Does BiPolar get worse with age?

[cowgirlnerd]

I have seemed to get worse through the years, even though, I was just diagnosed (20 years as depression before now at BP1), it does seem that the episodes got worse and worse through the years.

As my father got older, he seemed to get worse, and worse (he wasn't diagnosed or medicated), and I just wonder what it's going to be like as I get older.  What does my family and friends have to "look forward to"?

I know we can get "stable", but does it continue to get worse?  Also, I have a history of dimentia in my family - I wonder if it's linked?

Thoughts???

[snookie1975]

love your post, i have bipolar II disoder and i agree the meds are side effect hell for sure,

[beginner577]

I have just started to believe i am bipolar and it is because my moods have gotten so much worse. I'm 35 and until 4mo ago never connected my moods to bipolar. I'll admit I'm scared to death of being bipolar. Even scarier is if I'm not. I don't understand my rage and can't control myself at all sometime. I have lows beyond anything remotely normal. I have just started my process, call mental health today, waiting for a reply. I have know idea what to expect, I just know I can't be normal.    

[ILADVOCATE]

   It would be worthwhile to see what effects you in the workplace and see if you can set up a reasonable accommodation that could help you be able to cope with it.

[AlexandraMichelle24]

I'm 21 years old and I was diagnosed BP at 19. I am ADD as well. I struggled in school with serious concentration issues. When I hit preteen years i knew something was wrong. I found myself to be constantly up and down to the point to where i was ALWAYS emotionally exhausted. I constantly found myself drawing conclusions with people, taking things things wrong, randomly becoming enraged by the smallest things and I was never able to sleep bc my mind would run at night. I'm still not sure whe I have episodes. Everyday of my life since around 12 I have felt an exteme high of explosive happiness and be extemely hyper then crash and wind down really fast and want to cry. This happens at least 4 times a day. I hide it well. I was always scared of what people thought of me so I tried to behave to get accepted. I'm only 21 and mentally and physically im 17. I started working at 19 bc i was nervous about struggling to hold a job bc of my emotional problems. I've read all these comments an i can relate in some sort of way. I'm nervous about the future bc i feel like I'm not gonna be able to support myself :( any advice?

[Kimmyt41]

I Am glad to hear a positive response and perspective about this.  My mom was diagnosed bipolar at onset, then unipolar.  She took so many meds and her worst episodes occurred in her late thirties, forties and fifties. I believe God spared her in a sad way by giving her cancer.  She passed at the age of fifty seven.  Strangely, she was more herself and rational during chemo and as the cancer spread.  My fears were always that I would also get sick, but I suffered severe depression at age 35 and since, I have been on antidepressants that seem to work.  Unfortunately, my 16 year old daughter did get the gene.  When I was 37, my husband was in an accident, almost died, and became permanently paralyzed.  This traumatic event coupled with genetics set the stage for our then 13 year old.  She has struggled without meds for two years, and at age 15 we started her on meds after she attempted suicide.  It has been triple turbulence in our home before and since.  She has gained over fifty pounds, lost all self confidence and worth, took on a bf with lots of co dependent issues, drug abuse, and, she has rages once a month for weeks at a time that usually end with calling the police or taking her to the er if we can take the beating long enought to get her there.  

[maelostar1]

I totally understand you! I am 28 years old and a US war veteran. I began noticing my symptoms towards the end of my first deployment at age 21 but because I had deployed, I was diagnosed with PTSD because of combat. I noticed the constant mood swing. I woke up one day and wanted a divorce, I became more and more impulsive, very irritable, detached, I couldnt sleep. I was a mess. I racked up debt, lost my apartment, my cars, the savings and pretty much ended alone. I had access to good doctors through the VA system but I felt bad and useless as a young man. I couldn't keep a job and the only reason I didn't commit suicide was because they taught me at church that if I did, I would burn in hell for ever and that scared me more than my pain. Coping with my symptoms has not been easy. Im currently married and I see the effects in my wife and our marriage, in the life of my step kids and in my own. I have very productive moments when my mind is functioning at high levels and its hard for me to sleep with all the racing thoughts and my depression gets worse and worse. I could be driving and happy like a dog and someone could cut me off and I can go into rage. I know all this sounds bad, but its not that bad. I learned that one of the first steps is to realize that we do have a condition just like if it were cancer, a broken bone or something visible. I learn to recognize my mood and find things that calm me down like music or my pet chocolate lab. Pills and more pills are not the only treatment, they go hand and hand with our lives. I find ways to keep my mind busy but in a productive way like taking classes, interacting as much as I can even if I dont feel like it and it irritates me because I realize that it is a battle of the mind. Everyday for me is a battle and sometimes I get discouraged because I just turned 28 and I think about the future a lot even more when I feel like my condition worsens. But I know I must continue everyday like when I was deployed in Iraq. MIND OVER MATTER!!! Find ways to fight even if people don't understand you, even when you want to give up,keep fighting. I joined a military community help group of people with mental health conditions and in someways it has help. Find people that are like you and are productive and they will be an inspiration. I just want to tell to simply not to give up. Stay blessed