Didn't you say once

That you were bipolar? If so I have some questions for you.

Yes, what are your questions?

When were you diagnosed? What meds are you on? When was your last episode?

Originally Posted by hiro

When were you diagnosed? What meds are you on? When was your last episode?

age 12

none anymore, self-medicated

1 year ago

Is that it?


Why the questions?

I had more questions but I can't seem to remember them...

The doctors recently thought I might be bipolar.... I had a hypomanic episode when I was 17, and I guess with such a negative assocation attached to the disease I kind of.... I don't know, had questions for someone who has it.

You are my age... and I just wanted to hear it from your perspective. My grandpa had it and he was a nut and I just can't imagine being like him. I am on medication and in therapy and just I don't know.... anything. I had no real idea that anything was wrong with me but then bam I was thrown into all this shit but what do doctors really know? Not much.

I seem to be feeling better, but medication can only stablize for a while, it can't prevent an episode from actually happening.

I just can see myself being bipolar, evening saying or speaking about it seems wierd.

Well there are different types of bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depression) and every person experiences it differently.


I've been told that i'm a mostly stable and productive person, but i have close family members with the disorder who are not so lucky.

What i would recommend is that you do a whole lot of research.

And don't be afraid to get a second or third opinion, bipolar disorder can be difficult to diagnose. Generally if have experienced aat least 1-3 manic or hypomanic episodes then it's safe to say you have a form of bipolar disorder.

be very wary of what drugs they try to put you on, research each one extensively and pay close attention to how affects you.

Lithium can work wonders but tears the shit out of your liver and although it's effective fighting mania it might push into a deep depression, anti-deppresants should ALL BE APPROACHED WITH CAUTION. the most commonly known anti-depressants will make you manic. Almost everytime.

Because bipolar is a very individualized disorder be prepared to be a prescription lab rat for a while until you find a combination of support, meds, and therapy that work for you.

If you are not certain if what you are experiencing actually is bipolar then it would be good to look up the terms: mania and depression.

You could be depressed without being bipolar, but if you are experiencing manic episodes it's much more likely that you are bipolar.

I'm always available for help or questions.

I am on topamax right now. It seems to be helping... I think... but what do I know?

I have two hypomanic episodes. One very severe. The more recent wasn't too bad. Anti depressants caused me to be manic.

I am generally not a depressed person...

I don't want to do alot of research because mentally I don't want to be swayed... if that makes sense. I am trying not to think about it to much, but it was a thought that has crossed my mind a few times since this has happened twice now. I have had two opinions on the matter.

Do you feel that with such a negative assocation you are embarassed to have something that will be with you for life? Now that your kids have a genetic dispostion, does that make you nervous?

Originally Posted by hiro

Do you feel that with such a negative assocation you are embarassed to have something that will be with you for life? Now that your kids have a genetic dispostion, does that make you nervous?

Sure there is a negative association, but when have i ever cared what other people think about me?

And my kids do have a greater chance of being bipolar, but there is not a hell of a lot that i can do about it other than to keep my eyes out for symptoms they might exhibit and be there for them as support.

I am highly productive and pretty insightful and frankly I don't feel... "crazy" but yeah.