Could I have Bipolar

[beanersaurusrexx]

I had to do a report on a mental disorder in my Anatomy class and I ended up with Bipolar Disorder. And I've got to thinking lately, I have several signs of it.  Severe mood swings that happen in minutes. I'm super hyper happy doing dangerous things one moment then seconds later I'm down really depressed and thinking about cutting again. And it's only gotten worse since I just had a baby 3 weeks ago. I think I have it because my dad has it and my maternal grandfather is also diagnosed with it. So am I just imagining it or do I really have it?

[jimgreg]

that was a neat  way to put it..

[btsmith]

Howdy,
     This is how I usually describe being bipolar to people that aren't.
     The brain in a bipolar person is like a nuclear reactor, one thought triggers another thought simiilar to a chain reaction.  If this brain/reactor isn't controled it will have a meltdown.  That is where the medications come in or reactor rods for the power plant.  The more the rods are shoved in, the quieter the reactor becomes which is similar to say lithium, the more you take the more subdued the person will become.  In both instances nothing is done too fast as it takes awhile to see the results.  Once a desired level is obtained they both need to be monitored to keep that level stable as they will try to creep out or completely shut down, both are undesireable results. The power plant is an atomic reaction and the brain is a chemical reaction.
   This maybe an oversimplification but I don't think a non bipolar brain can understand a bipolar brain.

btsmith