What is bi polar and how is it diagnosed?!
Question: What is bi polar and how is it diagnosed.?
My daughter is 23 yrs old and she has suffered with depression since she was about 15 but she has never been diagnosed properly with it. Never been given more than antidepressents from the doctor. She lives 200 miles away from me and we are very close.. But she never ever seems to get any where with a doctor regarding her depression or her other ailments which are consistent but still overlooked. But its the depression that is really worrying me. I have even asked her to give me her doctors number and i would write or phone on her behalf. She is constantly miserable and genuinely sad all the time.. She has mood swings a lot..when she has a good day she is so happy and grateful for it as they are very far and few in between..She cries a lot and it can be the simplest of things that make her unhappy worried and depressed. what can i do to help her.? Its awful knowing she is like that and not knowing what to do to help her. Her boyfriend is nice enough but he cant help her. She has a young daughter who she absolutely adores and i know she doesnt like feeling the way she is or letting her daughter see her unhappy. If it is bi polar how can it be diagnosed and if they do diagnose it what will be done..How can she get better help and or get a doctor to take her seriousHealth Question & Answer
Answers:
She will have to go to a mental health professional most likely. Some of the meds for the mania part of bipolar cannot be prescribed by GPs or nurse practicioners.
Bipolars have extreme opposite ends of mood. Depression is the low or down side, mania the upside. IF it is mild, the mania may just be heightened activity levels like excess energy, nervousness, etc. (Having a good day here and there when depressed is not mania).
In extreme cases of mania, the person may have nervous breakdowns, giddiness, giggling a lot, babbling in seeming gibberish or foreign lanugauges, see things and hear things, talk to imaginary people, etc. (All kinds of psychotic features, some get violent especially men on a mania.....mania naturally is where the word maniac stems).
If your daughter had more than a mild case of bipolar, it would be extremely noticable to those close to her.
It can't hurt to do more diagnosis and check for it though.
Being alone and not having anyone to talk to about it can be extremely depressing also. As can a messy house, etc. if you can't manage to keep up with it.
Just doing some chores for a person with a mental illness is a great help even if you can't help with or understand the mental illness part.
I'd really suggest you talk with her boyfriend and ask her if she exhibits any mania symptoms, if she is able to maintain the house and appearance.....does she wash her hair or go around dirty....
Small things that can help depressives who are so inactive they can't maintain their appearance are to help them make time for hygiene and give them pretty relaxers (candles and aromatherapy in the bathroom, pretty gift boxes of shampoos and conditioners, special face creams).
It would probably help if she had a good female friend who suffers from these things too in order to be able to compare notes....and the friend could send cheer cards and tiny gifts to help her with the day to day dealings.
You don't have to be a doctor or psychiatrist to help a friend or loved one. The simple things make a great difference. Cook a meal for them, do the dishes, some laundry.....
The same kind of things you would do for someone who has a broken leg or heart surgery are the kindesses that will help a broken mind or downcast heart as well.
My best to you and your daughter and her little one!
Debbie (bipolar, heart trouble, etc)Health Question & Answer
Bipolars have extreme opposite ends of mood. Depression is the low or down side, mania the upside. IF it is mild, the mania may just be heightened activity levels like excess energy, nervousness, etc. (Having a good day here and there when depressed is not mania).
In extreme cases of mania, the person may have nervous breakdowns, giddiness, giggling a lot, babbling in seeming gibberish or foreign lanugauges, see things and hear things, talk to imaginary people, etc. (All kinds of psychotic features, some get violent especially men on a mania.....mania naturally is where the word maniac stems).
If your daughter had more than a mild case of bipolar, it would be extremely noticable to those close to her.
It can't hurt to do more diagnosis and check for it though.
Being alone and not having anyone to talk to about it can be extremely depressing also. As can a messy house, etc. if you can't manage to keep up with it.
Just doing some chores for a person with a mental illness is a great help even if you can't help with or understand the mental illness part.
I'd really suggest you talk with her boyfriend and ask her if she exhibits any mania symptoms, if she is able to maintain the house and appearance.....does she wash her hair or go around dirty....
Small things that can help depressives who are so inactive they can't maintain their appearance are to help them make time for hygiene and give them pretty relaxers (candles and aromatherapy in the bathroom, pretty gift boxes of shampoos and conditioners, special face creams).
It would probably help if she had a good female friend who suffers from these things too in order to be able to compare notes....and the friend could send cheer cards and tiny gifts to help her with the day to day dealings.
You don't have to be a doctor or psychiatrist to help a friend or loved one. The simple things make a great difference. Cook a meal for them, do the dishes, some laundry.....
The same kind of things you would do for someone who has a broken leg or heart surgery are the kindesses that will help a broken mind or downcast heart as well.
My best to you and your daughter and her little one!
Debbie (bipolar, heart trouble, etc)Health Question & Answer
I was diagnosed with severe depression for 5 years and given tons of anti-depressants until I thought "Hmm, maybe I'm bipolar". I'm 20 and am on Lamictal, Abilify, Cymbalta, and Klonopin and my mood swings are more controlled. Therapy and meds for bipolar will help, as will eventually talking about it. Best of luck, it is not by any means easy but it will get easier once a psychiatrist can diagnose it. Health Question & Answer
there's some good easy to understand info in the link.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/tv_and_radio...Health Question & Answer
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/tv_and_radio...Health Question & Answer
You may find it helpful to contact Mind www.mind.org.uk, they have fact-sheets that you can read on line about various depressive illnesses and so get more information. They will also give you the local Mind telephone number for your daughter to call, they often run self-help groups and can give information about how to get help if she is dissatisfied with the treatment she is getting from her GP. If she is considered to have a mental illness she will be referred to the Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) who will give her the support that she needs. You mentioned a young daughter and postnatal depression popped into my head could this be an avenue worth exploring.? (postnatal depression can go undiagnosed for years). hope this is of some helpHealth Question & Answer
It might be bi-polar (manic-depressive) diorder that she is suffering from, but there appears to be little in the way of cycles - i.e it is mainly the depressive end that she is suffering from, which indicates that is is mainly a depressive disorder that she has.
If she sees her GP next she should ask to be referred to the CMHT (Community Mental Health Team) who willl be able to offer her the approriate help and support.
The local council should also have support or advice for her if she feels that she is not getting the help she needs.
Lastly there are organisations such as 'MIND' who can be very good in helping her getting the help she needs.
Best of luck to you.Health Question & Answer
If she sees her GP next she should ask to be referred to the CMHT (Community Mental Health Team) who willl be able to offer her the approriate help and support.
The local council should also have support or advice for her if she feels that she is not getting the help she needs.
Lastly there are organisations such as 'MIND' who can be very good in helping her getting the help she needs.
Best of luck to you.Health Question & Answer
Often a doctor will miss diagnose a person with mental illness, especially bi polar and depression as they have a lot of similarities. The biggest difference is a depressed person is just that, but someone with bipolar has extreme mood swings. also it takes a while to find the right combination of medication to take. Most people with mental illness have a lot of trouble accepting that they may have to take a medication for the rest of their lives. This is the most troubling thing of their illness. Do stay as close as possible with your daughter. also, you can give info to her doctor, but because of privacy laws, he may not give you any info unless your daughter tells him to do so.Health Question & Answer