Comments on: Are You Bipolar or Do You Have Bipolar? http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/opinions/are-you-bipolar-or-do-you-have-bipolar.html Information and support Thu, 29 Jul 2010 13:57:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: tyler simants http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/opinions/are-you-bipolar-or-do-you-have-bipolar.html/comment-page-1#comment-1843 tyler simants Sat, 14 Nov 2009 05:04:11 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/?p=231#comment-1843 I am 11 and i have maria bipolar. I had a 70% probibility of having bipolar with someone having it in every generaton. My docter says it is to of aminor case to be treated with my insurence. I have mood swings during each day. Just a bump from someone else or someone slming a locker willmake me mad. Thinking of something sad makes me want toclime into a hole and cry. A good grade or good weather makes me fell invincible and on top of the world. I have no help and I hate my life. I am 11 and i have maria bipolar. I had a 70% probibility of having bipolar with someone having it in every generaton. My docter says it is to of aminor case to be treated with my insurence. I have mood swings during each day. Just a bump from someone else or someone slming a locker willmake me mad. Thinking of something sad makes me want toclime into a hole and cry. A good grade or good weather makes me fell invincible and on top of the world. I have no help and I hate my life.

]]> By: Toph http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/opinions/are-you-bipolar-or-do-you-have-bipolar.html/comment-page-1#comment-1794 Toph Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:14:45 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/?p=231#comment-1794 I did not intend to suggest that bipolar II is not a real disorder nor was I attempting to minimize the difficulties it may cause. Indeed, for some bipolar II individuals they seem to stuggle more with finding a cocktail of meds to manage their symptoms while, for me, simply taking lithium effectively controls my illness even with it's extreme symptoms. As I hear talk of a new bipolar III diagnosis, I just wonder if everyone in this category has the same neurochemical pathology. I am glad nonetheless Harold that you have found some relief from your condition. I did not intend to suggest that bipolar II is not a real disorder nor was I attempting to minimize the difficulties it may cause. Indeed, for some bipolar II individuals they seem to stuggle more with finding a cocktail of meds to manage their symptoms while, for me, simply taking lithium effectively controls my illness even with it’s extreme symptoms. As I hear talk of a new bipolar III diagnosis, I just wonder if everyone in this category has the same neurochemical pathology. I am glad nonetheless Harold that you have found some relief from your condition.

]]> By: Harold http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/opinions/are-you-bipolar-or-do-you-have-bipolar.html/comment-page-1#comment-1790 Harold Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:30:29 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/?p=231#comment-1790 I am bipolar II. I certainly understand that bipolar I folks have an illness that can sometimes make my disorder seem hardly a problem (my "manic" episodes are barely noticeable). My late ex-wife was bipolar I, and I saw the illness at first hand. However, the net effect of bipolar II on my life has been debilitating. Hospital stays for severe depression including planning suicide; the feeling that I am worthless (in spite of a PhD and highly respected work); well--you all know the drill. My particular case is complicated (and I mean made very difficult to sort out) because I am also Temporal Lobe Epileptic. Which symptom is caused by which illness is sometimes up for grabs. So, while I understand that Bipolar I is in many ways a much more severe illness than mine, I hope you all will not forget that suffering comes in many forms---and so, thankfully does respite and help from competent doctors. I am bipolar II. I certainly understand that bipolar I folks have an illness that can sometimes make my disorder seem hardly a problem (my “manic” episodes are barely noticeable). My late ex-wife was bipolar I, and I saw the illness at first hand. However, the net effect of bipolar II on my life has been debilitating. Hospital stays for severe depression including planning suicide; the feeling that I am worthless (in spite of a PhD and highly respected work); well–you all know the drill. My particular case is complicated (and I mean made very difficult to sort out) because I am also Temporal Lobe Epileptic. Which symptom is caused by which illness is sometimes up for grabs. So, while I understand that Bipolar I is in many ways a much more severe illness than mine, I hope you all will not forget that suffering comes in many forms—and so, thankfully does respite and help from competent doctors.

]]> By: Joe http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/opinions/are-you-bipolar-or-do-you-have-bipolar.html/comment-page-1#comment-1788 Joe Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:28:27 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/?p=231#comment-1788 Toph-- Thanks for the honesty. I love it - "bipolar snob." Toph–

Thanks for the honesty. I love it – “bipolar snob.”

]]> By: Toph http://www.finkshrink.com/blog/opinions/are-you-bipolar-or-do-you-have-bipolar.html/comment-page-1#comment-1787 Toph Wed, 30 Sep 2009 14:02:09 +0000 http://finkshrink.com/blog/?p=231#comment-1787 Not only am I bipolar, I am bipolar I. In knowing and working with bipolar I and II patients, I am increasingly skeptical in the belief that there is a continuum between the two disorders. The differing symptoms and treatments have convinced me that they are discrete illnesses unfortunately sharing the same name. So, I have come to identify with being bipolar I and always make the distinction from my bipolar II cousins. The intensity and dangerousness of a clinicly manic episode endured by bipolar I individuals is the important cluster of symptoms that separates one diagnosis from the other in my mind. Also, in the 40 years I have been dealing with this illness I have found it difficult to locate and interact with others with bipolar I as most bipolars in support groups, on the internet, and treatment settings have bipolar II in my experience. Call me a bipolar snob but since we are talking about identifying with our disorder, I like to make it clear that I am bipolar I - the real bipolar illness ; ) . Not only am I bipolar, I am bipolar I. In knowing and working with bipolar I and II patients, I am increasingly skeptical in the belief that there is a continuum between the two disorders. The differing symptoms and treatments have convinced me that they are discrete illnesses unfortunately sharing the same name. So, I have come to identify with being bipolar I and always make the distinction from my bipolar II cousins. The intensity and dangerousness of a clinicly manic episode endured by bipolar I individuals is the important cluster of symptoms that separates one diagnosis from the other in my mind. Also, in the 40 years I have been dealing with this illness I have found it difficult to locate and interact with others with bipolar I as most bipolars in support groups, on the internet, and treatment settings have bipolar II in my experience. Call me a bipolar snob but since we are talking about identifying with our disorder, I like to make it clear that I am bipolar I – the real bipolar illness ; ) .

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