Bipolar Disorder. Two words that are scary to hear from a doctor, especially when they are linked with the words "You have." Bipolar disorder, for those who don't know, is a mental disorder that causes an individual to experience extreme highs (manias) and extreme lows (Depressions.) The individual cannot control these mood swings and they are often unpredictable.

In a recent articleon webmd.com, the new issue of the hieghtened amount of Bipolar disorder diagnosis in those under the age of 18. The article reports that today's choldren are 40 times more likely to have bipolar Disorder than the youth of 10 years ago. The article also reports that people are more likely to diagnose Bipolar Disorder. Yet, experts still are wary of whether or not doctors are over diagbnosing kids.

I pose this question to you. Do you feel that doctors are merely more aware of Bipolar Disorder or are they diagnosing BD when the child is merely moody. Is there someone close to you or in your family suffering from this disorder? Do you personally have it? How are you and your family coping with the problem? Feel free to add in anything else you would like that pertains to the topic.

I'm bipolar. and i struggle with it everyday. I'm taking meds. but there are times when things get out of hand. I've been in a hospital six times, and everytime it's just because i'm in a low. I think that the doctors diagnosed me correctly because now i see how i really was having the mood swings. And i think that people who don't take their meds are the kind of people who don't realize how much better it is to be on them than off and they probably aren't just hurting themselves but the people who have to watch what's happening happen...

That's just my opinion and my story.

DELiLAH reminded me of something...

I feel like they are more likely to diagnose someone if they have a family history of it. I remember that was one of the reasons they were hesitant to diagnose me. I don't have a family history of any mental illness.

DELiLAH, don't let their diagnoses difine you. You are a person, not a disorder.

I have bipolar disorder and i was diagnosed with it at age 11. I was, freaking out, broke my sister's arm, got in very physical fights with my mom. I started cutting. I didnt have anyone to talk to..no one would listen. Why? My mom finally took action a year later, when things got worse. We have Scitzophrynia in our family history, and bipolar...my grandma had it. I was told i had bipolar, OCD, and as of today they are still coming up with "excuses for who i am" therapists, phycatrists, family...they try helping. They dont. I find myself alone and always looking for answer to my actions. I am tired of taking pills. I am so confused...I do need friends..the ones I have now, dont know what else to do...is it because they are "normal"? what is it like? i wonder all the time.

When I stopped taking my meds I spazzed out. Seriously freaked out mood wise. I thought I didn't need them because I felt fine. Then my friends started getting annoyed with me because I couldn't control myself. I had a manic break down. I have officially learned my lesson.

My friend had to stop taking some of her meds because she ws experiencing minor addiction problems/ withdarals

I really am not sure I should of done this topic, its incredibly involved but at the same time I am glad that I'm doing it. Some of the people in my Comp class need an eye opener.

I don't know if it's that they are addicting or that I am unstable with out them.

When I am able to stop taking seroquel I am going to have to do that slowly because apparently I'll have withdrawls.

I was on Lexapro for a while and when I missed a day I got really anxious.

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Originally posted by testing123:

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But I really don't think that heading the ball would do much...well not if she heads it in the correct way......

You'd be suprised. It actually hits right on the prefronal cortex. (That's also why banging your head against a wall is not good.

I used to do that too...... Don't ask me why

I have no clue why acutally. Alas tis part of growing up methinks.

Oh. Testting. Would you say that you find the medications you take to have addictive properties?

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But I really don't think that heading the ball would do much...well not if she heads it in the correct way......

You'd be suprised. It actually hits right on the prefronal cortex. (That's also why banging your head against a wall is not good.

Ooooh that would explain a lot..... damn it I knew sports would be my ruination. hahaha...

But I really don't think that heading the ball would do much...well not if she heads it in the correct way......

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I think there is a bit of both going on here; over diagnoses and mis diagnoses.

I still don't feel like it's over diagnosed. Depression most certainly is. Everyone and their mother has it now. I've met very few people who were bipolar and when they were off their meds it was quite obvious they were.

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There is a growing body of evidence that suggests the possibility of the chemicals and dyes in the foods we eat as a possible culprit or antagonist in some of these "disorders".

Which is one reason I watch what I eat. If you really want to get specific head injuries can also cause these types of disorders. I don't mean major injuries either. I refuse to let my sister head the soccer ball.

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Originally posted by testing123:
Don't worry. You can't be diagnosed Schizophrenic until your 18. If your under 18 its Schizoaffective(sp?).

Oh well thats good to know..... though I'm within 5 months of being 18 so they couold just "feel unsure" for a while..... but I dobt I am. The voices get along for the most part so I can't be that bad.

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Isn't it interesting
what you learn about your family from the doctors? I learned that I have alot of alcoholics in my family... Yipee!

I don't think that my family has alcoholics in it, but many of my relatices greatly favor the taste of liquor.

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I think I'm justified in saying there's a disorder for everything.

Yes I can understand that.

I think there is a bit of both going on here; over diagnoses and mis diagnoses. There is a growing body of evidence that suggests the possibility of the chemicals and dyes in the foods we eat as a possible culprit or antagonist in some of these "disorders". I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was in college and I had to take Ritalin, which was terrible!

I agree that if at all possible, meds should be used as a last resort b/c of the side effects and possible addiction. Support channels, understanding friends and family should also help.

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There is Bipolar II. It contains major depressions and hypo-mania (which is not full mania).

Not only do I stand corrected, but I think I'm justified in saying there's a disorder for everything.

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And to make things so much more fun, they have found that there is Schizophrenia in my family history..... yay.....

Don't worry. You can't be diagnosed Schizophrenic until your 18. If your under 18 its Schizoaffective(sp?).

Isn't it interesting what you learn about your family from the doctors? I learned that I have alot of alcoholics in my family... Yipee!

Ah you too?

I'm still in the diagnosis phase where they are trying to determine if i have have bipolar.....

And to make things so much more fun, they have found that there is Schizophrenia in my family history..... yay.....

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Oh and do you have Bipolar I or II?

Heh, they aren't sure yet...

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I hate being on meds

I hear ya. Sometimes its a matter of is it really worth all the side effects. Not to metnion the strong addictiveness of some of the drugs. Nearly put a friend of mine in rehab when they switched his meds.

Oh and do you have Bipolar I or II? If you don't mind answering that is

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I think parents should try to keep children off of meds for as long as possible with the hopes of having the child dome to terms with what they have. I mean I understand the amount of uncontrolability of MDD but there is a way to cope with the side effects without meds.

I hate being on meds. I refuse to be on more than one. However I am on 2 at the moment just because I haven't gotten up to a high enough dose on one and the other works okay. I'm unstable with out them. Now I don't believe that just medication can help. I strongly believe in therapy. Without a lot of the intense therapy I went through I would still be doing alot of my self destuctive habits.

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Personally joking helps a lot for me. Its how I get through life.

Thats how I deal too. If I take things to seriously I loose sight of what actually matter. Joking is a way for me to try and accept myself.

Precisley Testing.

I personally don't think there is over diagnosis. I think parents should try to keep children off of meds for as long as possible with the hopes of having the child dome to terms with what they have. I mean I understand the amount of uncontrolability of MDD but there is a way to cope with the side effects without meds.

And you brought up a good point Testing..... wanna talk about the effectiveness of joking. Personally joking helps a lot for me. Its how I get through life.