wat does being bipolar mean??
369174
Its like manic depression. You can have extreme highs and be happy one day, and the next you could feel your lowest and just want to die. Usually your thinking is off track and it is usually misdiagnosed for schizophrenia. You also might do sudden impulsive things like want to take a bus and go across the country.
1158059
Bipolar disorder (previously known as manic depression) is a diagnostic category describing a class of mood disorders where the person experiences states or episodes of depression and/or mania, hypomania, and/or mixed states. Left untreated, it is a severely disabling psychiatric condition. The difference between bipolar disorder and unipolar disorder (also called major depression)  is that bipolar disorder involves "energized" or "activated" mood states in addition to depressed mood states. The duration and intensity of mood states varies widely among people with the illness. Fluctuating from one mood state to another is called "cycling" or having mood swings. Mood swings cause impairment not only in one's mood, but also in one's energy level, sleep pattern, activity level, social rhythms and thinking abilities. Many people become fully disabled - for some period of time - after being diagnosed, and during this time may have great difficulty functioning.   \n\nFor more info got to:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bipolar_disorder
960886
I suffer from bipolar 1 disorder, so I feel you on this one... are you taking meds or seeing a doctor?  I know you're probably going to hear that from everyone but its the best advice.  Besides that, try writing in a journal or even on your computer every day.  List everything positive that happened to you that day.  Even the smallest thing can be positive.  For example, if you go to the store and someone holds the door open for you and smiles.  That's positive.  Try to list these small details and review them every night... it always helps me feel better to look back at the small, positive things that happened throughout the day because those are things that often get overlooked.  Best wishes- I know you'll get through this.  Just remind yourself, "This too shall pass".
1127043
I'm Bi-Polar and I love it, I would never want it to be otherwise. Since I'm Bi-Polar, I don't have inbetween emotions like most people, so I'm either really happy, really sad, really angry ect. Lucky for me, I'm usually always happy and it's usualy REALLY happy. ;)
125220
Layperson's Definition of Manic Depression\nOne textbook definition describes bipolar disorder as: "a major affective disorder in which an individual alternates between states of deep depression and extreme elation." This is misleading in that bipolar disorder - also known as manic depression or manic-depressive illness - is much more complicated than just alternating between depression and elation.\nThe American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (commonly known as DSM-IV because it is in its fourth major edition) says, "Bipolar Disorder is characterized by the occurrence of one or more Major Depressive Episodes accompanied by at least one Manic Episode." So even if you're depressed 99 percent of the time, going through just one manic episode qualifies you for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder according to this definition - but that still leaves out a lot of what manic depression really is.
844346
IF YOU HAVE TO BE WORRIED ABOUT WHAT THEY WILL THINK...well then think about who they are and the mistakes they have made...Bipolar is a chemical imbalance, chances are these people that you are worried about just made stupid choices. Bipolar is NOT A CHOICE.\nI share it with anyone who needs a friend.  I have gone to jails, talke to kids in recovery, and spoken with people who will never undrstand.  I DON'T CARE,,,,people who judge are ususally suffering from their own problems. There is no longer a stigma to BiPolar, or any other mental illness.  You have don the bravest thing that can be done YOU HAVE ADMITTED IT.  Now move forward and the best therapy is helping and talking to others. You take care and understand NO MATTER WHAT anybody else has to say, you are doing great you are dealing with it.
827001
bipolar also have its stage 1st stage,2nd stage,3rd stage...you know it depend on the mildness of the stage the more mild your stage is, less bipolar attacks you gonna get...well bipolar can stay stable if you do meditation like yoga and waking up early in the morning and taking walk in the park,always being happy,keep on laughing,being happy etc...but if it doesnt worsen that doesnt mean your not bipolar that mean that your bipolar is in its 1st stage..BUT if you are getting serious bipolar attacks medications must be taken...you can only control bipolar by your willingness only if its in its low stage..
895473
Bipolar disorder always has the mania component, but it doesn't always mean bouncing off the walls, not sleeping, being extremely creative, etc. That's Bipolar I. With Bipolar II, you tend to have more depressive episodes than manic ones, and your manic episodes may just look like what would be a good mood for a "normal" person. This would be what you're describing as cycling from depressed to normal and back again. Manic episodes with Bipolar II can also manifest as extreme irritability and/or anger, even rage. If you suspect you may have Bipolar Disorder (or any other psychological problem), please seek help. It doesn't make you weak to get help or to take medication. BD is a real illness and is even considered potentially fatal because of the number of those afflicted who commit suicide. Please talk to a professional as soon as possible.
1167627
There really isn't any specific time that might be experienced by a bipolar person. It can be days or weeks or months. I've heard of rapid cycling bipolar which can be that the manic and depression phases of bipolar can be as short as a day or even to hours within a day. Hopefully if it's you with the disorder you can find the right doctor to help you even out the highs and lows of bipolar.
494667
Being bi-polar doesn't mean she has an anger problem. It means she has a chemical imbalance and needs medication. Bi-polar disorder is also known as manic-depressive disorder. If she is truly bi-polar she can't control her moods.
285314
Bipolar disorder, often referred to colloquially as manic depression, is a diagnosis describing a mood disorder where person cycles between states of depression and mania (or hypomania). Mood swings occur significantly enough to interfere with an individual's ability to function on a daily basis. The majority of people diagnosed with bipolar suffer largely from depression. Bipolar depression is believed to affect approximately 1% of the general population and 10% of people suffering from depression.\n\nEmil Kraepelin (1856-1926), a German psychiatrist who first proposed the existence of an illness he coined "manic depression", noted in his original description that intervals of acute illness, manic or depressive, were generally punctuated by relatively symptom-free intervals in which a patient was able to function normally.\n\nTo that point, there are currently three types of bipolar disorder outlined by the DSM-IV-TR and generally accepted within the medical community: Bipolar I, Bipolar II, and Cyclothymia. Like many disorders involving brain chemistry, bipolar disorder is still under investigation, and symptoms may differ significantly from person to person. Typically, symptoms include periods of euphoria, which alternate with periods of profound depression. In most cases, periods of mood stability complement these periods of instability.
1182030
Manic Depressive is the old, outdated term for Bipolar Disorder.  As long as a sufferer faithfully stays on his/her meds and checks in with the doc anytime things start getting a bit twisted, they're not all that hard to live with.  But then, I've got forty-plus years professional training and experience workin' with 'em.  Others may feel differenly.
905992
bipolar disorder is the severest form of depression.  I suffer with bipolar disorder and I asked my doctors the same question and they told me that bipolar is the severest form of depression.  It is really difficult to cope with even with medications, but life is still worth living and I am making it a goal to make something of my life no matter what others say.
748996
I have been bipolar for 10 years now. There's alot of info on bipolar,but I will tell you what I know. Bipolar is an embalance in the brain. One minute your happy and nothing can get you down. It's like your high. Then the next minute your so depressed that your crying all the time thinking your worthless and nothing is going to get better and your better off dead. There are alot of good meds out there today for people with this problem, and they help. If you stay on them. Hope this helps.
305412
Hey, I am bipolar and your symptoms fit for bipolar but could be other problems as well. Without more info it's hard to tell. I'm not a doctor so I would never attempt a diagnosis anyway. But check the symptoms on the page link below.  If those symptoms don't fit then go to the sites home page and search for other mental conditions. The site is the National Institute of Mental Health and is 100% free and run by the government. Hope it helps and Good luck!
1153102
Bipolar or manic depressive is a chemical imbalance in the brain.  A person who is bipolar experiences either very high highs in moods or very low moods.  The mood can last for days, weeks months.  Often when in a high mood (manic), the person will be so hyper, often unable to sleep they are so hyper.  When in a low mood they will be very depressed, often tearful, angry, and unable to cope.\n\nIf you draw a straight line midway of a sheet of paper across the paper, and label this as a normal person who gets up in the Am and feels like this is just like every morning....normal....then 1/2 inch down draw a line.  This is the same person who felt normal when the day falls apart and they are at the pits of  depression.\n\nDraw a line 1/2 inch above this and this is a normal person who is so happy, they just won the lottery.....life is great.\n\nNow the bipolar person.  You would go 4 inches up the top of the midline of the normal person and draw a line.  The is the bipolar high.  They are on top of the world filled with energy, this is their normal high.\n\nGo 4 inches below the middle line in the middle of the page and draw a line.  This is the of the bipolar in depression.\n\nA simple salt derived tablet called lithuim can control a bipolar person.  But, here is the trigger.  A bipolar person cannot hand feeling normal.  They cannot handle not feeling the mania they feel above the halfway line.  They cannot handle life's little ups and downs like us.  So they don't want/can't handle the normal feelings we have to face day in and day out in a normal life.  So they don't want to take the medication.\n\nGo down to the bottom line on the page 4 inches down from a normal persons normal feelings.  This is depression unimaginable by the normal person.  A bipolar can never reach the normal leval.  Even with the lithium.  And when the depessive stage hits they hit rock bottom.  And, yes, suicidal thoughts are common.\n\n\n_______________Bipolar high\n\n\n\n\n\n\n_______________Non bipolar high (normal person)\n\n\n_______________Normal day in nonbipolar\n\n\n------------------------Normal person lowest point of depression\n\n\n\n\n\n\n_______________Bipolar depression.....deep depression, sense of inability to cope.  Suicide in this state is high.\n\n\nHope this makes sense.
490571
Go to the library.  There are alot of books that will go into details of both.  Bipolar two is mostly depression rather than manic.  Also try this... www.bipolar.com  Hope that helps!