Re: Please Help

Posted By Dan on August 14, 1999 at 20:10:59
Hi - I was hoping someone might have an idea on any relationship between sleep deprivation/anxiety and the symptoms of bipolar disorder.  Basically my question is that if someone has exhibited the symptoms of bipolar disorder as well as paranoia(but the occurrence is the first of its kind, and comes during a period of physical illness, sleep deprivation, and increased stress) if it is indicative of a likely bipolar condition or may be a result of the circumstances.
If anyone has any idea, please let me know.  Thank you in advance.

[AnaC]

Posted By AnnaC on August 14, 1999 at 20:32:03
Yes,  My son is bipolar,  When he started with this, it was due to anxiety, a seperation from his wife that led to a divorce.  He came home and of course he was upset.  He could not sleep, just sort would set and think and at first talked about it over and over because he was so hurt, couldn't get it off his mind.  Did not sleep for about 3 days except for short periods.  I thought it was just because he was so tired, but he did start talking in a manner that I knew was not right.  He became frightened and paranoid.  I did get him to go , and I went with him to the hospital emergency room, for I knew and I think he did too, that he needed help that I could not give him.  He was so tired.  These are some of the symthems.  It could be something else, I encourage you to see a professional as soon as possible, as this is a treatable illness, and the sooner you get help, the better.  Please post again and let us see what you have to say.

[Dan__0]

Posted By Dan on August 15, 1999 at 12:13:48
thanks for the reply anna - actually what i'm asking may be slightly different:
my question is more whether sleep deprivation combined with prolonged physical illness (in this case bronchitis) coupled with stress can produce symptoms similar to bipolar disorder without the situation being an actual bipolar disorder condition.  i completely agree the situation needs to be handled professionally - and it is at the moment - but this is more a question that i just wanted to sort through separately.
thanks again

[Some-Thoughts]

Posted By Some Thoughts on August 17, 1999 at 09:29:18
Well, that's a tough one. Every individual is different and responds to physical problems and stress differently. People with Borderline personality D/O, for example, can have psychotic episodes under stress. Do you think you are experiencing the mania or depressive part of what is mimicking or appears to be mimicking Bipolar d/o (the mania and depression cylce, and some people are rapid cyclers...but you don't see them simulantaneously). Sleep deprivation can make people irritable and depressed...it can also make people jittery and punchy which is NOT mania. Sleep deprivation could contribute to some mild paranoia, but it's unlikely that it would result in outright paranoid delusions. Anxiety can also make people feel quite paranoid, particularly about their own health.  It would seem unlikely that what you describe would cause you to be manic. It is difficult to get a sense of the severity of your symptomatology right now. Is it extreme, moderate, mild? Anxiety can cause a lot of odd ball symptoms as can stress....A trip to the MD to be sure never hurts.

[Beth__0__0]

Posted By Beth on August 17, 1999 at 19:55:04
I thought my now 71/2 year old son was bi-polar. He suffered minigitis at four months and various illnesses after. I was divorced when he was 4. At 51/2, he was diagnosed as ODD and put on Clonidine. Mostly, it made him sleep. After a year of decent sleep and new medications, I no longer believe he is bi-polar, but suffered from some sort of after effects of illness, divorce, a kind of post truama disorder. We are still working through bouts of agression, but he no longer shows signs of depression. Good Luck. I hope this helps.










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