who has bipolar here?

[nefarious3d]

well, i am just wondering because i have had bipolar disorder i guess since birth, but it really kicked in when i was 10. i was just wondering how many people had the disease, and how they deal/dealt with it over the years..
age, gender, and life stories are always welcome.

im 17, male, and ive been moving all my life. ive always been stressed, and moving to where i live now has really torn me apart. i started getting really bad bipolar (borderline schizophrenia) when we first moved to this house, and my parents and dad basically denied it. so i was alone for the first 2 and a half years until they started to believe me. and then i got help, which didnt really.. help...?

[Zephyr]

Steph is the name,
17 is the age,
I am female.

We have a family history of mental illness,
Though I'm the first Bipolar.
Depression runs on my mom's side,
Schizophrenia an severe depression on my dad's.
I was diagnosed at age 14 after one of my friends noticed bizzare behavior patterns that I exhibited, and suggested that I see a doctor.


How I Deal: I just take one day at time and try to find the positives in everything. If I'm having problems coping, I either go into full meltdown mode so that it will pass or I'll talk to my best friend Sarah.

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

I'm Jessi, 16 years old.

I have an extensive family history of depression, and a history of bipolar disorder as well. I was diagnosed with bipolar2 at 14, after my sister's death sent me spiraling and I went into therapy.

I deal by seeing a therapist (these days I see her once a month), and taking medication. Being bipolar2, I get the depression end of the cycle pretty bad, but the manic end not so much and for short periods of time (hypomania). I'm on Effexor to treat the depression, but all anti-depressants have a tendency to cause me to go manic, so I'm on lithium (lithobid) to keep that stable. My parents keep an eye on me, letting me know if they notice that I'm acting weird, and I do my best to avoid activities that trigger my symptoms. I do my best to go to bed at a decent hour and not sleep all day (my shrink keeps telling me that shifting my sleep pattern isn't good and I'm not allowed to be nocturnal), and my parents have more-or-less forbidden me from sleepovers because staying up all night tends to trigger my mania, which they don't like to deal with. I talk to my friends and my parents when I'm really having trouble coping, but for the most part I'm stable these days, as long as I take my meds and get some sleep.

[nefarious3d]

I forgot to say that I am on 1800 mg of lithium-carbonate, 1200 mg of neurotin, 20 mg of abilify, 20 mg of lexapro, and 300 mg of zantac daily.. sucks. lol medicine is bad for your body but good for your mind.

[Zephyr]

Wow.
All I take is 100mg of Seroquel.

Lithium is bad news though.
In the long run it can do potential brain damage,
I took it for over a year and it messed with my short term memory,
Which I still have problems with.

[Ryandel]

I'm not sure yet if I do because if mine is just hormones or really mild Bipolar. If I did though, I would be considered as having Mild Bipolar II

[Mr. Smithers]

I have it but I don't see how. I was diagnosed with it when I was 15. Somehow my doctor still believes that I have it.

[LoneWanderer]

I do but im not taking any meds for them, should i be worried, but then again i havent had any thaughts for a while

[checker]

I have type two rapid cycling bi-polar, it's a bloody nasty thing to have. I'm not taking any drugs for it atm either. Kinda wishing that I would actually get the courage up to go to my doctor and ask for some drugs for it, but I just feel it's like accepting defeat to it. I'm really in two minds as to what to do.

[Waltz_Ryah]

i'm extremely bi-polar. to the point it affects all the relationships i have with everyone, including family. i'm not violent, i'm extremely passive, which i was told was a bad thing. i take out my frustrations on myself.

i hate being bi-polar.

my friend trina described it as: your own personal vietnam.

[DaretoFallup]

It runs in my biological mothers family but i dont have it so far, severe depression also runs in her family which i DO have though.

[whiterose]

Hi, I'm 16, and not diagnosed, but I have strong fears that I'm bipolar II rapid cycling.
I think the only thing standing in the way of a diagnosis, is me just asking for help.

Anyway, I've "heard" that a cousin on my mom's side is bipolar, and that would make sense in his case. Two instances that I would consider episodes was when he first came to the state I live in, he was like 16 or 17 (and I was much younger) and he decided he was going to find his bio dad, so he took off, and ended up in a hospital screaming and stuff, and my mom went to the hospital, and apparently he looked at her and cowered from her, etc etc. The way he just left, and took a plane to like an hour away from us, I'd say that was manic, and then he came to live with us, and he would go on and on about how he was a man, and we weren't treating him like one, so christmas rolled around and we gave him the type of presents my dad got, and he apparently broke down about how no one loves him. . .

So, with me, I first REALLY realized things where off when I was 13. I was having depressive episodes, and a few hypomanias, but as is typical, I thought the hypos where the normal me. At 14 I realized something was terribly wrong, and then I realized it might be bipolar. Now, I know its bipolar, I'm just too...stupid, or scared, or w/e to say something.

[snakeman]

Well i "do" haha it is a label that really covers a hole host of things.

[snakeman]

i'm extremely bi-polar. to the point it affects all the relationships i have with everyone, including family. i'm not violent, i'm extremely passive, which i was told was a bad thing. i take out my frustrations on myself.

i hate being bi-polar.

my friend trina described it as: your own personal vietnam.

I was violent wen i was little.

[Shadowangel442]

Hi my name is tiffany I am 17 and I have bipolar and depression two years ago my mom diecided to get me check cause I was having wicked mood swings and its turn out that I have bipolar and depression so I started seeing a therapist but I wasn't comfortable with her so I stop going to her then my mom told me to go to another therapist that helped her with her postpatum depression after she had my little brother and she was awsome I really liked her and she really helped me cope with alot of stuff I am on zoloft 200mg I think

[nachtspiegel]

Diagnosed with Bi-Polar disorder and PTSD at the age of 12.
Sometimes, I think that I am misdiagnosed as being Bi-Polar, although I do rapid cycle.

[Vermillion]

Well I've never been diagnosed of it, however I can turthfully say I definitely have the symptons of it: Insomnia, and them bitch ass mood-swings from really "high" (So to speak), then to a slow, sad state.
It's so weird, like I'd be at school behaving like I'm high off my ass, then I'd get home and get all emo and shizz =[

I r teh weirdness @[email protected]

[EmmaEpileptic]

i'm emma, 16 diagnosed with bipolar aged 11..... i was really bad institutionalised for two years been on sodium valprate 1,500mg a day for 3 years.....

basically i i got so bad everyone was concerned one minute i'ld be laughing next i'ld feel really depressed other times i'm ok for a long time then it just comes....

it was scary for me being so young my problems started at aged 10 really just had a load of therapy and institutionalised because i was so bad...

[AllyKat675]

I have Bi-polar disorder and i know that 4 a fact becuase my dib shit mom sent me to a mental hospital for a week =[[[

[Jonathan M.]

13 jonathan and havent really had it checked but my mom's pretty positive bout it i guess it started at bout 9 mayb b4 then
ppl notice it too

1 minute im da class clown the next....well im really sad as crap from gettin in trouble 4 bein the class clown

Oh and it all comes from my mom's side and my parents don't believe in givin children drugs

PS im not gonna commit suicide its never gone that far no wer near it.

[Jonathan M.]

I have Bi-polar disorder and i know that 4 a fact becuase my dib shit mom sent me to a mental hospital for a week =[[[

WTF thats screwed up man!thats just wrong!

[apryl]

apryls the name
gonna be 16 in bout 3 months.
probably am bipolar but havent actually been diagnosed yet....

[TheNamesDrew]

I think i do..........

not much more to say

[iamafterhours]

Loz. 19. I'm a girl.. Er. Rapid Cycling

Life is a rollercoaster ;)

[LiGHT]

Wow Bumped :o
Reported. And I am 13 and my name is Paul and sometimes I have bi-polar symptoms, i go from being happy to extremely annoyed and mad without warning.

[iamafterhours]

What's bumped?

[Zosomac]

Max, 17...
i was diagnosed this year, after a year of psychotherapy and 2 weeks as an in-patient.
i was on seroquel for some months, but i stopped because i dont like to think that i am bipolar.
in all honesty, im in risk of developing psychosis, so i should be still seeing doctors, and on seroquel. But i find myself so far up north, where none of that is realisticaly accessable.
Life indeed is like an emotional rollercoaster ride, but i wouldnt say that its hard to deal with. Its just the cherry on top of the LifeCake.

[PyroByron]

i am since age of 14

[AjaKS101]

im new on this forum and to start it off im gonna say i do hav bipolar. there are times where im just really hyper randomly and times when i just want to step infront of a truck or something. i also think i have periods of mixed bipolar because im hyper but feel like crap.

[Alan1996]

I am Bipolar... i am 13

I was on Seroquel, 400mg for like a year... one day I just decided to quit taking it... i didnt tell any1 and I just quit taking it... for the first few days I couldnt sleep and I got really cold but I was sweating really bad... after a few more days I would pass out pretty often and had the shakes, my thoughts were rACING... everything i looked at seemed large yet far away, sounds were loud really fast and echoey... when I would fall asleep it only lasted a few minutes and then I would wake up and freak out thinking people were trying to kill me... after a few more days I was convinced that not only were people trying to kill me but that I was also dying... finally a family my mother caught me talking to some1 that wasnt even there... I ended up in the hospital in a pych ward... once they relised I had not been taking my seroquel they gave me some and I fell asleep for like 20 hours...

[hatman]

bipolar.
sodium valproate.

got misdiagnosed as borderline personality disorder.

got diagnosed as bipolar in march, when my friends found me barely concious outside their house.
they thought i had died.
and i got sent to hospital.

my meds get reduced occasionaly.

sometimes its nice to remember what emotions feel like.

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

Hatman, do you feel like your meds are robbing you of your emotions? Is that what you're saying?

If you feel like that... you know you don't have to, right? You can talk to your doctor about trying different meds, there are all sorts available for treating bipolar disorder. You shouldn't have to choose between mood swings and being zombie, there is a middle ground if you can find it. :)

[Θάνατος]

bipolar.
sodium valproate.

got misdiagnosed as borderline personality disorder.

got diagnosed as bipolar in march, when my friends found me barely concious outside their house.
they thought i had died.
and i got sent to hospital.

my meds get reduced occasionaly.

sometimes its nice to remember what emotions feel like.

I understand how you feel. When I was taking the meds I felt like a zombie too, like I was not in control of my mind. I was easily manipulated by people.

I still feel that I need to be on meds to help with my mood swings but I have way more control of my life right now med free.

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

I would never advice anyone to just stop the meds cold turkey. If you talk to your doctor and decide to try without meds, that's fine, but for the record don't ever just stop taking them no matter what--call the doctor first.

It's ok to want to try to go without meds, some bipolar people are eventually able to function normally without them. There are ways to control the mood swings with medication and have your full range of normal emotions at the same time, though.

[Θάνατος]

I would never advice anyone to just stop the meds cold turkey. If you talk to your doctor and decide to try without meds, that's fine, but for the record don't ever just stop taking them no matter what--call the doctor first.

It's ok to want to try to go without meds, some bipolar people are eventually able to function normally without them. There are ways to control the mood swings with medication and have your full range of normal emotions at the same time, though.

I have been med free for two years now. I didn't just go cold turkey either.

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

Oh, no, I wasn't trying to suggest that you'd done a bad thing going off your meds Rob. Sorry if it came out that way. :) I just wanted hatman to understand that if he decides to go the same route that he needs to clear it with his doctor, but also that if it doesn't work out he can still try meds again and maybe get a different result.

[Θάνατος]

Oh, no, I wasn't trying to suggest that you'd done a bad thing going off your meds Rob. Sorry if it came out that way. :) I just wanted hatman to understand that if he decides to go the same route that he needs to clear it with his doctor, but also that if it doesn't work out he can still try meds again and maybe get a different result.

Jessi it is cool. I was not accusing you. I was actually backing you up by stating the fact that I didn't go cold turkey.

Hatman like Jessi said you need to consult with your doctor. I had talked to my doctor about my decision. We had tried different drug combinations and they were no longer effective in treating me. I went through 3 more months of counseling after I was done with the meds. I know when I get into a depressive mood I wish I still had the meds to fall back on because as you know with bipolar when you hit a low it is hard to bounce back real quick.

Please consult your doctor before giving up meds.

[Lost and Confused1]

I'm Brittany, I'm 19.

Depression has run through my family, mainly on my mother's side. I have Bi-polar disorder.

[Syvelocin]

Alexandra, fourteen. Anxiety disorder, depression, bipolar, and double sleep disorder.

Everything was handed down by my mother. EVERY one of her mental disorders showed up in me.
Was diagnosed with depression a year ago, though I had it for a period in 3-5th grade, then again starting in eighth grade to present. Only tried me on prozac and wellbutrin, still on wellbutrin but there are no differences. They think it's working, but I personally think it's my mania side going off.
They put me on all these meds when I was sent to the hospital for six days. My mother thought I was suicidal (which the thought did come up but I always feel better in the morning) and then they twisted my words when they asked me "If you were to commit suicide, how would you?" They took my answer as if I had a plan, so they wanted to actually keep me for nine days. Got them to shorten it though since they didn't want me to miss school.
But while there, I was diagnosed with bipolar, but they never told me. Nope, I didn't find out until about a month ago. Which still upsets me that they never bothered to let the patient know what is wrong with her.

Depression and bipolar is seriously a horrible combination, and I bet all of you who have both know that.
I don't think I'd be self-harming if I didn't have bipolar disorder. I just get set off so easily, my brain gives me no time to evaluate the intensity of a situation.

[Zero Beat]

I might be, i feel it. But not diagnosed yet.

[Kaleidoscope Eyes]

Are you seeing a doctor about that, Jack?

[Complex]

I guess you can call me the crazy bitch. I'm Jared, I am 14 Years Young. I have Manic Depression & Bi-polar and Schizophrenia (My friends say) I have taken over 50+ prescription drugs.

Example today:

This morning in Study Hall all happy because I get to go to Piano Practice next bell, and the bitchy teacher starts to yap about my failing grade and I go all phys-co bitch on her ass. Then I get all happy again. :lol:

[Zero Beat]

Are you seeing a doctor about that, Jack?

I might, *shrugs* it doesnt seem bad at the moment. But i should anyway

[FallenAngel]

Well I've never been diagnosed of it, however I can turthfully say I definitely have the symptons of it: Insomnia, and them bitch ass mood-swings from really "high" (So to speak), then to a slow, sad state.
It's so weird, like I'd be at school behaving like I'm high off my ass, then I'd get home and get all emo and shizz =[

Ye im the same!
I havent been diagnosed with bipolar yet but ive defo got depression and an anxiety disorder too.
I show some symptoms of bipolar disorder tho im unsure if i am bipolar or not.

The depressive symptoms i show are;
-feeling sad, hopeless worthless pathetic, numb
-feeling irritable
-extreme fatigue
-difficulty concentrating
-loss of appetite
-suicidal thoughts
-feeling guilty
-feeling unworthy of happiness
-self doubt about myself and my abilities to do anything
-difficulty sleeping/ insomnia
-extreme low self esteem
-very sensitive - crying :blue:
-and i even self harm sometimes :(

The manic symptoms are;
-feeling hyperactive :woot:
-feeling almost overwhelmed with happiness
-feeling irritable :mad:
-very talkative/talking very fast
-easily distracted
-go on shopping sprees/take drugs/drink alcohol
-feelings of greatness - like im really special and unique


Im usually in a depressed state but every so often i get these manic episodes, or even mixed episodes.
But its never the same, like sometimes i will have several manic episodes in a day or in a week and other times i'll only have one manic episode in two weeks :confused:

Does this sound like im bipolar to you....cos i rly dnt no?! :confused:

xoxoxoxoxoxox

If any1 wants to tlk u can private message me :)

[apryl]

I'm bipolar, and so is my dad. My mom has depression. Messed up, huh
Anyways, I'm pretty sure I've been like this a long time(I can't remember a time when I was 'normal'). But I had only been seeing a shrink for maybe three months? I saw a counselor for about three months before that too. Talking to shrinks or counselors have never helped me, they just don't understand. They're only paid to hear, not to listen.
And lately I've been hearing voices in my head(actually I heard them before but I chose to ignore them, but now they just won't leave me alone). So I'm screwed.
If anyone wants to talk, my AIM is: dalmatiangirl2

[HikaruTheHunter]

I'm borderline bipolar. Since I lived in Washington, I've moved a lot all over the country and it has not helped. But I feel like I'm getting a bit better. Who knows.

[thongboy74]

im bi polar and its gotin me in to ALOT of trouble over the years

[ortmann123]

i think i am, and for the moment i'm depressive, feel like my life isnt worth anything

[Kaius]

Don't bump please :locked: