Pretender
02-07-2004, 03:26 AM
I really do not understand this disorder but it seems very prevailant in our time. My sister seems to have a split personality and went off all anti-depressants cold-turkey a few years ago. She's been more moody and depressed and very angry her whole life! Could she have this or something else? What can I do but pray for her!
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wobbly
02-07-2004, 10:45 AM
Hi Pretender,
Please be aware that only a psychiatrist can determine whether you sister has bipolar. Having said that, the basic symptoms are periods of pathologically high and then pathologically low moods, usually lasting for weeks or months, often with periods of normal moods in between. Pathological means that it interferes with the person's functioning.
That's the abbreviated version. If you really want an in-depth view, there are some great books out there that you should be able to find in your local bookstore. Again, only a psychiatrist can really determine what's going on with your sister.
Please be aware that only a psychiatrist can determine whether you sister has bipolar. Having said that, the basic symptoms are periods of pathologically high and then pathologically low moods, usually lasting for weeks or months, often with periods of normal moods in between. Pathological means that it interferes with the person's functioning.
That's the abbreviated version. If you really want an in-depth view, there are some great books out there that you should be able to find in your local bookstore. Again, only a psychiatrist can really determine what's going on with your sister.
rabiesjoy
02-09-2004, 02:44 AM
I agree with Wobbly (mostly). reason I say mostly is that I've had some bad experiences with a few pdocs out there. they treat us like guinea pigs basically because meds work differently on different patients and have different side effects on different people. it's pretty hard.
Read up on Kay Redfield Jamison's books. she's a bipolar psychiatrist. probably one of the best sources. patty duke wrote a great book as well on bipolar. you need to learn and identify her symptoms. we bipolars have a hard time knowing when a "phase" (up or down) is coming on.
is she ever hypersexual, overly-creative, extremely irritable? these are some of the manic signs.
depression ranges from fatigue and boredom to suicidal thoughts and behavior.
it's pretty much heaven and hell and everything in between.
we're normally like "normal" people most of the time when properly medicated. it took me a long time to get on the right meds.
i would also check into her nutrition/diet as well as exercise habits. this makes a big difference in our lives.
hope that helps... :)
Read up on Kay Redfield Jamison's books. she's a bipolar psychiatrist. probably one of the best sources. patty duke wrote a great book as well on bipolar. you need to learn and identify her symptoms. we bipolars have a hard time knowing when a "phase" (up or down) is coming on.
is she ever hypersexual, overly-creative, extremely irritable? these are some of the manic signs.
depression ranges from fatigue and boredom to suicidal thoughts and behavior.
it's pretty much heaven and hell and everything in between.
we're normally like "normal" people most of the time when properly medicated. it took me a long time to get on the right meds.
i would also check into her nutrition/diet as well as exercise habits. this makes a big difference in our lives.
hope that helps... :)