like it’s the only pain they can control. If you need more info e-mail free_help2@yahoo.com or help_chitchat@yahoo.com they help people with lots of problems

Q: Why are Borderline Personality Disorder people so good at making people become infatuated with them?
People with Borderline Personality Disorder seem to have a talent for making people very quickly become infatuated/obsessed with the Borderline (I won’t use the word love).

How is it that they have this “talent”?

A: There are different types of behavior with BPD. There are those who predominently act out (raging) and those who act in (cutting) and there is a continuum with sufferers somewhere on a spectrum – low functioning (prone to drug use and poor societal function, crime, and hospitalization) and high functioning (can hold down a job and “appear” normal to people not close – like family – to the BPD.) Higher functioning BPDs almost universally deny that they have a problem. My opinion of higher functioning BPDs who predominently act out is that they lack a conscience and are self absorbed.

If a BPD is higher functioning and intelligent, they often have the ability to “read people” pretty well. They can also be extremely adept at manipulation. It’s very easy to not understand the manipulation, especially when everyone else around (i.e. not family) seems to think well of the BPD. The manipulation and the lack of insight from others can make the non-BPD doubt their own instincts.

At the core of all BPD behavior is fear of abandonment and great difficulty dealing with their feelings.

CONTROL is at the core of effective, manipulative BPDs. It’s a sick game, but it gets played by many women. BPD is the most prevalent personality disorder and yet most people have never hear of it. Statistics show that just about everyone interacts with a BPD at work or school and is completely oblivious.

Q: How do people with borderline personality disorder generally function as parents?
If a parent has borderline personality disorder and does everything in their power to keep stable and their symptoms under control and provide a loving, supportive atmosphere for the child to grow up. Is it possible that the child would actually be able to then side step the borderline diagnoses, and be unaffected by their parents disorder?

Also how do people with borderline personality disorder generally function as parents?

A: I have BPD and my daughter is 3. I am working very hard to make sure my symtoms are under control. When I have a bad day I make sure I don’t show it in front of her. She is my main priority and I feel really blessed. I think the main thing is for the parent to understand that a child needs a calm, peaceful, and loving environment.

I recently start a forum for individuals with BPD.

http://bpdsafehaven.org

Q: Borderline Personality Disorder: What are the positive and the negative factors?
I am working on a paper for class. I need to describe the symptoms of Borderline and Histrionic Personality Disorder according to whether they have positive or negative predictive power for diagnosis. How do I divide symptoms that way?

A: As a BPD sufferer I would kind of like to help you, but your question leaves me a little baffled……..

Q: what’s the difference between borderline personality disorder and depression?
I really don’t know, but it seems that people with borderline personality disorder are often misdiagnoised initially with depression. Maybe I am wrong though, maybe if you have borderline personality disorder then depression is a part of it????

A: Simple depression is much more common than Borderline Personality Disorder. The patient may not exhibit all the signs of BPD when the clinician first sees him or her.

BPD is much more complex with extreme fear of abandonment, volatile relationships alternating between idealization and disdain, identity crises and impulsive behavior in addition to mood swings.

Q: Why is it said that borderline personality disorder is the equivalent of sociopathy in females?
Sociopaths are not supposed to have a conscience/ feel no remorse for their actions. However people with borderline personality disorder often suffer from an extremely low self-esteem. They often feel that they are unworthy and are inherently bad (especially since they see things in black/white). This seems markedly different from sociopathy where it seems unlikely that the sociopath would feel that he is an unworthy person. So my question is why do people say that bpd is the female version of a sociopath?

A: BPD (I have it) is NOT like being a sociopath. I, deep down, know what I’m doing is wrong, but I cannot control it. I can’t stop myself from manipulating someone. Once I get something in my head, it takes LOTS of WILL POWER (which I usually don’t have) to stop myself. This IS- especially if I’m trying to get someone to love me.
Most people with BPD are highly intelligent, but they cannot control their impulses, SO it can be “fun” (sarcastically) to be in a relationship with us/me! Haha.
Um, back to the topic…
It shouldn’t be said that BPD is the female version of sociopathy… (not feeling remorse for harmful actions). We DO feel remorse, but only AFTER we’ve hurt someone and they reject us.

ACTUALLY, I don’t usually feel bad for what I’ve done in the heat of the moment. Remorse takes place weeks or months later for me.

Very confusing topic!

Q: How can I handle the borderline personality disorder? My girlfriend has BPD and we seperate during t?
How can I handle the borderline personality disorder?

My girlfriend has BPD and we seperate during this time. Is there anything i can do to help her get her right mind back. She doesn’t love me, doesn’t want me and then she comes back around. She wants me and loves me again. Any tips or suggestions on how to handle this situation. I love her enough I want to help.

A: Dude, save yourself the headache.

Q: Why does a person with Borderline Personality Disorder cause someone to say hurtfull things?
Everybody in the world knows that my Girlfriend has Borderline Personality Disorder. Why does she say the most hurtful things?
Then she turns around and is the sweetest. How can someone change that drastic and suddenly?

A: She needs a lot of compassion and to know that she is special. If you are in a love relationship with a person who has BPD do not treat her like any other girl, she has a feeling of a huge void in her life which only understanding and reassurance can begin to fill. She should try a support group to meet others who can understand her and support her. You could buy her a book on this disorder and offer to read with her about it, to know that others care, would really touch her deeply. These people need more love than they are ever willing to admit to themselves.

Q: What is it like to have a borderline personality disorder?
What is it like to have a borderline personality disorder? How do they act and behave? I’m curious to know because I met this girl who I kinda like, but she told me she is bipolar and borderline. Can anyone enlighten me here?

A: Mark-

If you’ve never done anything else for yourself, do this….get as far away as you can. Borderline is a disorder which will pull you into the whirlpool, completely mangle you and spit you back out. You would’nt put your head into a tree chipper, would you? That’s precisely what this is. Jess has the disorder, and even she is telling you to run as fast and as far as you can. Simone said: “It does not mean that people with borderline personality traits are doomed to have poor relationships”. she is absolutely wrong about that, they are doomed to have horrible relationships. This is a disorder which affects the people intimate with the “sufferer” more than the one with the disease. Treat her as you would a coiled rattlesnake, because that is precisely the situation. I know, been there, done that. I’ll never be the same. Want some firsthand accounts? Go check some of the posts at the yahoo group “WelcomeToOz”

Q: How do I help someone with Borderline personality disorder?
I have a friend who is 17 and he suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder. I really want to make him happier and feel better about himself, but I just don’t know how I can help. He goes to a psych ward, but I want to know how I can make him happy when he wants to talk with me.

A: You can’t make him happier. That has to come from within himself. You can be his friend, listen to him, hang out with him and have fun, but only he can decide he wants to be happy. It’s interesting that you friend is male, more females get diagnosed with BPD.

Q: How do you handle a person with borderline personality disorder?
How do you handle a girlfriend that has borderline personality disorder? She loves me then she hates me. I know her love is real, because she always comes around to the normal. I’m getting to where I don’t wanna go back, because I know it won’t stay sweet. It’s hard to let go when you know its the disorder causing the problems. What to do? Getting depressed over it all.

A: this sort of person is a challenege to become involved with
depending on your point of view, you can take a variety of approaches.

one tactic that works is to leave the relationship in her hands for a while. this will claify her feelings for you and the source of sweetness. you will likely find that the reasons for the borderline behavior are rooted in some problem internal to her feeling for you. this may be hard to accept, but as it becomes clear, you can adjust your feelings to better match her personality. for example, the answer from jamesb_ridge below demonstrates a classic manipulator. leave the relationship in this person’s hands, and it will become clear very quickly how careless she is with her relationships

another tactic is to take more control and be a helper rather than a passenger. instances when she is sweet should be savored by both of you, and you should certainly try to amplify them. when she cools or becomes hostile, don’t return the hostility, chances are she is not recognizing it like you are – remember: her eyes only point outward and you have to gently bring her behavior to light and help her to see how she might appear to others. again, using the james b_ridge answer as a manifestation, the coldness can be shunted or ignored as appropriate

another possibility is to bond with other friends of hers, and to be particularly social when she goes into the dark side. sometimes a number of different personalities makes maintenance of the hostility difficult and it becomes easier to be friendly if two other friendly persons are nearby. finally, if we again use the james b_ridge response as a template for the dysfunction, your judgement about the responses or presonality in the dark side will be validated or modified by the other friend with the two of you, since the third party can modulate the interaction of the first two.

Q: How to spot a girl with borderline personality disorder?
I’m dating alot of girls now and some girls I just find overly emotional and fiery. I want to know if they have anything wrong with them. A friend of mine mentioned some girls as having “borderline personality disorder”. I would like to know what are some characteristics these girls display? Tell me some stories if you ever had an experience with them?

A: Women are emotional creatures. As opposed to men who are logical (or so it’s said). Yes, some have personality disorders, and even more create them to have an excuse for their behavior. But men are the same way. All in all, you just need to find a girl thats right for you.

And…so what if they have a personality disorder? If they’re not able to manage it with meds or therapy then why even be around them. People in general who are out of control are no fun.

Q: How can I get good help for borderline personality disorder?
I’m only 16, but I’ve recognized in myself extreme changes in behavior over the years and nothing fits the description as best as borderline personality disorder. My parents don’t understand any mental disorder problems since they’re hispanic..(no offense, but a lot of hispanics don’t believe in psycholoy). How can I get adequate help? Please no jokes.

A: Although Borderline Personality Disorder is less well known than bipolar and
schizophrenia it is more common, affecting 2% of adults in the US and accounting
for a whopping 20% of psychiatric hospitalizations in the US. Completed suicide
rates in BPD is an incredible 8-10%. All that having been said, borderline
personality disorder is not a death sentance. There is strong research which
suggests that often symptoms of BPD decrease as the sufferer ages from a
teenager to a young adult and their brain fully develops. With early
intervention, likelyhood of recovery is also increased

With borderline personality disorder it’s really hard to find good therapists
because everyone’s either scared of the label or isn’t experienced enough to
help you. One of the most effective treatments for Borderline personality
disorder is a type of therapy called DBT (Dialectical Behavioral
Therapy). DBT was developed by a psychologist who had borderline her self. She
found in her own recovery, and in treating her patients, that CBT (cognitive
behavioral therapy) was too oriented on change for borderlines, leading them to
feel invalidated and have a high risk of dropping out of treatment. DBT is a
balance of acceptance and change. The tag line is that DBT teaches you to “Build
A Life Worth Living”. And two uniquie focuses of DBT include training on
dialectical thinking (seeing both sides to every story) and mindfulness ( living
in the present, concepts are most highly pulled from Zen Buddhism, but are not
at all religious in nature.) It teaches you skills in distress tolerance (which
is crisis survival), interpersonal effectiveness (how to improve your
relationships), mindfulness ( living in the present moment, meditation type
stuff), and emotional regulation (how to prevent yourself from going into crisis
to begin with..basic taking care of yourself kind of stuff). DBT is developed
for TEAMS of clinicians working together, and includes: individual
psychotherapy, group skills training, phone coaching, and consultation team-
which is when the clinicians meet to discuss cases and support each other.
Although consultation team does not directly impact that patient, it is seen as
a manadory component of DBT, and you should seek a DBT group or center, not an
individual DBT Clinician if at all possible.

DBT is very very different than standard psychotherapy, which tends to be a
processing therapy. While in standard therapy you may spend many many sessions
focusing on whats wrong, DBT is constantly redirecting you towards focusing on
solutions. and in absense of concrete solutions, acceptance, so you decrease
suffering.

I think it is important to emphasize that DBT is not a magical cure, nothing is.
And it can take a lot of perserverence to continue to incorperate skills into
your daily life when you aren’t seeing a dramatic increase in mood. Most DBT
outpatient therapies need a time span of 1-2 years in therapy for full benefit.
It is not meant to be a life long treatment, although you could use it that way.
But for someone who is intelligent, and is determined to make the best of what
they have been given DBT is an excellent choice.

If you are interested in doing some work in DBT on your own, I would
suggest the “Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills Workbook” its green and is
published by New Harbinger Publishers. Here is a link to their original one,
they also have recently published variations of it, and one of them I know is
for Bulimia.

http://www.amazon.com/Dialectical-Behavior-Therapy-Skills-Workbook/dp/1572245131
/ref=pd_sim_b_9

Medication can help treat some struggles relating to BPD, but behavioral therapy
is considered much more effective.

Q: How should a couple cope when one may have borderline personality disorder?
My wife may have borderline personality disorder, she feels an emotional detachment from everybody around her, including me. She’s been physically and psychologically abused as a child. It’s also hard for her to make friends as well as keep them. Is there a cure for this? I don’t mean like multiple personality disorder either.
Thank you both for answering it makes me feel better now that I know it’s a manageable disorder.

A: I also have Bipolar Disorder, and I understand how hard it is to make and keep friends. There’s really not much you can do about the emotional detachment, but the symptoms of personality disorders are lessened with therapy. I go to weekly therapy visits, and take a mood stabilizer, and I’ve found that I personally need both to be at my highest functioning.
On the medication issue, most people don’t like it. I HATE medication, but it makes life so much more bearable. It depends on the person and how severe the disorder is. It usually does take some experimenting to get the right medication, especially if you’ve never known what it’s like to feel “normal”. The road to the right meds is rough…having your brain chemicals adjusted sucks but for me it was worth it.
I have a boyfriend who has been there for me since before I was even diagnosed. I’d say the biggest factor in my “recovery” is the stability of having someone there. He reassures me, helps me out with the apartment if I get stuck in a rut, talked me into going back to counseling, and stuff like that. The biggest thing is to have somebody to talk to and to keep you stable. I worry that it’s taxing on him, though. I still have episodes, and it gets really hard for both of us sometimes. It’s a challenge, but if you’re patient and committed and your wife is committed to working towards her own wellness then it’s do-able.
I strongly recomend at least counseling to help your wife understand what she’s going through, or at least to try it. It can be expensive, but there are alternatives. I get it from my college for free, and some communies have free support groups.

Q: Why are my depression symptoms changing?
I used to (the last several years) over eat and sleep all the time, but these last few weeks I’m hardly eating at all (once every day or two) and not sleeping for 3 days at a time. I used to have no energy and could stare at the ceiling all day, now I am still tired all the time but extremely restless and can’t sit still. I am not undergoing any treatment or taking meds at this time. Why would symptoms flip like that?
I was diagnosed with MDD a few months back.

A: Most depression is chemical imbalance in the brain, the same as bi polar. You really need to seek a mental heath doctor. you could have an in balance that you need meds for to help you with the depression. sounds too like you are having some anxiety with the depression.I have suffered from depression and panic and anxiety for 25 years.i take meds that help me with these conditions. the meds help .

Q: Anyone facing depression symptoms from antidepressants?
I have been taking Effexor XR for several months and just recently I’ve started feeling depressed. I take Effexor for anxiety. I think I remember in my psych class talking about how when anxiety patients take antidepressants they typically deal with depression as a side effect, and visa versa for depression patients. I just want to know if anyone else feels the same way, and if so, do you take a different medication for the depression?

A: Your doctor wont tell you that other common triggers for depression include some prescription drugs such as antibiotics, drugs for high blood pressure, nasal decongestants and heart drugs.

The last thing you want to have to go through when felling depressed is an episode of ill health, but that is exactly what many people experience with many depression drugs.

Antidepressant drugs can cause:

*
Delirium.
*
Fatigue.
*
Excessive sweating.
*
Dangerous low blood pressure.
*
Strokes and Heart attacks.
*
Vomiting
*
Diarrhoea.
*
Anxiety.
*
Insomnia.
*
Muscle pains.
*
Sexual problems.
*
Even suicide.

So the best thing you can do for your body, and your mind is to stop looking to prescription drugs for the answer. All that is necessary is the right balanced diet.

i took the above from an article on depression found at

Q: what is the difference between depression and negative symptoms?
the negative symptoms of schizophrenia and depression seem to be very similar. Depression involves anhedonia, loss of motivation, slowness, and all these other things that are also seen in schizophrenia. is the only difference between these is that one occurs in schizophrenia and the other in ppl without schizophrenia cause they are both like the same thing.

A: Negative symptoms in schizophrenia are more like a pattern of behavior, a way of living than seen in depression. The severity is the key here. There is also a permanence issue. With chronic schizophrenia there are no drugs that help negative symptoms. Some say invega may help a bit, but not much.
Depression is much more treatable.

Q: What is the best medicine for depression with psychotic symptoms?
What is the best medicine for depression with psychotic symptoms?

A: If you are not bipolar, an anti-D that works for you and an anti-psychotic (AP). If the psychosis is significant, Zyprexa is the heavy hitter these days. Draw back is that it tends to pile on the pounds in a way that makes anti-D complaints sound like whining. That doesn’t happen to everyone, though.

Two other APs to look into are Abilify and Geodon. Both are said to have anti-D qualities and efficacy with psychosis.

Q: Different Treatments that Treat Depression/Depression Symptoms?
What are at least 5-10 different options for treatments that will help with depression and depression symptoms?

I need help
Yes this is for a research paper. I just couldn’t really find treatments for depression. After this, I have to describe each treatment in full detail. Then I have to do a journal on a kid’s depression case and diagnose them to which treatment would be best for them.

A: Realistically, there aren’t 5-10 different options. At best I can count six. There’s talk therapy (psychologist, support group); Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (mostly for borderline personality disorder, but also helps with depression and bipolar depression); medication, and in extreme cases (treatment resistant therapy) there’s electroconvulsive therapy (shock therapy). Some people say exercise and good nutrition, including me, but that goes for everybody so I don’t count it as a treatment, although it can help. Some people swear by St. Johns wort, but it is not recommended for severe depression or bipolar depression, and it can interact with other medications.

I hope this is for a research paper or curiosity and not guidance. Take care!

Q: What are some symptoms of mild depression?
My friend has been very sad lately and I think she might have depression , bbut dont know what the symptoms are.

A: Lack of energy
Lack of appetute
Excessive sleepiness
Anxiety
No joy in pleasurable activities

Q: Does a girlfriend help with depression symptoms?
I am very depressed and i was curious if anybody out there knows if having a girlfriend or boyfriend helps with depression

A: It really depends. You dont want a gf that will constantly put you down…that will obviously leave you more depressed. What you need is a gf who is caring, andd who helps with your self-esteem, therefore, helping you a little in your depression. But its deffinitely not gaurenteed to completely get rid of those feelings. Having a gf, also means having someone to talk to when your down, that also helps.

Q: i have all the symptoms of depression, but i dont want to talk to anyone?
I have lots of symptoms of depression, reduced sex drive, loss of sleep, reduced appetite and weight loss. I cant seem to get myself to class. No matter what i try i can’t seem to make myself feel better. My girlfriend notices, but i can’t seem to tell her. Should I seek help?

A: Not wanting to talk about it is also symptomatic of depression. Yes, you should get some help. Talking to your doctor is a good starting place. A good friend or family member would help, too, but sometimes it’s easier to talk at first to someone that’s not so close in your life. A counselor or therapist actually is a better way to go than your doctor if you want to see if talking it thru will help before trying meds. Keep in mind that all people experience depression at some point in their lives. If you’re questioning, then it’s probably at or beyond the point where help is what you need. It’s a matter of how bad it is and how long it goes on. Sometimes meds are necessary no matter how much talk therapy you do, so if you do choose a therapist and your symptoms persist, get medical assistance as well. Btw, at some point you need to let your g/f in on what’s going on with you if for no other reason than communication is essential for a healthy relationship. Hang in there. It does get better if you get beyond your reluctance to talk and do seek help.

Q: Are these the possible symptoms of Long term Depression?
Here I want to inquire about the long term sever depression or like Epi-Genetics depression
Weak sensation to Sense of sound,Weak sensation to Sense of Light
the patient uses the Lens for batter vision,poor memory,Thoughts like philosophers,non active brain ?
How u can batter explain all of the symptoms of depression w.r.t my points?

A: NO

Q: I travel around a lot. After staying a place about a year, I get a lot of depression symptoms.?
The depression symptoms go away after I move and I get a lot of energy back. I guess I need constant stimulation. Will I ever be able to settle down? I’m 29.

A: You’re living the life I want.

You’re nomadic, nothing is wrong with that. If I were you I’ll choose a job that allows me to travel amd I will not put down roots until I’m good and ready.

Bon Voyage!..

Q: What can happen to a person later in life if physical depression symptoms are never treated?

A: If the depression is fear based it is from the kidneys then renal failure, heart attack, diabetes or any other disease that is kidney related.

If the depression is anger based it is from the liver and the problems could be a failed liver, stomach problems, headaches or any other disease related to the liver.

One step that a person can do on their own is eat right and take supplements daily, drink water and exercise…..and laugh.

Byron Katie has three books out on how to deal with depression and I would suggest either one of her first 2 books. Information on the internet is available and if a person truly does ‘the work’ their lives can change. Personal note….one year ago I had to change my life for it wasn’t working for me. I stuck to my guns to change my life, I read Katie’s books and now I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my life.

Q: How do I go for depression symptoms?
It is been almost 4 years since I, every once in a while, get depressed and don’t want to do anything. It is happening too much lately, and thoughts about not being alive have passed my mind. I don’t know how to talk to about this? My regular doctor? or someone special?

Thanks for your support

A: Your regular doctor can do a depression screening. There should be a crisis line in your town, try the yellow pages. They can refer you to someone for counseling. Don’t wait for this to get worse. It’s not that unusual, so don’t be nervous to talk to someone, just speak the truth.

Q: Does thyroid medication treat the depression symptoms that come with hypothyroidism?
Or do you need to take an antidepressant and thyroid medicine?

A: Depression is not uncommon when dealing with a thyroid disorder. Hormone imbalances can affect mood and behaviors.

Depression that is caused do to improper thyroid hormone levels tends to not respond to the drugs used to treat depression.

It will be better to concentrate on optimizing thyroid hormone levels first, to avoid having to deal with balancing the body with the addition affects, and side effects, and withdrawal symptoms that go hand in hand with antidepressants.

I see far far far too many cases of docs don’t only TSH testing, using outdated lab ranges, and/or failing to test the levels of the thyroid hormones, Free T4 and Free T3.

It often ends up with the patient having insufficient hormone levels for their bodies to work in a healthy manner….

.. then there is the added plus of these same docs blaming everything on us, the patient, which we then internalize which then increases the depression…

IMHO of course

Q: What are some symptoms of Child Depression?
I am 13 and I think I have Child Depression.
I cry very easily, get into fights with my family very easily, think negatively about myself and don’t try my hardest, and alot more.

What are some symptoms?

A: those are the basic symptoms right there! being very emotional (crying, fighting with family) and the constant negative thoughts and giving up. ask your parents to take you to the doctor because you think you have depression and you want a professional opinion and would really feel better if you got your doctor’s opinion.

Q: Is there a substance that can instantly stop symptoms of depression?
This is a VERY hard question. Experts only, please.

I have a wife who suffers from depression. She has been on anti-depressants and they worked, but left her feeling neutral while on them, rather than happy and sad.

She is now off the medications (and has been for a couple years). Lately, she has been having depression strike in place of emotions like happiness or love. Instead of feeling the good stuff, she feels that feeling we get when we break up with someone.

My theory is that we could find a substance for her to take when she improperly dips into that pain (the breakup pain), and that alleviates it just like an aspirin alleviates a headache, then it might free her mind to feel happiness again.

Does anyone know of a substance that works fairly quickly that she doesn’t have to stay on, but can take more like an aspirin? Something that alleviates the symptoms, but isn’t an “anti-depressant” like Celexa or something?

Natural substances, illegal substances, medications
A little addition, in response to some of the first answers (and thank you VERY much for these first answers!):

Yes, ideally we would like something that isn’t addictive. That’s a bad problem. Also, won’t being on anti-depressants her whole life kill her? What about the liver damage?

Thanks.

A: if your wife needs to take a psychotropic drug to deal with a mental illness, then she should immediately seek a psychiatric evaluation and go back on medication. this isn’t something to play around with. major depression disorder and other mental illnesses can lead to suicide if left untreated and unmonitored. you need a licensed therapist and a psychiatrist to do that properly, especially if you are concerned about liver functioning. the doctor can prescribe a safe dosage, order regular liver function and other blood tests, and monitor her progress.

there is nothing wrong with being depressed or having anti-depressents. mental illness isn’t a spiritual illness. it means the brain is sick. that’s all.

Q: anxiety disorder?
does anyone suffer from some type of anxiety disorder? how do you deal with it?

A: It took me 8 years(!) after I identified my problem to change it. And it was a hard transition. I had been dealing with it since the age of 10, I realized it was depression and anxiety at the age of 14, I realized what to finally do about it at age 21. I’m almost 25 now, and I can say I’ve been comfortable with my life for only about 2 years. It depends on the person, really- how bad you want to change, and how much you beleive that you have the power to. Now you have to understand that the process I went through didn’t provide immediate freedom and results from my problems. It took time to accept what I had to do, and then more time to reprogram my brain into thinking this way, after living a life of anxiety and depression for so long. It is the answers that sound simple, but it is the process that you heve to be patient with. Just don’t give up! I don’t want anyone to take as long as I did to get over this. It is a horrible way to live. In the beginning, I started taking anti-depressants and anti- anxiety meds. But they majorly screwed with my head. One of them( I can’t remember the name- I took Paxil, Xanex, Celexa, and one other I can’t remember.) messed me up so much I had trouble walking in a straight line. I feared that my boss was going to give me a drug test-because I appeared drugged or drunk-one of the two. I got off the meds, and my problems were still there. That’s when I realized that these problems were in ME. Medicine couldn’t help me, only I could. Then I tried to turn to religion to find joy. I began to tell myself that this is just how God created me, and it was for some greater purpose.I tried to be happy with this-but it was only surface happiness. I was just accepting that depression and anxiety was just who I was, but deep down I still hated myself. It didn’t feel right. Why would God make me suffer this way?It wasn’t until I was 21 that I realized that I was this way because I was choosing to be.That was the hardest thing to overcome, because I didn’t want to blame myself. I wanted to blame my parents, God, the kids in school, anyone. If I was to blame, then I would have to be the one to make a change, and I was scared to. But overtime I did accept it. I was to blame. No one is making me this way but myself. Yeah- I was never good enough for my parents, yeah the kids in school made fun of me- but I didn’t have to let them control my life anymore. I wanted to be in control. I started moving toward the things that brought me joy. If it brought me joy- I accepted it. If it didn’t, I turned away from it. Slowly I began to find who I was again. I found the things I enjoyed doing again. I learned that I can’t please everyone, so I stopped trying to, and I learned to please myself again, and in the process I’ve made others very happy as well. The root cause of anxiety is really just nitpicking things to death, and overanalyzing things. I used to think that everytime someone was laughing, they were laughing at me. Or everytime I overheard the word “stupid” in a conversation, that they were talking about me. I walked with my head down constantly.I couldn’t function in social situations, even around relatives, I would freeze up, because I felt that everyone was judging me. I stayed holed up in my room all day. You need to rid yourself of the fear of worrying what others think about you. Then you need to work on finding your true self again. First of all, rid yourself of caring what others may think about you. This doesn’t matter. If you lose your friends, you will make more who are more like minded with you. If you are ridiculed, lets face it, there are always going to be people who disagree with your choices. Even if we changed ourself to please THEM, there would be others who disagree with THOSE choices. It’s a never ending battle trying to get everyone to agree with the way you are, because everyone is different, and it simply is not possible. Think about what makes YOU happy, not others. It is YOUR life, and you are the one who will be dealing with all the choices you make, not them. In the end, their opinions do not matter.So get rid of the fear of being ridiculed. If you fear failure, remember that you will always be a failure if you do not even make an attempt. It is better to give something your all, and be 2nd best, than to not try at all, and be left with nothing, not even the experience. In the end it is the experiences of it that you will remember, and be proud of. Next, after you rid yourself of your fears, you need to start to remember the true you. To do this, you simply pay attention to those little tugs you feel, and go with them. You may not know where it is leading you, but to ignore them, you will be missing out on a great number of opportunities and experiences. When you feel the tug, you are either being pulled toward something that will bring you ultimate joy, or you are being pulled away from something that will not bring you joy. Listen to yourself. Your true self already knows who it is. It is always trying to get us to remember. Its the outside influences that make us forget. Ignore the outside influences, and begin to listen to yourself. You will begin to discover a whole new side of you that you never knew existed. And you will be truly happy, because you will be truly yourself. I still have my off days. I cry sometimes- I still beleive in letting out your emotions rather than bottling them in, I get angry sometimes, but I always get snapped back into reality when I remember that I am in control- me and only me. I don’t have to do this. I don’t have to be this way. I can be happy. I don’t know if your experience is the same as mine, but from what I went through, I found that this is the only way to truly rid yourself of anxiety, and depression as well. Sorry so long, I just identify with you alot. Contact me any time if needed.Just remember that the power to do this is inside of you and you alone. Don’t depend on others. They can definitely support you, but ultimately, it is up to you. And definitely don’t depend on medication. It doesn’t fix the problem, it only hides it. Good luck!

Q: Anxiety Disorder?
My bestfriends boyfriend has an anxiety disorder, and they’re always fighting because he wants to be in control, but he never makes sense and he’s not very reasonable.

What is it exactly? How does it make you act?

A: he sounds more like a dick than someone with anxiety disorder. i have an anxiety disorder and i was always very suspicious of people doing things for me (making food, things like that), even those i trusted (like my mom), i would have panic attacks for no reason, and certain triggers would cause me to have panic attacks as well. i was very afraid of speaking out because i was afraid of retaliation. i didn’t trust myself to do a lot of things because i was afraid of having a panic attack and messing up or getting killed from it (driving for example, i never would have drove). i’m sure some people act very differently from me, but i’m sorry, he just sounds like an asshole.

Q: Anxiety disorder?
I think I have a anxiety disorder, and I’ve tried to tell my parents, they told me it’s just part of being someone my age, then they laughed at me. What can I do, to let them know that I’m serious, and that I want to be tested?

A: Find a test on-line. Answer the questions, score your answers, and show them where you fall between not anxious/normal/very anxious.

www.nami.org might have a test, or if not, they can tell you where to go.

TX Mom
Anxiety sufferer for 25 years.

Q: ANxiety Disorder?
so i have anxiety Disorder, and sometimes it hits me and sometimes i feel like i dont even have it since anxiety doesnt occur every second. so if anyone has anxiety disorder, what do u do to help urself to stop thinking about a certain situation…what did you find that helped yourself. thnx.

A: an anxious person can become anxious just by knowing they have anxiety. You cant help but wonder when it will happen next. What works for me (at least with the big ones) is to recognize my breathing. its a big warning. if you can reirect your brain/thoughts the second you realize your attacking…then with time and hard work the degree and frequency will lessen. first off, allow and accept urself to have anxiety. that nips the fear of “when;s next time” Encourage yourself all the way through, if you start panicking, sit down, redirect and take small steps to get through the situation. it will happen. i used to have them multiple times a day!

Q: How do anxiety disorders and personality disorders differ from an adjustment disorder?
In an anxiety disorder there can be an identifiable stressor – ex. social anxiety and social situations
Borderline personality – a stressor can be an abusive relationship. How do these things differ?

A: a personality disorder is when normal personality traits become so exaggerated that they become a hindrance to normal functioning. ie: it’s good to be able to lean on people and ask their advise at times but it is dysfunctional to ALWAYS have someone make all of your decisions for you… even what you eat for breakfast…. that become Dependent personality disorder…. normal trait to an unhealthy extreme. An anxiety disorder has symptoms that are triggerer by specific events but are not a part of the person’s personality….. An adjustment disorder is when you have an abnormal reaction to something that should be easy to adjust to. like going to college is easy for some.. more difficult for others… but a few people just cannot deal with the adjustment and become severely deperssed, anxious, etc… it is limited to a single situation and goes away if removed from that situation.

Q: What causes an anxiety disorder to develop, and how can I control it without the use of prescription drugs?
I’ve had an anxiety disorder for as long as I can remember. But it is gradually getting worse, to the point where the simplest things will cause me to have a panic attack. It’s taking over my life. Every therapist I’ve ever tried seeing has always just given me prescription after prescription. I want to know if any of you have this problem- if so, how do you deal with it? How do you calm yourself down? How do you cope with it?

A: Ive had an anxiety disorder for a while as well, and I deal with it without prescription drugs.

Basically, to deal with my panic attacks and general anxiety I will do one of 3 things.

1. If possible, I will take some time to sit alone and meditate, it really helps to clear your mind. I cannot suggest this technique more – it takes a while to get to the point where you can meditate easily, but it works better than any medication I’ve ever taken.

2. Write/Talk out my fears at that time. I will write down or say out loud what is causing my anxiety, and the more I read or say them, the stupider they seem.

3. Talk to someone about it. In the past I used to talk to my therapist about my issues, and it did really help, but now that I don’t have health insurance, I talk to my girlfriend about it, and it really helps me out.

I hope these techniques can help you, they really help me.

I really dislike prescriptions and medications in general, I believe they cause more problems than they fix.

Q: How do people with Social Anxiety Disorder function in college?
Because i’m planning on going to a good college (Cleveland State University) when i grad in a couple years from high school. And i have Social Anxiety Disorder and i would like to know how people with this disorder generally function in college.

A: Hi, I have social anxiety and am in first year college so i completely understand you. The first day i wasn’t nervous at all because everyone was new and alone there and i felt that since old high school people weren’t there, i wouldn’t have to worry because everyone seemed alone and awkward. Class is overall easy, because from my experience there isn’t a lot of pointing “ok, you. answer!” like in high school, basically whoever puts up your hand. I will admit it is hard to make friends, i have only made one friend in a year, but i feel that one is better than none
Just try to make conversation with whoever is beside you, just say “Hey, how do you think you did on the test? or Hey, can i borrow a pen?”(yes its hard, i couldn’t do it lol, maybe you can though?)
Just try to stay calm and relaxed,and take things slow, socially.
Good Luck!

Q: What’s the difference between anxiety and an anxiety disorder?
I know what anxiety is, I just don’t know when having anxiety becomes a disorder. Can anyone explain it to me?

A: Anxiety becomes a disorder when you start to worry and worry so much to where you just can’t stand it. Like you really can’t stop thinking about what you are worrying about! Mostly, shy people have problems with anxiety and it eventually becomes a disorder because shy people don’t like being in the spotlight and talking to people and they worry about that. I should know I have an anxiety disorder! I take medication so I don’t worry as much and so i don’t have mood swings. So anxiety disorders are a big deal and they are where you worry a lot and can’t really stop worrying about it, until it’s over! Most people who worry too much shake and get all nervous in front of people like something simple like giving a presentation, or like getting so nervous to where they can’t hardly think at times probably have a disorder. Like just the other day, I had to read my play in drama class and I was so nervous because the teacher was making everyone read theirs. My legs were shaking I was so nervous and afraid or rejection I could barely talk, but I tried…. Oh gosh. That’s what it’s like. It’s to where, everyday you try not to worry about little things, but you do.

Q: What is the best mediation for generalized anxiety disorder?
I have been taking zoloft and klonopin for anxiety for a while and I think it is no longer helping enough. I am thinking of switching to a different ssri and ativan (instead of klonopin). Any suggestions on what the best med is for generalized anxiety disorder. Thanks!

A: Try smoking pot. MUCH less dangerous than the drugs you are taking now.

Q: How does an anxiety disorder cause the adrenal glands to affect the body?
I have an anxiety disorder….it is GAD (generalized anxiety disorder) stemming from panic disorder. If I am constantly worrying that I have a brain tumor (I’m 14) and that I’m going to have a seizure at any given moment, how can my adrenal gland affect my body? People in the medical field or with experience only please….thank you!

A: Good grief why would you think you have a brain tumor? Have them scan your head and put your fears to rest. Your adrenal gland will give you the fight or flight response. You have had to have been startled or scared at some point in your life. that reaction – the fast heart rate, rapid breathing, eyes dilate, and the feeling that you can take on the world. All due to adrenaline from the adrenal gland.

Q: What is the difference between Neurosis and an Anxiety Disorder?
I have been going to therapy with my family doctor for what was prescribed as an anxiety disorder. I have never felt fully comfortable talking to her about it because I feel crazy. I know it is her job but I mean, I have known her forever. Anyways I am wondering if Neurosis and AD can be mixed up, and what is some key differences?

Thank you very much.

Yes this is a re-post, but I only got one answer.

A: Neurosis is a more old fashioned term that is no longer used in mainstream psychiatric dialogue (in the US anyway). It refers to a group of mental disorders in which general behavior is within societal norms, and there are no hallucinations or distortions of that type, but the patient experiences distress from a particular stimulus, or, in the case of generalized anxiety disorder, no stimulus at all. So “neurosis” is an umbrella term for a variety of nervous/stress disorders such as anxiety, OCD, hysteria, hypochondria etc.

If you are interested, Jung’s theory of neurosis is very interesting and can be found at the link below.

Q: What is the difference between Neurosis and an Anxiety disorder?
I have been going to therapy with my family doctor for what was prescribed as an anxiety disorder. I have never felt fully comfortable talking to her about it because I feel crazy. I know it is her job but I mean, I have known her forever. Anyways I am wondering if Neurosis and AD can be mixed up, and what is some key differences?

Thank you very much.

A: Neurosis can cover a lot of different disorders, for instance, compulsions, paranoia, phobias, delusions, psychosis, paralyzing fears, etc., etc. In other words, neurosis is much worse than anxiety. Anxiety is just being worried or uneasy or nervous about things that may or may not happen. I believe that there are different degrees of both neurosis and anxiety, anywhere from mild to severe. Maybe you should discuss with your therapist to put you on a mild tranqulizer like Xanax or Valium to keep the anxiety down.

Q: What is the difference between having anxiety, and having generalized anxiety disorder?
What is the difference between having anxiety, and having generalized anxiety disorder?

A: Everone has anxiety at on time or another. It crosses over to clinical GAD if you have anxiety for a long time and it inteferes with your daily life.

Q: What are the symptoms of anxiety disorder?
I think I have general anxiety disorder. if I do, what should I do about it?

A: Twerd, I think you should start with a doctor who specializes in anxiety disorders. Professional help may assist you, but realize it is you who is in control. If at all possible stay away from drugs, okay?

I would like for you to e-mail me. There is a good chance I can help you on your way.

Q: Can having anxiety disorder and bipolar cause irregular periods?
I have anxiety disorder and bipolar. I know there is some link between stress and irregulars periods but the drs won’t admit this. I am not sure why. It seems when I am having different phases my periods are different. When I am manic my periods are light; when I am depressed they are heavy. Is it my period causing this change of moods or is it my moods causing the change in my flows?

A: Yep, does that to mine, too. My gyno told me it was probably that. Sometimes I even miss periods when I am really stressed. It is both your moods causing the change, and you period can cause you to be moody.

Q: Bipolar disorder?
I’m writing a book. Anyone have any experience with living with a parent/loved one with bipolar disorder? I’m particularly interested in the mania stage of the disease. The mother in my book has it and rarely, if ever (I’m in planning stages) goes through the depressive stage. Mainly just mania. Any comments/anything I need to know?
I may describe the depressive side, but it isn’t actually required to have the disorder. I do know a little bit of what’s required for diagnosis, but I don’t know what it’s like to be around someone who has the disorder.

A: I dated a woman once who was bi-polar. Every time she went through a depressive stage I would hold her in my arms all night long and tell her everything was going to be ok. She would tell me about why she was sad and I would stay with her until it was over. One time I asked her what was wrong and she told me she didn’t like her toothbrush. That was when I realized that she would never be better, that I couldn’t take all her pain away, that I was helpless with her problems.

Later, I went into healthcare. At one point I got one of my MR residents diagnosed as bi-polar (they incorrectly thought he had obsessive compulsive disorder). When he was manic he would be easily distracted, in the middle of a conversation he would start cleaning his apartment because it was dirty. He would do this for hours at a time even if there were other more pressing things to do. When he finally had a depressive episode he would lie in bed and lack the energy to even get up. The medicine helped but left him feeling like he couldn’t experience emotions (it took the highs & lows away).

I remember a third person who was obsessed with germs, when she was in a manic state she would shower dozens of times a day. She would actually run her books and notebooks through the dishwasher to keep them germ free.

Manic Depressive behaviour often looks a lot like OCD, except in OCD people realize what they are doing is silly – they just don’t feel comfortable not doing it. With bipolar they don’t realize there is anything wrong with thier behaviour.

It can be very difficult to live with someone with Bipolar, and it requires a special kind of love.

Good luck with the book

NOTE: manic / depressive cycles are very long, usually weeks or months… shorter cycles (hours or days) are a different disorder.

Q: Bipolar Disorder?
I saw a web site for Bipolar disorder people to date,In other words, Bipolar disorder dating site.Is this a good idea,2 people with the same diorder.Would like feedback on this.

A: I have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder myself, and quite honestly, I think it is a horrible idea for two people with this disorder to date.

I want to be able to have a normal love life, not a relationship that focuses on Bipolar.

Q: bipolar disorder?
My 14 year old brother has bipolar disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, fetal alchol syndrome, and oppositional difiance disorder. He and i were severely abused by my biological mother for many years, and all of the non-genetic disorders are results of the abuse. My biological mother also had many mental disorders, including the bipolar, which she passed on to him. I managed to escape the situtation with only bad memories and bruises. Why does he have so many problems and i have none? I am not saying that i want any of them, just wondering how i managed to not get them.
We have since been adopted and our entire family is in therapy. The therapist says that i have moved past my issues and have “healed”, but because of my brother we are still in therapy.

A: The reason it passed you by is because the universe wants and needs you to be there for your brother. Coming from the background that you did I am so glad that you are both in counseling.

Q: BIPOLAR Disorder?
my husband has Bipolar and Add. I am having a hard time with him latley. He tells me all of our fights are my fault and if I would not be the way I am he would not blow off the handle? (example. yesterday I asked him to show me where the switch was on the ceiling fan and he got mad at me telling me that the blades are wear they should be and that I am an idiot. Because he knows what he is doing) I told him not to yell at me like that in front of my child ever again and he said it was all my fault that he acted that way. Is there something I am doing wrong. Or is this typical bipolar disorder stuff. We are seeing a marriage counsler and she told him if he thinks he needs it he should see his counsler again. Well he does not think he needs it and told me I was the problem not him. How can I save my marriage and keep him going to see his counsler. I do love him a lot. i just dont love the way he has been acting please help me understand!
He is on meds. He was seeking help and it was great then he stopped because the counsler said if he needs him call. Well he does not think he needs it because he knows how to deal with his disorder. But I really dont think he does!

A: My husband is bipolar and he takes depicoat,prozac and welbutrin.What meds is he on and how long has he been diagnosed?If he is on meds on many did they try before setteling with the ones hes on?My husband has a few mood swings here and there but i can always tell by the look on his face when hes in that mood and i just leave him alone.He also cycles 2x a year april and october this is a natural thing for bi polar.He also goes to counsiling 1x a month and your husband needs to go.Do you have any family of his around that can talk to him about it.Dont let this become your fault do not take the blame for his sickness.you need to buy some books and read up on it.It will help you understand better what he is going through.I do not baby my husband i tell him like it is.He can not use his bi-polar as an excuse for anything he does or says.Being mean to you is not exceptable and make it very clear to him what you expect.good luck i will find out from my husband when he gets home what books you should read.

Q: Bipolar DIsorder?
Can Untreated Depression or Major Depressive Disorder turn into Bipolar Disorder and/or psychosis?

A: its not the un-treating it makes it turn into bipolar but more that the manic side of bipolar was just lay dormant waiting for something to trigger it off.
take care good luck

Q: BIPOLAR DISORDER???????????????????
WAT GENES ARE AFFECTED BY BIPOLAR DISORDER?
WAT TYPE OF INHERITANCE IS IT?
WAT TYPE OF MUTATION IS IT?
NORMAL FUNCTIONING OF ALL AFFECTED GENES?

please help me out my teacher wont help me and Google or all encyclopedias don’t explain any of this. Do u know???

A: The reason you can’t get definitive answers, is that there are none. The current research does indicate the possibility of a genetic link, but that is not proven. The statistics shows that it does tend to run in families, but no specific gene has been linked to Bi-Polar disorder. It could be a genetic and environmental causes.

Sorry, but there are no definitive answers to your questions.

Q: BiPolar Disorder?
I’m a 12 year old girl. I think I have BiPolar Disorder.
Ever since i can remember i have had anger issues, occasionally ( like every 6 months) i get very frustrated, angry, or outraged and afterwards i have a complete melt down… Then after about and hour and thirty minutes I’m ok again! (Weird huh?) Well this week it has happened twice! And right now im on top of the world… Bipolar disorder seems to be the only answer…
Example:
Earlier today I was having tons of troubl with my algebra homework. I was cursing, out loud, tearing and stabbinng at my book, pulling my hair out, and plain just beating things ( even my own hand with a pencil…
So my sister offers me help soo i except it because i was SSOO confused. Well she helped but my behaviorgot even worse. So i get introuble with my dad.
Then of course had a melt down… then got better

How can i tell my parents i think i am bipolar and them take me to a doctor?

Do you think im bipolar?

What are the symptoms?

A: What you descried doesn’t seem to indicate bipolar disorder. I do think you should talk to your parents and explain to them that you feel like your behavior is out of your control and that you don’t want to behave this way and that you feel that you need help. Maybe you just need someone to talk to, pinpoint where your anger is coming from. Also they can teach you ways to deal with your anger without letting your emotions get the best of you. Just google bipolar and you can find the symptoms easily.

Q: What exactly is bipolar disorder and the symptoms?
I have read that it causes highs and lows. What exactly does that mean when you have highs and lows. Can someone give me a detailed and easy-to-understand explanation of bipolar disorder? Thanks in advance.

A: Bipolar is one of the types of mood disorder associated with brain. It causes unusual shifts in energy, mood and ability of a person. It is also referred to as maniac depression. It involves recurrent episodes of depression and mania, which recur across the lifespan. A person suffering from bipolar disease often experiences mood instability, depression and extreme mood swings. One time, they may feel very sad, worthless, helpless, despairing and hopeless and another time, they may feel like creative, hyperactive and on the top of the world. This disease is named as bipolar disorder because the mood of a person with bipolar disorder alternates between totally different extremities, such as extreme sadness and euphoric happiness. There are two types of bipolar disorder such as Bipolar I disorder and Bipolar II disorder. The first type involves episodes of severe mood swings, while the second type is a milder form. Cyclothymia is a mild bipolar disorder. Causes of Bipolar Disorder The exact cause of bipolar disorder is not known. However, various genetic, biochemical and environmental factors are supposed to be involved in triggering bipolar disorder. People with bipolar disorder have some physical and chemical changes in the brain. Neurotransmitters, naturally occurring brain chemicals, contribute in developing bipolar disorder. Hormonal imbalance is also responsible for this disorder. This disease may be due to a combination of multiple genetic and environmental factors. Symptoms of Bipolar Disorder Symptoms of bipolar disorder are characterized by alternate patterns of depression and mania. The symptoms may vary mild to severe from person to person. There are different symptoms of bipolar disorder in maniac phase and depressive phase. Manic Phase of Bipolar Disorder A person in the maniac phase may feel very energetic, creative and hyperactive. Some of the common signs of mania are increased activity and gestures, inflated self-esteem, poor temper control, poor judgment and pressured speech. The major symptoms of manic phase are:
Extreme optimism Agitation Euphoria Inflated self-esteem Rapid speech Aggressive behavior Racing thoughts Risky behavior Spending sprees Increased physical activity Increased sexual drive Increased drive to perform or achieve goals Decreased need for sleep Inability to concentrate Tendency to be easily distracted Drug abuse Depressive Phase in Bipolar Disorder Some people may experience more episodes of depressive phase than maniac phase. Some of the general signs of depression are excessive worry, sadness, crying spells and social withdrawal. Some major symptoms of depressive phase are as follows: Hopelessness Sadness Sleep problems Anxiety Irritability Guilt Appetite problems Fatigue Problems in concentration Loss of interest in daily activities Chronic pain due to unknown reason Symptoms of bipolar disorder are serious and can affect entire life of a person. Bipolar depression may result in damaged relationships, marital problems, poor performance in school or at job, and even suicide. Hence, it is very essential to seek an appropriate treatment immediately. Bipolar disorder can be diagnosed on the basis of signs and symptoms. Bipolar disorder treatment focuses on stabilizing mood swings and managing the symptoms. It can be treated with different medications such as lithium, carbamazepine, valproic acid, etc. Various therapies such as psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, family therapy and group therapy are found to be helpful the people with bipolar disorder. By Reshma Jirage Published: 11/13/2008  

Q: How can I treat bipolar disorder without telling my family?
So I’m 17 and, after examining the symptoms and a few long talks with my bipolar friend, I’m almost positive I have the disorder. I really feel like I need to get help, but can’t bring myself to talk to my family. Is there any way I can get treatment without letting them know?

A: If you are really worried about it, you should go to a psychiatrist to make things clear.

Q: What is Bipolar disorder? How is it different from depression/anxiety?
How is Bipolar Disorder different from social anxiety & depression. How do you tell the difference?? What are the different symptoms? How is it diagnosed? Is this disorder treated the same way as anxiety & depression?

A: Hi – Bipolar disorder is different from depression/anxiety in that our mood levels go from very low to very high. it’s called cycling and it can continue for long periods of time, or could disappear in no time and hen leving us change six or seven times in one day.

The low end is the hard part./ I get very depressed and just wantto sit and watch television and let everything else go. One can be completely housebound due to the depression of Bipolar, and then, suddently, in a day or two be out and about, all over town, making new friends, buying things they don’t need, interviewing for jobs they’d love to have, but could never fulflill. A few of us have ended up traveling across the country incognito, then suddenly appearing in the middle of an airport, stark naked.

Just remember, take the smalest dosage of the bipolar meds that you can get by with, learn to role with the ups and dows and find a good doctor. Also, sometimes, it’s difficult to work at a regular job, many of us work at home, or become involved in fine arts, like painting, music, writing, etc. Make the most of it, it could be a lot worse. just learn to undersand bipolar and then begin to anticipate what triggers certain moods.

I do want to add one more imoprtant item and that is the number of completed suicides in bipolar patients is rather high – that’s why it is so important to have a psych and a therapist – one to keep track of your meds and the other to keep aware of how things are going on an everyday level.

good luck,
welcome aboard
good luck,
kathy

Q: Can Bipolar Disorder or Depression be inherited from parents?
As much as I hate so say it, my girlfriend shows symptoms of bipolar disorder, or depression; I really can’t tell the two apart. Her mother has diagnosed bipolar disorder, and so does her grandmother. I was wondering if that kind of thing can be passed down genetically.

A: Yes it definitely can be passed down.

Q: Can bipolar disorder kill your desire to have sex with a woman?
I have had bipolar disorder for five years and now I’m seeing that I don’t have the push to have sex with women. I did for the past few years but over the past year, my drive is down. I am currently 24 years old.

A: the medication you are taking for the Bipolar disorder is probably causing the low sex drive and not the disorder itself

Q: Can bipolar disorder come back if a person is properly medicated?
I have had bipolar disorder since my late teens. I have been on lithium for a year and a half now. Tried a host of other drugs before that to no avail. But now I am stable and functioning well. Do you think it could come back if I stick with treatment?

A: For bipolar to “come back” it has to go away first. One big thing to dealling with bipolar is realizing and accepting that you have it, it has not gone away, and never will. Thinking in the mindset of it going away is why so many people end up going off their meds eventually, even when they are keeping them stable.

Is it possible for the mood swings to come back. Yes. Could be triggered by something. I know i have triggered a severe mania from stress, after having been stable. Also, your body can addapt to the meds and meds can become less effective. You have to continue to keep an eye on your moods, and spot when they start to get off again. SOmetimes changing dose is enough. Sometimes changing meds again is needed. Our body chemistry just changes over time….just how it is.

Q: How many symtoms of Schizophrenia can Bipolar disorder have?
I heard some people are often misdianoised as schizophrenics,but really have bipolar disorder

What are the symtoms that bipolar disorder can have that are schizophrenic?
Can bipolar`s hear voices?

A: So far everyone here is inaccurate. Schizophrenia is mostly composed of psychosis. Psychosis is a break from reality which can include hallucinations (hearing voices, seeing things that aren’t there), and delusions (believing things that aren’t real like that you are jesus or that people are the devil, etc). Bipolar disorder can include psychosis during either a severe manic or severe depressive episodes. Someone with Bipolar who is manic and psychotic will resemble a schizophrenic very closely….. if diagnosed schizophrenic during an episode it will usually be changed to Bipolar once the episode is over and the mood swings are more apparent.

Q: What’s the difference between schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type and bipolar disorder w/psychotic features?
What’s the difference between schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type and bipolar disorder w/psychotic features?
Diagnosing is hard :p
You guys are probably way better at it than me.
Everyone got their DSM-IV-TR out? Okay, what’ve you got?

A: With Bipolar Disorder delusions and hallucinations are possible ONLY when the person is either VERY deeply depressed or VERY Manic.. in other words at the very far extremes of the spectrum. With Schizoaffective disorder the person has the true mood swings of Bipolar but has hhallucinations or delusions at any time, not just when manic or depressed. It is thought to be a combination of Bipolar and Schizophrenia.

Q: Personality Disorders?
What are the most commonly seen personality disorders?
What kinds of therapy can someone get? Are there other ways of get help? Like medicines?

A: Personality disorders are fairly treatment-resistant. Docs treat the symptoms as best they can, but unlike Axis I affective disorders the Axis II personality disorders tend to be more pervasive (affecting more parts of the person’s life) and more persistent (depression is an episodic illness, personality disorders don’t go away).

Most of the personality disorders have an occurrence rate of 1 to 3% of the population.

Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) is notoriously underdiagnosed. It affects 3 or 4% of the population. Partly because it’s less recognized and partly because people with it don’t usually seek treatment, ASPD is infrequently diagnosed.

For all personality disorders, the most effective treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy. Such therapy helps the person recognize and counter maladaptive thoughts. Therapy in combination with medication usually yields the best results.

For some personality disorders (like ASPD), there really is no effective treatment.

Q: personality disorders?
what is the history of personality disorders? can u sum it up in one or 2 paragraphs and give me the source/ bibliography? thanx
the first answer is PATHETIC. THERE ARE personality disorders. GOOGLE it stupid. search it. I bet u im 10 times smarter AND im in middle school.

A: Personality disorders form a class of mental disorders that are characterized by long-lasting rigid patterns of thought and actions. Because of the inflexibility and pervasiveness of these patterns, they can cause serious problems and impairment of functioning for the persons who are afflicted with these disorders.

Personality disorders are seen by the American Psychiatric Association as an enduring pattern of inner experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the culture of the individual who exhibits it. These patterns are inflexible and pervasive across many situations. The onset of the pattern can be traced back at least to the beginning of adulthood. To be diagnosed as a personality disorder, a behavioral pattern must cause significant distress or impairment in personal, social, and/or occupational situations.

Personality disorders are noted on Axis II of the diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM, or DSM-IV-TR as it is currently in its fourth edition with a text revision). (Note: Mental Retardation is also noted on Axis II).

General diagnostic criteria for a personality disorder

To make a diagnosis of a personality disorder, these criteria must be satisfied in addition to the specific criteria listed under the individually named personality disorders.

A. Experience and behavior that deviates markedly from the expectations of the individual’s culture. This pattern is manifested in two (or more) of the following areas:

1. cognition (perception and interpretation of self, others and events)
2. affect (the range, intensity, lability, and appropriateness of emotional response)
3. interpersonal functioning
4. impulse control

B. The enduring pattern is inflexible and pervasive across a broad range of personal and social situations.

C. The enduring pattern leads to clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

D. The pattern is stable and of long duration and its onset can be traced back at least to adolescence or early adulthood.

E. The enduring pattern is not better accounted for as a manifestation or consequence of another mental disorder.

F. The enduring pattern is not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance or a general medical condition such as head injury.

People under 18 years old who fit the criteria of a personality disorder are usually not diagnosed with such a disorder, although they may be diagnosed with a related disorder. Antisocial personality disorder cannot be diagnosed at all in persons under 18.

The DSM-IV lists ten personality disorders, which are grouped into three clusters:

Cluster A (odd or eccentric disorders)

* Paranoid personality disorder
* Schizoid personality disorder
* Schizotypal personality disorder

Cluster B (dramatic, emotional, or erratic disorders)

* Antisocial personality disorder
* Borderline personality disorder
* Histrionic personality disorder
* Narcissistic personality disorder

Cluster C (anxious or fearful disorders)

* Avoidant personality disorder
* Dependent personality disorder (not the same as Dysthymia)
* Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (not the same as Obsessive-compulsive disorder)

Q: Personality disorders?
please give some personality disorders, maybe the mosht common ones…

[10 points for the best answer...]

A: Paranoid personality disorder -extreme long-term paranoia

Schizoid personality disorder -unusual lack of interest in social relations

Schizotypal personality disorder-social isolation, odd behavior and thinking, and often unconventional beliefs

Antisocial personality disorder- aggressive, decietful, complete disregard for others

Borderline personality disorder – emotional instability, disturbance in an individual’s sense of self

Histrionic personality disorder- extreme emotions and attention getting

Narcissistic personality disorder – extreme love of oneself

Avoidant personality disorder- avoids social contact for fear of being judged inadequate

Dependent personality disorder- extreme dependence on the approval of others for making day to day decisions

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder- rigid conformity to rules and procedures, perfectionism, excessive orderliness

Q: How would these personality disorders affect a project such as Collins submarine computerization ?
Cluster A
includes personality disorders marked by odd, eccentric behavior, including paranoid, schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders.

Cluster B
personality disorders are those defined by dramatic, emotional behavior, including histrionic, narcissistic, antisocial and borderline personality disorders.

Cluster C
personality disorders are characterized by anxious, fearful behavior and include obsessive-compulsive, avoidant and dependent personality disorders.

A: It is VERY unlikely. Why???

Because believe it or not… LOTS of people have these. The severity of each. Any extreme behavior can be detected, and normally, these would have NO effect on the computerization of a submarine.

Q: How many personality disorders can a person have?
I am just curious,l how many personality disorders can one person have? Can someone have borderline, narcissistic, and paranoid personality disorders at the same time? Or more even?
I know some of them have qualities that relate somewhat but if the person meets the criteria entirely for more than one of them do doctors diagnose them with multiple disorders?

thanks!
Sorry for the confusion.
I am not asking in regards to DID or MPD I’m talking about having more than one personality disorder, not more than one personality.

A: multiple personality disorder is not to be confused with schizophrenia. there are only around 5000 actual diagnosed cases.
with mpd, there is at least two distinctive personalities. there can be as many as are needed to cope with different situations. a lot of the time, one personality tries to dominate over the others and this ends in the person killing themselves.

Q: What are some personality disorders a blind person would have?
Say a blind girl’s parents home schooled her and didn’t really let her have a social life because they wanted to “protect” her. What kind of personality disorders might she have?

A: Personality disorders are rare and there’s no reason that a blind person would be more likely to have a personality disorder than a sighted person. A child that is isolated from other kids would not have developed the social skills and experience that is normal for her age level, and so as a result she’s probably insecure, naive, depressed, lonely… which are not personality disorders.

Q: what do all personality disorders have in common?
I have been studying personality disorders and I am wondering is there anything that all personalities have in common? Such as losing touch with reality? Can you give me some examples of disorders that prove this common ground?

A: well in personality disorders. all behaviors must be a long lasting rigid pattern of behavior to be a disorder

Q: What do you all think of personality disorders?
A lot of people think they may have personality disorders, But when it comes to doctors, they make a careful diagnosis. In actualality, people’s symptoms fit in to a bunch of different “labels” Do you agree that doctors may be over diagnosing people with personality disorders?

A: I have many years of experience as a therapist in the mental health field and can affirm the reluctance of insurance companies to authorize treatment for personality disorders. However, in most reports I see, the presence of a personality disorder is noted if the clinician believes it’s there.

I don’t see clinicians as prone to either under or over diagnose personality disorders, but I am sure there are some practice settings where that happens. Bottom line is that the DSM IV TR spells out the criteria for meeting the various personality disorder clusters, and you use those guidelines in making decisions. If the clinician is lazy and relies on instinct or impression to diagnose, rather than use the criteria, well, that’s just not being very thorough

Q: What are some suspected casual factors of personality disorders?
I have some characteristics for personality disorders, but I can’t find anything to do with the casual factors of personality disorders.

A: As always, the big three: genetics, environmental forces, biological dysfunctions.

Q: Why do personality disorders seem to fit everyone?
Researching personality disorders seems to be the same as reading the daily horoscopes, they all apply – for the most part – in general to everyone. Aside of course, from the extreme profiles that interrupt the ability to negotitate life in a manner that works within society.
Are we all psychologically challenged and in need of help or is it just that we all possess a wide variety of characteristics that blend differently in each of us making no two completely alike, and that’s okay?

A: Personality disorders are personality flaws taken to the extreme that affect every day functioning.
So, anyone can be self-centered but if you are self-centered to the point that you’re willing to hurt someone (emotionally, physically or otherwise) to get what you want and no one wants to be your friend because of this then you have a personality disorder.

Q: What is the relationship between the five factor model and personality disorders?
Does anyone know of a good website that covers the relationship between the five factor model of personality and personality disorders? Is there a book that covers this topic?

A: You can try www.apa.org/books, and www.half.com has a lot of used text books.

Google in your keywords, FIVE FACTOR MODEL PERSONALITY DISORDER (When you’re scanning thru info on websites etc., it helps to do ctrl-A then ctrl-F & punch in a keyword so you can quick get to the part you’re looking for on a certain web-page)

And here’s some psych. glossaries that might help:
http://canfield.etext.net/glossary.htm
http://www.hallowquest.com/glossaryai.htm

http://www.foundationcoalition.org/home/keycomponents/glossary.html

Q: What type of psychology is the personality disorders included in?
The whole personality disorders intrigue me and I just want to know is it clinical, social etc.

A: abnormal psychology.

Q: Do personality disorders in people translate to problems in the software ?
Isn’t it true you don’t really know what personality disorders people have ?

So do you need to accept any data “for information only” and make your own enquiries about the veracity of that data ?

I was meaning people with “narcissistic personality disorder” – nothing wrong with that but it can surface on a submarine project as “office powerpath” who ignores guidelines and ruins everything.

A: Probably although most people I know with diagnosed personality disorders do ‘out’ themselves within relationships as we are concerned about our behaviours and need help in relationship so that other can can take it into account.

Poor behaviour that is a choice doesn’t really count as a personality disorder.

I have multiple personality disorder which isn’t actually a personality disorder but is on the dissociative disorder scale – and it translates to having too many screens/windows up at one time and crashing often, when on overload. There are no viruses juts a frisky overloaded system.

I let other peopel know because it is thier choice whether to make a relationship with that chaos .

The relationships I have internal and external are clean and clear and more glitch free than anything I see going on outside.

I think people who are labeled for having mental health symptoms usually do an immense amount of work upon themselves which is not the case for those who think they have no problems

I think it is wise to accept everything as FYI only – I do – I never accept anyones self promotional blurbs without testing it out for myself.

Q: Are there any people who have these personality disorders?
I’ve searched site after site and haven’t been able to find examples of well-known people with anti-social personality disorder, depressant personality disorder, paranoid personality disorder, and dependent personality disorder. Are the any actors/actresses, athletes, historic people, wealthy business persons, etc, with one of these disorders? I need an example for each disorder. Thank you!

A: there are thousands of so called famous people with more problems than my dog has chased cat’s -
Churchill ,depression,alcohol dependent
Judy Garland ,depression,alcohol,drugs etc
O.J.Simpson,nutter
Jean Paul Getty,depression
Howard Hughes,paranoid,
Stalin,psychotic
Hitler,psychotic
and today’s celebrities,are ANY of them truly happy with ALL what they have,of course not,that is why 99% of them are into drink,drugs,eating disorder’s,sexual perversions,killing animals – if only you guy’s knew the truth….

Q: What would be a good thesis for a research paper about antisocial personality disorders?
So, I’ve finally found something I’m interested in writing my Psychology 100 research paper on. Antisocial Personality disorders. But that’s too broad of a topic. I need to narrow it down a little bit and find a main focus. Any ideas?

A: that people with them are a necessary part of any social dynamic. (“Role of pariah/outcast must be fulfilled…” “without an outsider to define where a self-identifying group ends…” etc.)

Q: bipolar……?
for about two and a half years now i’ve been getting really bad mood swings. at first i thought it was simply part of being a teenager, but now i find it hard to believe that.
eg:
i’ll be with my friends having a good time, then suddenly i’ll get really upset over literally nothing. i’ll feel like i need comfort, i can cry, i can feel hopeless, and that no one likes me, that i can’t do anything right, etc. then, i’ll be ecstatic for no reason, jumping, laughing non stop, skipping and not being able to hold still. then suddenly, everything will close in and i can’t have anyone near me, any noise made, anything happening, i HAVE to get away, i do anything to get away from people, and everything is too much. i have these sort of severe feelings and more, and the scariest bit is they appear in any order and unexpectedly. could i have bipolar, or similar? what should i do to find out? im scared of talking to mum, but what would happen if i went to a counsellor?
i just braved telling mum…
she reacted how i expected
told me i didn’t know how good i have things and that i’m being silly, everyone goes through it
she asked me if i ever wanted to kill myself, and i said no…
you don’t tell the truth when parents ask you that, you cant

A: Never be afraid to talk to your mom, I waited til i was 22 to get help and trust me, my life is in shambles, get help as soon as you can, and trust me talking to a therapist is awesome, and the meds arent half bad either.

-EDIT- Just saw your edit about telling mom, If she isnt supportive, either go about finding someone that is, or work on getting better yourself, sit down and try and talk to your mom tell her how you TRULEY feel, suicide and all, make her have a good cry and watch how fast she changes her mind, she sounds alot like my mom, She didnt believe me for a while either. Better yet…Have her read this post.

and for future reference, Parents: if your child comes to you looking for help. Give it to them no matter what it is, Do you want them to suffer?

Q: BipolaR………….?
im wondering what exactly bipolar is and what it does to you? i read some things on the enternet, but i cant really get it though my head very well and i want to know from peoples opinion as well.

i also think that i might be bipolar, or just depressed
no, no one really says anything. except for my brother, hes always saying that im depressed or something. and that i never smile unless he says something about someone that i like, which is true. usually i never smile unless that person comes up in the conversation
well sometimes i get REALLY mad, but then when something funny happens or something i start to laugh so hard. when that happened, my mom looked at me like something weird happened

A: bipolar = two poles
one being mania when you feel as happy as happy can be and full of so much energy you just don’t know what to do with it, you can’t keep still, you don’t stop taking, your thoughts are all over the place and people find it hard to keep up with you, you have no need for sleep or need very little and are not tired even when you just get a couple of hours.

depression is the opposite of all of that, you sleep to much, cry a lot more, feel worthless and empty, you like to lock yourself away from the world and just generally don’t see the point in doing anything.

take care good luck

Q: Bipolar???????????????????????
Hi,
I know all about Bipolar and i kind of fit into it but i’m not as bad.
That didn’t make sence SORRY!!!!
I just want to know if there is any disorder that is like Bipolar but not as bad as Bipolar?
Is there a mild Bipolar disorder?
Thanx a lot

A: Cyclothymia, hormones, blood sugar, thyroid issues…….. there are too many things that can seem like “mild bipolar”. If it is interfereing with yoru life then you need to see your family doctor to rule out anything physical and if he doesn’t find anything he can refer you to a psychologist……….

Q: Whats the difference between bipolar 1/2 and Severe bipolar depression with psychotic features?
I understand bipolar 1 and 2, but other than psychosis is there anything else that defines the diagnoses “Severe bipolar depression with psychotic features” from the diagnoses bipolar 1 or bipolar 2?
yeah, im diagnosed bipolar 1 with psychotic features. but also read up on this diagnoses of ssevere bipolar depression with psychotic features

A: http://www.cmellc.com/topics/bdfaq.html

Ok.. i did that wrong… http://www.manic-depression.net/bipolarI/

go here after you read the first part of bipolar 1, then keep clicking next article…

Bipolar I Disorder is not a complete diagnosis in and of itself. When someone is diagnosed with Bipolar I Disorder, the doctor uses what are called specifiers to give more information about the patient’s current condition. Specifiers describe the mood episode and severity of the illness that the patient is experiencing.

If the person most recently experienced a hypomanic episode, often no further specifiers are given. Hypomania is by definition, a mild manic episode with no psychotic features. Therefore, it would be redundant to specify the severity of the symptoms and the presence of psychotic features. This diagnosis can be further specified to give describe if the person is experiencing rapid cycling, if there is a seasonal pattern to their condition, or if there is an absence of symptoms between episodes.

The first specification tells what kind of episode is the person’s most recent episode. The diagnoses with episode specifiers used to describe the person’s most recent mood episode are:

* Bipolar I Disorder, Single Manic Episode
* Bipolar I Disorder, Most Recent Episode Hypomanic
* Bipolar I Disorder, Most Recent Episode Manic
* Bipolar I Disorder, Most Recent Episode Mixed
* Bipolar I Disorder, Most Recent Episode Depressed
* Bipolar I Disorder, Most Recent Episode Unspecified

If the diagnosis is “Bipolar I Disorder, Single Manic Episode,” that means that the person has experienced a manic episode, and they have never had any other manic or depressive episodes. For “Bipolar I Disorder, Most Recent Episode Unspecified,” the person meets the criteria for the symptoms of either a manic, mixed, hypomanic, or depressed episode with the exception of the duration of the symptoms.

If the person’s diagnosis is “Bipolar I Disorder, Single Manic Episode,” the doctor may further specify the patient’s condition according to whether or not the symptoms meet the criteria for a mixed episode. The doctor may specify if the manic episode began postpartum, meaning after the patient gave birth. The specifiers can also describe the severity of the symptoms and whether or not there are psychotic or catatonic features. The doctor can also use a diagnosis specifier to indicate if the patient is in partial remission or full remission.

With the other diagnoses, they are further specified by severity, presence of psychotic features, presence of catatonic features, whether the symptoms began postpartum, whether there is rapid cycling, if there is an absence of symptoms between episodes, or if there is a seasonal pattern. The diagnosis may also specify if the most recent episode meets the criteria for a mixed episode. These diagnoses can also be specified as being in partial remission or full remission.

Taking a look at all the possible specifiers can give you an idea of how varied each patient’s experience with Bipolar I Disorder can be. You need only compare two possible diagnoses to get an impression of how vast the continuum of bipolar disorder can be. Bipolar I Disorder, Most Recent Episode Depressed, Severe with Psychotic Features looks very different from Bipolar I Disorder, Single Manic Episode In Full Remission. Patients with those diagnoses both suffer from the same medical condition of bipolar disorder, but according to the specifiers, their symptoms and experiences with the disorder are extremely different. Without specifiers, the diagnosis of “Bipolar I Disorder” fails to convey the exact nature of the patient’s condition.

Bipolar II Disorder, the more common but by no means less severe type of the disorder is “characterized by one or more Major Depressive Episodes accompanied by one hypomanic episode.” This stipulation is used mainly to differentiate it from unipolar depression.

The key difference between Bipolar I and Bipolar II is that Bipolar II has hypomanic but not manic episodes. Also, while those with Bipolar I disorder may experience additional psychotic symptoms such as delusions and hallucinations, Bipolar II by definition cannot have psychotic features.

The indicators which would lead to a diagnosis of Bipolar II Disorder are:

* One or more Major Depressive Episodes
* At least one Hypomanic Episode
* There has never been a Manic or Mixed Episode
* Another disorder is not responsible for symptoms
* Symptoms cause distress or impair functioning

Symptoms and characteristics of depression include:

* Decreased energy
* Weight loss or gain
* Despair
* Irritability
* Uncontrollable crying

Symptoms and characteristics of hypomania include:

* Grandiosity
* Decreased need for sleep
* Pressured speech
* Racing thoughts
* Distractibility
* Tendency to engage in behavior that could have serious consequences, such as spend

Q: What are the symptoms of bipolar disorder?
I was wondering, what are like the symptoms of bipolar disorder? I know its like manic and major depression, or there’s another kind? called like bipolar ii or something? like, its hyper manic and just depression? Any details on these? Also, could someone be able to suspect that they are bipolar or have bipolar ii (if that’s what its called)? Thanks in advance. I’m not trying to diagnose anyone, I’m just wondering, of some of the symptoms and different types of bipolar.

A: There is bipolar 1, bipolar 2, cyclothemia, and bipolar NOS.

Cyclothemia is the most mild. It is characturized by hypomania (mania lite) and moderate depression. People with cyclothemia can generally function, but they may have somewhat unstable lives and may benefit greatly from therapy.

Bipolar 2 is the “swinging” bipolar. It goes from hypomania to severe depression. People with bipolar 2 do tend to go through remissions, and can function during hypomanic times generally, but may not be able to function during severely depressed times. They often wind up seeking help while depressed and getting misdiagnosed.

Bipolar 1 is the “raging” bipolar that goes from full-blown mania, severe depression, or mixed episodes. Mania may result in psychotic symptoms, and severe impairment in functioning. Mixed episodes are unique to bipolar 1. Basically, they are what they sound like. A mix of depressive and mani symptoms. The person may be hopeless, anxious, paranoid, but also aggressive, hyperactive, grandiose. Mixed epsiodes cause more suicide attempts than depression because they are so frightening and confusing.

And finally there is Bipolar NOS (Not Otherwise Specified) when the person has some form of bipolar, but the type is unknown, or doesn’t fit.

Within any type of bipolar, there is also varying speed of cycles. Typical bipolar episodes of (hypo)mania, depression, or mixed epsisodes last from 3-6 months typically. Rapid cycling is having 4 or more episodes per year. Utridian cycling is even fast than that, sometimes switching moods every couple days (that is the rarest type).

Depression you’re probably familiar with (the definition, anyway). Feeling lethargic, hopeless, isolates. In extreme cases it can cause suicidal thoughts or actions.

Mania makes you hyperactive, over-talkative, risk-taking, grandiose (where you may think, for example, that you’re going to be a rich movie star). It can cause paraoid thoughts, delusions, even hallucinations in very severe cases.

Hypomania is the milder version of that. The person is hyperactive, talks fast, spends lots of money, takes on more projects than they would otherwise… but it doesn’t USUALLY cause their functioning to break down. A lot of people become very creative during hypomanic episodes.

Mixed is the most unpleasant. Paranoia, anxiety, rage, insomnia, and hopelessness are common symptoms.

Q: Bipolar- Is it possible to restrict your mood swings to certain times or people?
So during depression, you might be a bit under par or unsociable at school or work, but when you get home you might be in absolute rages with your loved ones.
During mania, you would act silly and hilarious at home or school, and at home just stay up all night with racing creative thoughts.
Does this or can this happen if you have bipolar? I am really interested to know so please do reply : )
Does this happen when you have bipolar or would you act the same everywhere with everyone?

A: Usually you would act the same everywhere except that your family may take more of your anger (anger is more common during mania) that other people because you feel more comfortable around them. When I am depressed it is much more than just being “a bit under par”. I usually manage to get to work (but not always) but I have sat at my desk and cried for hours………..

People confuse mood with emotion….. mood affects everything about you. Your energy level, sleep patterns, appetite, emotional response (which emotions you feel and how strongly), your judgment, sexual appetite, etc……. Bipolar is not about being happy one minute then sad the next then mad, that is just having emotions….. The mood swings in Bipolar last a very long time, weeks to months to years and the average Bipolar only swings once or twice a year.

People never never understand the true severity of bipolar disorder. They also do not understand that for an “episode” to be considered Bipolar it has to last all day every day for a week……. That’s the minimum, in reality the episodes last for weeks or months or even years. There are cases where a person can have more than one or two episodes a year but it is really rare. There is such a thing as Ultradian cycling in which you cycle multiple times in a day but it is exceptionally rare and there are questiona about whether it is actually Bipolar but instead Borderline PD. Also you HAVE TO HAVE the mania (or hypomania) for it to be bipolar. Without mania it is just recurring depression.

The mood swings in Bipolar do not usually have a trigger. They come and go very randomly…… If someone with Bipolar is depressed or manic there is nothing you can do to bring them out of their mood short of medication…..

This is what Bipolar is like for me.

Depression- to tired to get out of bed, shower, brush your teeth….. lie in bed and stare at the ceiling for days at a time, crying a lot, feelings of guilt, and self loathing, may be suicidal but are too tired to even consider planning it, sleep 16 hours a day or more, eating too much or not enough. I get very paranoid and think that people are staring at me and laughing. I feel like people know what I’m thinking.

Manic – over the moon happy or filled with uncontrollable rage, hypersexual (like masturbating 10 times a day or sleeping with numerous men, strangers, your cousin…….decide you are bi because then there are twice as many people to have sex with, decide you are into BDSM and contract to be someones slave for a week), spending your mortgage money on african violets (or some other useless things), driving your car 120 mph, grandiose thoughts (like thinking you can put a new furnace in your house by yourself, or thinking that you can be the president), quitting your job because you are buying lottery tickets with your last paycheck and you know you will win…… only sleep 2 or 3 hours a night and feel completely rested, can’t concentrate, racing thoughts (it sounds like 50 people in your head all talking at the same time), talk really fast and loud because your mouth can’t keep up with our mind. Drug or alcohol abuse is common.

Again, this has to last for a minimum of a week to be considered a bipolar episode. Everyone with Bipolar is a little different and at the severe end it includes hallucinations and delusions.

Q: what is bipolar 2 exactly and what is the difference between bipolar 1 and 2?
I have been diagnosed with bipolar and whenever people find that out, they ask me if i have bipolar 1 or 2. i don’t know what the difference is so i don’t know how to answer… please help.

A: This is what it is like to have a true manic episode – hypomania is similar but not nearly so extreme. Hypomania can be very pleasant as it just feels like you are happier, more alert, have more energy, are more sexual….. just not this extreme.

If you have had an episond like this you are bipolar 1, if not you are bipolar 2.

* FEELING EXTREMELY HAPPY OR IRITABLE* Like you just won the lottery or like your boss just cut your pay in half so he could give his daughter a raise but the feelings go on and on for weeks or months.

*INFLATED SELF ESTEEM* Believe that everyone loves you, everyone knows how smart, funny, pretty, sexy, you are. Think you are so good you can do anything.

* REDUCED NEED FOR SLEEP* 2 to 3 hours of sleep a night for weeks or months and you are never tired.

* TALK FASTER AND MORE THAN USUAL* Ramble on and on but the talk may be disjointed because thoughts are going by so fast you can’t get them out fast enough. It’s called pressured speech.

* BE MORE ACTIVE THAN USUAL* Needing to run 10 miles a day when you never used to even jog. Taking up 5 new hobbies.

* RACING THOUGHTS* Can be seen as confusion. It’s very confusing because your thought go by so fast and you have no control over them it’s like having 10 people all shouting at you at the same time.

* BE EASILY DISTRACTED BY SIGHTS AND SOUNDS* Ohhhh bright and shiny things. Because you have ceased to even try to listen to your own thoughts.

* ACT IMPULSIVELY, DO RECKLESS THINGS, REDUCED INHIBITION, SPENDING SPREES* Spending the mortgage money on furniture, buying 25 books about penguins because wouldn’t it be cute if they could be a colony,* DRIVE RECKLESSLY* 120 mph down back roads with the radio blaring and not really paying attention to the road because of all the bright shiny things, *GET INTO FOOLISH BUSINESS VENTURES* cashing out your 401k to invest in a worm farm or going deep into debt so you can gamble because you know you will win, *HAVE FREQUENT, INDISCRIMINATE, OR UNSAFE SEX* like sex with strangers (without a condom) or with your sisters husband or your husbands sister. Suddenly decide you are gay because the opportunity for twice as much sex is there…… Oh my I didn’t know I was into BDSM before… tie me up and flog me baby.

I am Bipolar 1 and these are all things I have one while manic and that’s just a few of them.

Q: What are the symptoms for bipolar depression?
I am afraid my loved one is suffering from a bipolar disorder. He has recently moved out from home, dropped out of school and is heading south with his life… Could it be bipolar depression? How can I help him if he doesn’t want to be helped?

A: My boyfriend suffers from bipolar disorder and it is a very complex disease. I recommend surfing the net as there is a lot of information to take it. I know when my boyfriend has had episodes he becomes very manic says stuff that even still I can’t believe he has said to me, very hurtful things. It is very hard to explain it all but look around the net for information. It is very important that they have someone supportive by their side…but it can be tough so be strong! My boyfriend also goes through the worst times when the seasons are changing (winter to spring and summer to fall).

Q: What is the difference between bipolar/manic and psychotic?
I have a daughter who is severly bipolar. One of my friends has referred to her as psychotic. Is psychosis part of the makeup of being bipolar?

A: Some people with bi-polar disorder experience psychosis, some more than others. Then there are some that are diagnosed like I am and theirs is actually called Bi-Polar Manic Depression with psychotic features. It seems to be that I have a tednency to be more violent in either state (manic or depressed) than most other bi-polar people. Of course medication helps, but it never completely goes away. But since I can be very violent and since I am almost all the time, then I am also consider to be psychotic. What has happened to make people think your daughter is psychotic? Sometimes too, people just make assumptions about others with a mental illness. This can be because they are ingorant to the cause and symptoms of the disorder, or because they just flat out refuse to learn anything about it. Being mentally ill brings about a whole new form of stigmata with the so called “normal” people in the world. My question to the world would be what is “normal,” and who gets to decide what “normal” is? I would say that if you daughter hasn’t been diagnosed as psychotic by her doctor, she isn’t, although she still may go through periods of psychosis, and there is a difference between the two.

Q: Whats the difference between being bipolar and being mad?
sometimes i get angry, does that mean i have bipolar?
how do i find out if i am bipolar?

A: No, if you are angry you do not have bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is when a person has sudden urges to get up and kill themselves. They hear strange noises in their mind, but can’t help it. A person might want to jump off a bridge and kill themselves. Bipolar has nothing to do with being mad. You are born with bipolar disorder.

Q: What are the signs that a bipolar child might need hospitalization?
My son is bipolar and the school has recomended that I put him into an inpatient psychiatric program at a hospital for an evaluation and med change. I am wondering what is the criteria for hospitalizing a child with bipolar because he is not suicidal although he does do some unsafe behaviors and is aggressive with adults, peers, and animals. He rages and is not stable on his meds.

A: There are 3 different ways a child can be hospitalized. One way is involuntary (by involuntary i mean involuntary to you, not him.) this is a 72 hour hold that when a child is a danger to himself or others. This is the way most people are familiar with. When the child is being admitted this way the hospital has to take him regardless of insurance.

The other way is simply calling up the childs psychiatrist, explaining that the childs out of control behaviours and the schools reccomendations,and the psichiatrist can then call and find an open bed at the psych hospital and arrange for the child to be admitted. When a child is admitted this way the hospital will talk to you about insurance and payment options.

The 3rd way is for you to call the psych hospital yoourself and speak to admissions. Ask them if they have any male pediatric beds available, if they do they will ask you insurance info to see if his stay would be covered. If they determine it wouldn’t be covered they will talk to you about payment options. If insurance works out and bed is available you have only to drive him there and admit him.

I have done all 3 of these durring my sons bipolar treatment. The first time was the 72 hour hold that happened at school, and it turned into a 10 day stay. The second time I did it the 3rd way I described and he stayed a week. The 3rd time he was admitted I had his psychiatrist arrange for a bed because I couldn’t find one available. All the hospitals were full.

Good luck and God bless

Q: Can someone with bipolar become a pilot?
I am currently diagnosed as being bipolar and wanted to know if i could ever become a professional pilot, or just a pilot in general. Thanks.
Yeah you’re all a bunch of morons. I’ve spoken to a flight surgeon and i can qualify….

A: Unfortunately, you are medically disqualified
Code of Federal Regulations
Title 14: Aeronautics and Space
PART 67—MEDICAL STANDARDS AND CERTIFICATION

§ 67.107
Mental standards for a third-class airman medical certificate are:
(a) No established medical history or clinical diagnosis of any of the following:
(3) A bipolar disorder.

Mental standards for a second-class airman medical certificate are:

(a) No established medical history or clinical diagnosis of any of the following:
(3) A bipolar disorder.

Mental standards for a first-class airman medical certificate are:

(a) No established medical history or clinical diagnosis of any of the following:
(3) A bipolar disorder.

EDIT:
Just because you dont like the answer is no reason to address the folks that took the time to answer your question a moron! I suggest that you are the moron with that kind of attitude! Or is that your “condition” causing you to be that way.
I tell you what, you email me a scanned copy of you medical certificate along with the FAA Form 8500-8 where you admitted to having a bi-polar condition, and I will pay for your
medical exam and your first 10 hours of training!!

Q: How can you tell if your bipolar without asking your doctor?
I need to know how to tell if im bipolar on my own. We don’t have the money to go to the doctor or the hospital so I need to know how to tell or of any websites that tell the symptoms of bipolar disease. So please let me know.

A: People who have bipolar disorder often go for long periods of time feeling higher (happier) in mood than people around them. However, one of the hallmarks of mental disorder is not being able to see it in yourself, so how much good it will do to point out the main characteristics of bipolar if you are trying to diagnose yourself is questionable.

some other things not uncommon for people with manic-depression to do:
• not sleep much
• go on spending sprees with money they can’t afford to spend.
• talk faster than everyone
• sometimes thing people are trying to bring them down
• at least one episode of depression
• seemingly boundless reserves of energy without feeling the need to eat or sleep much.

Q: What happens if bipolar disorder goes untreated for a long time?
Can bipolar disorder form into a more serious mental illness? Also does anyone know why it seems that all the mental disorders involve chemical imbalances, like the dopamine hypothesis, and serotonin and all that. Psychologists always say its Genetics, though it really seems environmental factors play the biggest role. I honestly think that almost all personality, mood, and psychotic disorders are not cause by genetics, but the way people were raised and the kind of life they lead.

A: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/bipolar_disorder/page2_em.htm

If left untreated people can cycle and their moods will escalate and then depression sets in. Genetics are involved, but I also believe enviroment plays a huge role. Good luck!!

Q: How can someone get drugs for bipolar disorder for free or at a reduced cost?
A friend of mine is unable to pay for a psychiatrist to prescribe drugs for her bipolar disorder. She has been clinically diagnosed and her bipolar disorder is seriously affecting her quality of life and she is unable to function normally. She is having suicidal thoughts and she really needs help. Are there any gov’t agencies that can help her?

A: If you are in America there are usually psychiatric emergency departments at a hospital. They will either give you samples, or a prescription to be filled at that hospital for low cost. It’s usually a long wait to be seen, and the hospitals are usually teaching hospitals – but she will be seen and hopefully helped.

Also, check out local agencies in your area, such as clinics, case management, and behavioral services.