Is this bipolar?
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Bipolar disorder does involve mood swings, but those mood swings don't happen everyday. It's not literally a disorder of being happy one minute and suicidal the next. A person with bipolar disorder swings from depression to mania (a scary opposite of depression), but also experiences periods of stability. Mania and depression can last for days to months or even years. Stability can also last years without medication.
People who have been diagnosed bipolar are advised to take medication daily because bipolar moods can be very devastating, not because they are 'crazy' everyday.
People don't get better from bipolar. It's thought to be a life long disorder, but some bipolar patients could have major mood swings once every 5 to 10 years even without meds. What she experienced could have been bipolar disorder.
Of course, 'mental breakdowns' and even psychotic episodes can happen in people who are otherwise psychotically normal under great periods of stress. Basically, it could take a lot ot put her into a depressive or manic episode.
I suggest that both you and she know the warning signs, but don't worry about it excessively. If she's okay now, let it be.
Bipolar is when for awhile your up and then come way down. Can be full of energy for awhile and happy then all of a sudden fell like you hit rock bottom down and out with alot of mood swings and deppression. That is what I have heard.
it's possible, but unlikely
More likely stress and anxiety possibly panic attack. At least that is what is commonly referred to as mental breakdown.
She may also lack self confidence and feels she needs to get sympathy to re-assure your support. She may also fear being bipolar like her father. There may be any number of reasons.
If you can, talk to her. Remind her that you are friends and it doesn't really matter whether she is bipolar or not.
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10 years is a very long time to go without an episode, especially in the absence of medication. On the other hand, she says she did get diagnosed with bipolar and if her father had bipolar disorder, her chances of having it are definitiely increased.
Perhaps the 2 of you could both sit down together and do some of the professional daignostic tests that are made available for free online and see what you come up with.
These are the same assessment tools the professionals use. You can get a bipolar test (and some links to the others) at www.bipolar-lives.com/bipolar-... The tests are just a starting point though. You can only get a very broad brush picture from them - what is always required eventually is an evaluation from an expert who is an authority on bipolar and other mood disorders, for example an experienced psychiatrist.
Does your friend exhibit any other symptoms such as being easily irritated, problems at work, over-spending, poor choices in her romantic relationships? Bipolar is very complex and the highs and lows don't often fit the stereotyped preconceptions we have, and may not seem extreme.
Good luck - it is great you are concerned for her health :)
Oh goodness! I lived with a bi-polar girl once. She didnt think anything was wrong with her, but for the love of god, she had the worst MOOD SWINGS EVER!She would go from totally fine and content one moment to totally filpping her lid over something so trivial. I finally had enough and moved out. It was too hard living with someone who was so erratic emotionally. I was scared of her. I didnt want to have to regulate, cuz I dont like fighting, but she was the type who get physical, and my daddy always taught me that you dont back down from CRAZY beotches, if she swings first then anything is fair game, and I fight very dirty!
I cant say for certain that what your friend has in bi polar disorder, but my experience with it was totally different.
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