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Billy from Six Feet Under and bipolar disorder
hi, does anyone know if that was a pretty accurate depiction of someone with bipolar?????? cause i always thought i was bipolar until i started watching that show and then i was like um no way i'm bipolar! lol
Brilliant explanations from the 2 previous posters.. go see the doc or a different one if you can. My experiences started 12 years ago and it had the most disgusting impact on my children, I didn't want them. I have been diagnosed bipolar but never been told if its 1 or 2, I think prob bp2 but my pdoc just says its a spectrum disorder, like autism so I suppose anything goes lol.. I describe myself as multi polar lol... recently I have had mainly mixed episodes, someone told me that makes me bp1 but not sure. Originally they thought it was schizophrenia, so these people do get things wrong. You could try writing it all done and just passing it to the doc, I do this when I can't talk. Don't leave it too late or you may do something you regret, that will lead to years of guilt, good luck.
Hey there, maybe i can help and not sound like a Dr. (They confuse me to much, plus i am a blond!Ha,Ha) Bi-polar is a mood disorder:
In the depressive phase,you feel sad and hopeless. Things you used to enjoy don't seem fun anymore. You may feel anxious or guilty. And you might sleep to much-or to little. People with major depression (also called unipolar depression) only experience the lows.
The manic(or up) phase is very different. The mood during a manic phase is often described as energetic, active, or irritable. Symptoms of mania are , in many ways, the opposite of clinical depression. At first, you may never want it to end.
You could have lots of energy and not need much sleep. Maybe you take big risks or go on big shopping sprees. You might become very talkative. You might plan overly complicated projects and set unrealistic goals. Or you might feel unusually irritable and have racing, "crowded" thoughts.
Going through a manic phase at some point in your life is what distinguishes bipolar disorder from major depression. This is the cross over point.
With bipolar there are also Hypomania which is a less severe version of mania.(More talkative,more energy,unusually friendly (even to strangers).
There is also a mixed phase(depressive and manic symptoms at the same time for a period of a week or longer). While in a mixed phase you may feel depressed, tired, and hopeless while also experiencing irritability, a decreased need for sleep, and difficulty focusing.
Then there is bipolar I and bipolar II. Even this part hurts me to think about!Ha Ha. If you want to know more let me know.
In the depressive phase,you feel sad and hopeless. Things you used to enjoy don't seem fun anymore. You may feel anxious or guilty. And you might sleep to much-or to little. People with major depression (also called unipolar depression) only experience the lows.
The manic(or up) phase is very different. The mood during a manic phase is often described as energetic, active, or irritable. Symptoms of mania are , in many ways, the opposite of clinical depression. At first, you may never want it to end.
You could have lots of energy and not need much sleep. Maybe you take big risks or go on big shopping sprees. You might become very talkative. You might plan overly complicated projects and set unrealistic goals. Or you might feel unusually irritable and have racing, "crowded" thoughts.
Going through a manic phase at some point in your life is what distinguishes bipolar disorder from major depression. This is the cross over point.
With bipolar there are also Hypomania which is a less severe version of mania.(More talkative,more energy,unusually friendly (even to strangers).
There is also a mixed phase(depressive and manic symptoms at the same time for a period of a week or longer). While in a mixed phase you may feel depressed, tired, and hopeless while also experiencing irritability, a decreased need for sleep, and difficulty focusing.
Then there is bipolar I and bipolar II. Even this part hurts me to think about!Ha Ha. If you want to know more let me know.
k thanx! my GP is an ***, and never takes me seriously. thanks i'll try the fish oil thing.
i went to a psych on campus one time and they left me in the waiting room for about 10 minutes and the whole time sittin there i was like yeah, i dont belong here this is so stupid and so i walked out before i had the appointment. lol
thanx so much!
i went to a psych on campus one time and they left me in the waiting room for about 10 minutes and the whole time sittin there i was like yeah, i dont belong here this is so stupid and so i walked out before i had the appointment. lol
thanx so much!
I can understand your reluctance to go and see a psychiatrist. I only went when I could see no other way out. If I had to do it over again I wouldn't have waited so long. I may have been able to keep a good job I had. I remember sitting in the office thinking to myself. "Yep you really are this crasy" and feeling horribly ashamed. Its the stigma talking. Going to a pdoc should be no more intimidating than seeing a neurologist.
You may want to talk to your GP about it. There are medications that can really help. Whatever you do though don't take an antidepressant without a mood stabilizer as you can end up going manic. That is why it is important to tell your GP about how you are likely bipolar.
If you don't take it 1000mg of EPA fish oil a day I find helpful. I would take more but the pills are big! I notice a big difference when I don't take it. I also take a high dose B vitamin. I don't notice as much of a difference on that one though as the fish pills. I also take two multivitamins a day and notice a difference when I am out of those.
You may want to talk to your GP about it. There are medications that can really help. Whatever you do though don't take an antidepressant without a mood stabilizer as you can end up going manic. That is why it is important to tell your GP about how you are likely bipolar.
If you don't take it 1000mg of EPA fish oil a day I find helpful. I would take more but the pills are big! I notice a big difference when I don't take it. I also take a high dose B vitamin. I don't notice as much of a difference on that one though as the fish pills. I also take two multivitamins a day and notice a difference when I am out of those.
k thanks!!! i sound like type 2 but there is no way u'll ever get me to see a psychiatrist lol
thanx again for the answer
thanx again for the answer
If you think you may be bipolar the best advice I can give you is to talk to a psychiatrist. I haven't the show but if experience tells me anything is that the character is likely quite an exaggeration of what the illness looks like.
The book Kay Jameson An Unquiet Mind is a more accurate portrayl of bipolar 1. To be bipolar 1 your need to have a manic episode. Many manic episodes will land you in the hospital from what I understand. Your behaviour is so erratic that that the person becomes a danger to themselves or others. But it is a Euphoric state so the person doesn't want it to end. One person I knew was utterly convinced he was a world leader and that his visit with George Bush would bring about world peace. He kept leaving the hospital without a coat (and it is minus a million here in the winter time) and trying to get ready for meeting George W.
The other type is type 2. This is the type I have. You don't get as severe highs. You may be hyper or irritable, your thoughts may race, you may be physically agitated, you may find it hard to concentrate because the world is going too slow for you. You may feel an unexplained sense of joy. You sleep less but still have energy. The milder form of this is quite pleasant. You get an increase in goal directed behaviour, your mind is sharp, you appear 'normal' so you don't get into any trouble, and you can excell at work, and you become more social.
The depression is brutal for both kinds. Low energy, aches and pains, suicidal thoughts or thoughts of death. These have to last at least two weeks but most people I know have them last months. You are in agony but have no motivation to help yourself. It is hell. It scares me just to talk about it because for me the hurt was so deep it is beyond words to try and describe. I stand looking into the abyss and there is nothing there but pain and I want to do anything to make it end. Thankfully I have never dove into the abyss. I haven't tried to committ suicide. I had the plan all ready but couldn't figure out a way to do it so my husband wouldn't find my dead body. If I could have burned like a phoenix I wouldn't be here now.
For a small subset, usually people who have taken an antidepressant without a mood stabilizer they begin to rapid cycle. This is where you will get 4 or more of these episodes within a year. For a few very unlucky people they ultridian cycle which means moving from one state to another within days or even hours. This is a very hard type of bipolar to treat.
If you want the clinical descriptions google DSM bipolar and the clinical desciption is the first line that comes up.
This is just based on what I have seen from myself and people I know. Bipolar looks different for everyone. When you look up the clinical description you will see the list is 4 of the following, or 6 of the following characteristics. You don't have to have them all to be bipolar, but some of them that are severe enough to affect daily functioning.
If you think you may be bipolar it is worth going to a pychiatrist to check it out. It is possible if you are not bipolar there may be something else going on.
Tanya
The book Kay Jameson An Unquiet Mind is a more accurate portrayl of bipolar 1. To be bipolar 1 your need to have a manic episode. Many manic episodes will land you in the hospital from what I understand. Your behaviour is so erratic that that the person becomes a danger to themselves or others. But it is a Euphoric state so the person doesn't want it to end. One person I knew was utterly convinced he was a world leader and that his visit with George Bush would bring about world peace. He kept leaving the hospital without a coat (and it is minus a million here in the winter time) and trying to get ready for meeting George W.
The other type is type 2. This is the type I have. You don't get as severe highs. You may be hyper or irritable, your thoughts may race, you may be physically agitated, you may find it hard to concentrate because the world is going too slow for you. You may feel an unexplained sense of joy. You sleep less but still have energy. The milder form of this is quite pleasant. You get an increase in goal directed behaviour, your mind is sharp, you appear 'normal' so you don't get into any trouble, and you can excell at work, and you become more social.
The depression is brutal for both kinds. Low energy, aches and pains, suicidal thoughts or thoughts of death. These have to last at least two weeks but most people I know have them last months. You are in agony but have no motivation to help yourself. It is hell. It scares me just to talk about it because for me the hurt was so deep it is beyond words to try and describe. I stand looking into the abyss and there is nothing there but pain and I want to do anything to make it end. Thankfully I have never dove into the abyss. I haven't tried to committ suicide. I had the plan all ready but couldn't figure out a way to do it so my husband wouldn't find my dead body. If I could have burned like a phoenix I wouldn't be here now.
For a small subset, usually people who have taken an antidepressant without a mood stabilizer they begin to rapid cycle. This is where you will get 4 or more of these episodes within a year. For a few very unlucky people they ultridian cycle which means moving from one state to another within days or even hours. This is a very hard type of bipolar to treat.
If you want the clinical descriptions google DSM bipolar and the clinical desciption is the first line that comes up.
This is just based on what I have seen from myself and people I know. Bipolar looks different for everyone. When you look up the clinical description you will see the list is 4 of the following, or 6 of the following characteristics. You don't have to have them all to be bipolar, but some of them that are severe enough to affect daily functioning.
If you think you may be bipolar it is worth going to a pychiatrist to check it out. It is possible if you are not bipolar there may be something else going on.
Tanya
Nah it's not a "ghost" community, there are a lot of people who post here all the time. Sometimes it just takes a while to get your question answered.
Also I haven't watched TV in like 9 years. :p
Also I haven't watched TV in like 9 years. :p
cool name and pic too! anyway i just wanted to say wow i cant believe you never heard of that show! its so good it was on HBO a few years ago but now its on youtube. its soooo good believe me
k thanx 4 answering my question! is this community a ghost community or something?
k thanx 4 answering my question! is this community a ghost community or something?
I don't know, I've never even heard of that but bipolar disorder can manifest in a multitude of different ways.
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