cjk07
02-05-2007, 06:15 PM
O.K. Hopefully someone can help me out. I'm really wondering where the line is drawn between normal mood swings, ect. and the extremes considered bipolar. Let me use myself as the example...
I like to shop and spend money. And, yes, it does cause a problem from time to time: like a few checks being returned. I am somewhat moody. Most days I am happy with my life, family, ect. But, I also have days where I feel life's really not all that great. Feel blah and laze around the house. Not that I don't want to get out of bed or anything, just not real motivated. Other days I get up and start my day. Run my errands, and clean the house. My kids irritate me more on some days than others. I go to bed at ten and get up at five. Everyone always wants to know why I get up so early since I stay home with kids. I suffer from ocd. And, always analyze my moods, thoughts, and actions. Always worry and wonder about bipolar. I don't understand what the extremes are. Doesn't everyone get mood swings? Have good and bad days? Spend beyond their means?? I don't want anyone to think I'm trying to make bipolar seem less or more than what it is. I'm just very curious???
Thank you
I like to shop and spend money. And, yes, it does cause a problem from time to time: like a few checks being returned. I am somewhat moody. Most days I am happy with my life, family, ect. But, I also have days where I feel life's really not all that great. Feel blah and laze around the house. Not that I don't want to get out of bed or anything, just not real motivated. Other days I get up and start my day. Run my errands, and clean the house. My kids irritate me more on some days than others. I go to bed at ten and get up at five. Everyone always wants to know why I get up so early since I stay home with kids. I suffer from ocd. And, always analyze my moods, thoughts, and actions. Always worry and wonder about bipolar. I don't understand what the extremes are. Doesn't everyone get mood swings? Have good and bad days? Spend beyond their means?? I don't want anyone to think I'm trying to make bipolar seem less or more than what it is. I'm just very curious???
Thank you
Sponsor
Llama
02-05-2007, 06:52 PM
cjk07, I'll try to give you more insight by discussing what bp does to me.
Yes, everyone has good and bad days. Feels good or bad from time to time. But that is all normal and those feelings are gotten over within a few days usually. Bp symptoms are different. The bad times (depressions) are severe. It means (I'm speaking for myself here) not getting out of bed for days, feeling suicidal, self-harm, crying over any little thing, feeling very slowed down, not being able to think clearly, hating yourself, isolating yourself from the people in your life, losing a job/failing school, feeling down and hating everything, not enjoying anything at all anymore, having zero motivation, etc.
So you can see the difference between a normal bad day for someone and an actual episode of depression. The damaging effects that it has on someone's life are much more severe. And it lasts for a lot longer too. (even up to a year with varying degrees!) And bp depression is not something that a person can just get over on their own (as is a normal bad mood). It requires medication and therapy to get over. It's very serious.
Ok, and sure other times people have normal "up" days where they feel great! Maybe something really good just happened to them and they are joyous! But mania is different. It lasts for at least a week (usually longer in my case anyways) and also has very bad consequences. Usually I start out feeling so great and everything is great and I love everything! I don't sleep, lose weight (all that extra energy is great for the gym!), have all these great ideas, start a million projects, spend money like there's no tomorrow, am way more confident, etc. But then it can easily get out of hand. Your mind is racing and going too fast (it's not fun anymore!), people start telling you to slow down, you aliente people with your behavior, you party too much and sleep around, you do risky and impulsive things (like driving drunk and other impulsive bad decisions), you get very irritable and ruin relationships (you yell at people and start fights just because you feel that rage and it wont go away no matter what. And it makes no sense it just comes out of nowhere).
You can also lose your job or fail school. Everything distracts you and you can't concentrate on anything. People tell you that you should be on ritalin (this has happened to me more than once. now I kind of think that that was funny, but it is a serious problem and people do notice your strange behavior. I'm not trying to make light of it).
Mania gets you in trouble as much as depression can. I'm not sure which is worse to be honest. Both have severe consequences. Sure the normal "high" mania feels great, but that usually turns into irritability/rage after a while and that is just as bad as any severe depression that I've experienced. Plus the extreme restlessness with the mania can be unbearable. You just feel like you are about to explode.
Sorry this got to be so long but I really wanted to give you a picture of what bp can look and feel like. I hope that helps some.
Yes, everyone has good and bad days. Feels good or bad from time to time. But that is all normal and those feelings are gotten over within a few days usually. Bp symptoms are different. The bad times (depressions) are severe. It means (I'm speaking for myself here) not getting out of bed for days, feeling suicidal, self-harm, crying over any little thing, feeling very slowed down, not being able to think clearly, hating yourself, isolating yourself from the people in your life, losing a job/failing school, feeling down and hating everything, not enjoying anything at all anymore, having zero motivation, etc.
So you can see the difference between a normal bad day for someone and an actual episode of depression. The damaging effects that it has on someone's life are much more severe. And it lasts for a lot longer too. (even up to a year with varying degrees!) And bp depression is not something that a person can just get over on their own (as is a normal bad mood). It requires medication and therapy to get over. It's very serious.
Ok, and sure other times people have normal "up" days where they feel great! Maybe something really good just happened to them and they are joyous! But mania is different. It lasts for at least a week (usually longer in my case anyways) and also has very bad consequences. Usually I start out feeling so great and everything is great and I love everything! I don't sleep, lose weight (all that extra energy is great for the gym!), have all these great ideas, start a million projects, spend money like there's no tomorrow, am way more confident, etc. But then it can easily get out of hand. Your mind is racing and going too fast (it's not fun anymore!), people start telling you to slow down, you aliente people with your behavior, you party too much and sleep around, you do risky and impulsive things (like driving drunk and other impulsive bad decisions), you get very irritable and ruin relationships (you yell at people and start fights just because you feel that rage and it wont go away no matter what. And it makes no sense it just comes out of nowhere).
You can also lose your job or fail school. Everything distracts you and you can't concentrate on anything. People tell you that you should be on ritalin (this has happened to me more than once. now I kind of think that that was funny, but it is a serious problem and people do notice your strange behavior. I'm not trying to make light of it).
Mania gets you in trouble as much as depression can. I'm not sure which is worse to be honest. Both have severe consequences. Sure the normal "high" mania feels great, but that usually turns into irritability/rage after a while and that is just as bad as any severe depression that I've experienced. Plus the extreme restlessness with the mania can be unbearable. You just feel like you are about to explode.
Sorry this got to be so long but I really wanted to give you a picture of what bp can look and feel like. I hope that helps some.
Used&Abused
02-05-2007, 11:24 PM
Llama,
Very good ! I applaud you for giving such real life detailed account of what this disorder deals out to the BP. Much of what you said I've watched my wife do time and time again. I only wish she could see it like you because her life and my children's would be in a much better place. I really think if they came out with a cure tomorrow my wife would still refuse as she continues to be in complete full blown denial.
Your right - even us non-BP's have the normal up's and down's. It takes a true sense of personal responsibilty from the BP to see the behaviors and feelings are not normal and need serious attention. It also takes the same level of responsibility for people around them to confront the obvious and not enable over and over again. Nothing will change if everyone around just puts a blind eye.
My therapist told me one day that a functional family is like a baby mobile, constantly moving with everyone changing roles helping each other. Emotional health and responsibilty remains the focus. The dysfunctional family is still like a baby mobile but is basically frozen in time. No one says anything, nothing moves, no one confronts anyone and most of all it feeds off irresponsibilty and denial. I was in the latter and have thawed out to see the true light once and for all. I can move again and it feels good.
I commend you for having the insight to see how it affects you and it should give cjk07 a true picture of the differences.
God Bless...........U&A
Very good ! I applaud you for giving such real life detailed account of what this disorder deals out to the BP. Much of what you said I've watched my wife do time and time again. I only wish she could see it like you because her life and my children's would be in a much better place. I really think if they came out with a cure tomorrow my wife would still refuse as she continues to be in complete full blown denial.
Your right - even us non-BP's have the normal up's and down's. It takes a true sense of personal responsibilty from the BP to see the behaviors and feelings are not normal and need serious attention. It also takes the same level of responsibility for people around them to confront the obvious and not enable over and over again. Nothing will change if everyone around just puts a blind eye.
My therapist told me one day that a functional family is like a baby mobile, constantly moving with everyone changing roles helping each other. Emotional health and responsibilty remains the focus. The dysfunctional family is still like a baby mobile but is basically frozen in time. No one says anything, nothing moves, no one confronts anyone and most of all it feeds off irresponsibilty and denial. I was in the latter and have thawed out to see the true light once and for all. I can move again and it feels good.
I commend you for having the insight to see how it affects you and it should give cjk07 a true picture of the differences.
God Bless...........U&A