Bipolar Disorder?

[Furanku_]

My father is actually very bipolar, I mean diagnosed and taking medication for it seriously. He also smokes, and the worse thing is when he forgets something he set down somewhere while high and goes into a manic rage because he can't find it 5 minutes later (sounds funny but it's not when you experience it). I know it's also passed through genetics, i'm just wondering if my obsessive thoughts and daily roller coaster ride of emotionally ups and downs might have me thinking I might soon have it as bad as him. Does anybody else here get that daily? Like I have really obsessive thoughts of both super negative and super positive. I think I might have to stop smoking myself because it only amplifies these waves that come and go everyday. There's times where I full on enjoy my highs and times where it's just a depressing and anxious high. I don't know, but I have always been an anxious person with crazy thoughts, maybe i'm just thinking myself into these thought patterns.

Anybody care to share their experience of mood fluctuations throughout the day? I'm just curious.

 

[thedawn]

I've been severely bipolar with psychosis for 15 years.
it can be hell.but also beautiful.I dont get that much rage compared to others.
I go from bed ridden anxiety to euphoria when manic.
I think I'm a shaman and know the truth.it's been awhile though.
these days I'm on psych meds,medical pot and suboxone.
I just tried to stop one of my meds but got heavy anxiety and just started it again.
my mental health is addicted to psych meds it seems.I can't get off of them.
learning to be grateful in AA has changed my life.I was a self centered victim before AA.
one day I will do the program for real without sub and weed.
just not right now.

being bipolar doesn't mean you're doomed.
you can still have a life worth living.
wishing you serenity.

 

[Mysterie]

try having a month break from weed, if it has a positive affect on your mood swings and anxious thought patterns, maybe you need to cut down smoking or stop altogether?

i say that because ive been coming to the realisation myself that weed (or at least the weed in my area) just doesn't agree with my personality at all, i cant control my use of it, and because of that it leaves me a scattered, anxious and depressed wreck most of the time.

 

[mrflowers00]

i'm severely depressed most of the time and i don't get manic in a happy or up beat kind of way i get very irritable when i'm not depressed and i hold it deep inside as to not snap on people i love and or care about but that doesn't always turn out the way i want and i flip out anyway and that makes me feel like an ass later which triggers the depression again and drugs even though they seem to make things better at the time they make things much worse in the long run talk to a psychologist and psychiatrist if therapy ends up not being enough and see if they can't help you out

 

[cashmunny]

There are various types of bipolar disorder: Bipolar 1, Bipolar 2, Cyclothymia, Bipolar NOS. The degree to which you are genetically vulnerable depends on what form of Bipolar disorder your father has. Bipolar 1 has the strongest evidence for a genetic basis. If he has Bipolar 1 and takes Lithium then most likely his disorder has a strong genetic (as opposed to environmental) component and you have an elevated risk of developing it yourself. With the other types of Bipolar it's not so clear. With something as complex as mental illess, strict Mendellian genetics may not apply. So if your father was full blown crazy and your mother was normal you might be halfway in between. With things like blue vs brown eyes or sickle cell anemia you either have it or you don't by virtue of recessive and dominant genes. But mental illness is most likley the result of the interaction of dozens of genes with the environment so you may end up being more a mixture of your parents genes than one or the other. Genes are not destiny but from what you have shared about your moods and the fact that you are inclined to use substances I'd say you have at least part of your Dad in you.

I struggle with depression as well. I have found that using recreational drugs is not helpful and I have to be very attendant to my mental health by going to AA, and seeing a therapist and psychiatrist to keep me at least somewhat sane.

 

[manicmama]

I was diagnosed bp1 with psychosis, I don't wanna accept it, but my reluctance to take my meds properly and feeling very up and down since stopping mood stabilisers a week ago and taking a few kpins to knock myself out tonight cos sleeps gone haywire and it not working and taking stupid amounts more and lay here buzzing and I must admit slightly manic is making me think I'm a nob and I've triggered mania (obviously unintentionally) - if you think you may be bp get assessed ASAP, then work with them, I am booting myself cos I know I'm in the stink now. If your dad bp, puts you higher risk for it, my paternal grandad had it RIP and it seems it skipped a generation.
Go seek medical advice. Then heed it. Wish I had instead of keep mashing up. Sorry for ramble. I wish you luck, bipolar a no fun, sometimes it is, but then you crash and face the consequences. Good luck.

 

[ad lib]

it's tough to say.

perhaps the anxiety that you feel about having bpd is causing the thoughts and just increasing your anxiety levels. one of the common fears of those who suffer from anxiety disorders is the "fear of losing ones mind". if you obsess about it a lot then this can certainly cause you to subconsciously (and consciously) dwell on the matter.

drug use can trigger underlying or "dormant" mental health issues in those who have not experienced the symptoms yet, so try cutting back on the smoking. smoking makes me INCREDIBLY anxious.

also, consider therapy. it sounds cliche but trust me- therapy can work WONDERS for you. just having a professional to talk to about everything is comforting in itself. also, if you do have bpd, it's not the end of the world! thousands of people manage their symptoms every day with medication and can lead pretty stable, productive lives.