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Depression and Bipolar Disorder
Questions and answers about Depression and Bipolar disorder, including symptoms of the illness, and how to help those who suffer from it.
2,793 Questions
Do anti-depressants make you fat?
Yes. I knew a girl who went, in less than a year, from wearing size-0, to fat as a pig, mainly by taking prozac.
What is wrong with someone that talks constantly and also talks to themself?
A 'schizophrenic' -person with schizophrenia (mental disease). The person hears non existing voices and has hallucinations, to which they respond by talking out loud
How are bipolar tests performed?
A bipolar disorder test is an examination done by a psychiatrist in order to make the diagnosis. The test primarily consists of questions for the patient. Their answers are usually enough to detect a bipolar disorder.
Why person with depression unable to work?
Depression is treatable and should not prevent someone from working. However, compounded with substance abuse can make it much worse.
It is a hotline for people considering suicide to call and receive support in order that they will not go through with the act. Often people who consider suicide feel they have no one to talk to and these hotlines offer an outlet for them. They have saved countless lives!
U.S. call 1-800-273-8255
Do men have once a month mood swings?
For the same reason women do. Outside stress and health issues. People project there problems on to one another and some people feel they need to save everyone from their problems to avoid their own. Its a vicious circle. Plus men have a hard time expressing themselves and are so afraid that whatever their decision it will be wrong and analyzed. They feel its a sign of weekness to show emotion which is bull.
Can vitamins help ease depression and anxiety?
There are a variety of vitamins and supplements that are used to help treat depression. Some work by increasing energy and metabolism levels. Others help with insomnia and some balance blood levels. One should always consult with a Doctor before adding any supplements when treating depression.
Is it possible to be bipolar and depressed at the same time but hide your feelings so well?
Depression is a part of bipolar disorder, and yes it is possible to hide it. It's not healthy, but it can be done. What's harder to hide is the manic phase of bipolar.
If you tell your doctor your depressed will he tell your parents?
legally they can't. There is something called patient confidentiality which means that they cannot tell anyone if you go to them with an issue. There are technicalities if you are under 16- but if you are seen to be competent and aware of what is happening and ask for your parents not to be told they won't be.
However, I do advise telling your parents, They'd want to help and it would be a huge weight off your shoulders.
The law varies from state to state about whether the doctor can or must tel your parents. All states agree that the doctor must report a danger to yourself or others.
Most states call for handling teens with issues of mental health (including depression), abuse, or sexuality (including pregnancy, birth control, and sexually transmitted diseases) as adults.
I do agree that you should tell both your parents and your doctor if you feel depressed. A school counsellor or a clergy member would be other good people to talk to.
Are bipolar people promiscuious?
No, promiscuity is a common sympton of mania. They may become more sexually driven or active when they are manic and then lose all interest when the mania fades.
What years were the worst in the depression?
The Great Depression took place during the 1930's and lasted until the middle of the 1940's. The Great Depression was started by the stock market crash in 1929.
What is a possible cause of bipolar disorder?
"If you have lots of mood swings, and anger problems" That describes some symptoms of the disorder, not the cause.
Bipolar disorder is simply put a genetic brain disease. You don't get it. You are born with it. It may not be diagnosed until you are in your 20' or 30's.
Most people complain and seek treatment for depression. However, the other aspect of being bipolar, mania is often not looked at as a problem. why? Think about it. You have just endured a period of depression that made you unable to enjoy life and interfered with your ability to do basic self-care on a regular basis. Now, you are feeling better. The sunshine has come out in your brain, so to speak. You are able to socialize, enjoy life and take care of all those things that didn't get done while you were depressed. Unfortunately, it doesn't usually stop there. You sleep less and less. You feel like you are on top of thee world. Then, you begin to feel invincible. You take risks. You have a whirlwind of "good ideas" twisting your brain around 24/7. You feel compelled to act on these ideas. You spend money unwisely, shopping, sex, food, work......You feel like you are on speed, but you aren't. The hardest part of all of this is when you see it happening and can't control it. So, mania is fun and productive at first....sort of like doing speed for the first time. But, once you start on the upward swing, you have absolutely no way to stop it, unless you are open to outside help.
Why did I answer the question in the first sentence and then continue to describe how it feels to have bipolar disorder? Education. The more people who are educated about the disorder, the better. They will be better able to understand coworkers and family members who have bipolar disorder.
Although it is a genetically based disorder, life events, physical traumas, even medication changes can trigger an episode. Sometimes an episode will start simply because our brains are diseased, sometimes because of a trigger.
What can you do about it if you have it? The first line of defense is to find a good psychiatrist to work with you to find a medication that will work for you. Sometimes it takes one medication and other times more.
I will close with this important fact. Being on medication does not cure you. It doesn't make your moods normal, even. It won't keep you from having manic and depressive episodes. Medication will reduce the number and severity of your episodes. Medication will enable you to live a happy and productive life.
So, you have bipolar disorder. I know you didn't do it to yourself. You just had the genetic predisposition for it. You have complained to your mental health professional about depression and didn't see mania or hypo-mania as a problem. It isn't something you can deal with on your own, you need medication and therapy. Medication won't cure you, it will however, allow you to live a great life. A good mental health team is essential as is hard work on your part.
What happens if a healthy person takes antipsychotic drugs?
These drugs used to be called the major tranquilizersbecause they put people to sleep very effectively (much more effectively than the minor tranquilizers). Then it was observed that when given to people in a psychotic state, instead of going to sleep they stayed awake and alert but the psychotic symptoms were reduced or eliminated.
Now the terms major tranquilizers and minor tranquilizers have mostly disappeared.
A repeated desire to commit suicide.
Correction:A group of suicides, grouped by time (all proximal to each other but not typically simultaneous) and grouped by association in a typically small, interactive quasi-community such as a high school.
The dynamics of this are not entirely clear to anyone at this time, but it's thought that one suicide in a closely knit group may serve as the trigger to a cluster of suicides within that quasi-community.
What is bipolar and how would you know if you had it?
You can tell if you have bipolar disease by going to the doctor and getting some tests done. The doctor will be able to determine if you indeed do have bipolar disease. You cannot diagnose yourself with something like this.
This question is too vague to give a specific answer. Psychotic disorders are classified into specific groups. Here are a few examples though, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, personality disorders, somatoform disorders. If you want me to be more specific then, schizophrenia, OCD, ADHD, PTSD, panic disorders, bipolar, borderline, munchausen, anorexia nervosa, cyclothymic, major depressive, et cetera. If you're really interested, check DSM-IV for further information.
What do you have to do to stop being such a wimp?
Stand up for yourself. Trust me, ive been bullied, verbally and physically and if you allow them to bully you they will continue to do it. And if it does result to violence, defend yourself to the best of your ability. Have you thought about taking a self defense class like boxing, or MMA? It builds your confidence, might help you out. Best wishes.
What is a natural treatment for Bipolar Disorder?
If bipolar mood disorder has been diagnosed, then it must be treated properly by a professional, as it can be a serious illness. Even when there are days of "normality", it does not mean the illness has gone away.
However, there are many simple things a sufferer can do to help ease the disorder. A simple brisk walk in the sunshine, eating sensibly, interacting with friends and family, relaxation techniques like a warm bath in something like lavender milk or lavender bath oil, listening to music (Mozart has tested as the best!), a cup of chamomile tea - in fact anything that makes you feel happy. My escape is my games console - it changed my life.
What is the old name for multiple personality disorder?
Split personality disorder and multiple personality disorder are both old names. It is now referred to as dissociative identity disorder.
How do you have someone committed into a mental hospital?
An involuntary stay, which you are talking about, can happen if the person is considered a threat to themself and/or others. They have to go through an evaluation by a psychologist who will determine what is best for the patient and their family.
Synonyms for sad that come to mind immediately are:
blue, unhappy, melancholy, bummed out, down, grim, depressed, gloomy.
You may use a thesaurus (book or online) to find more synonyms.
Is bi polar passed to children and their children?
Bi polar disorder is not usually passed down through the generations. But there are some exceptions to this, so it is best to consult your doctor about your particular genes.
Is severe depression and clinical depression the same thing?
Yes, they are the same. Severe depression is also called "major" depression. The differentiation is with bipolar depression. That depression is the depressive cycle of the illness. Clinical depression is more prevalent in women. While there is no research-based reason for this, in my opinion it is because research has shown that women are more emotional than are men.
Why were people afraid of mental illnesses in 19th century?
In the 1800s people were thrown into insane asylums to live in squalor, filth and were left untreated and often starved. They were never release from the insane asylum even if they were not mentally ill. Being around the psychotic screaming patients were enough make any sane person go crazy. Some men would throw their wives into the asylum just to get rid of them knowing she would never get out. Mental Illnesses were not treated as medical problems but more thought of as being people who were possessed or untreatable. Some families chose to care for their mentally ill loved ones but most sent them away. It was not really just fear that motivated them but rather frustration and lack of understanding what was wrong. You are talking about an age that did not have good medical care. Even barbershop barbers would do blood letting in those times to cure ailments. They even tried that on the mentally ill. They did not have the medications and treatment plans we have today.
