No, bipolar disorder is someone who has "hyper" episodes, which is sometimes followed by depressed episodes, but not always. They may even have months or years in between hyper and depressed episodes where they are just "normal".
The "hyper" episodes are what make the diagnoses of bipolar stick. Without the hyper episodes and just the depressive symptoms they will more likely be diagnosed with a depressive disorder.
The hyper eipsodes are incredibly debilitating. I've known a few people with bipolar and it may be one of the most difficult disorders to live with, not because of the depressive symptoms, which like I said before, aren't present in all people with bipolar, but because of the hyperactive episodes.
3
deleted
· 8 years ago
Right, the description of bipolar is incorrect. However, normalized illnesses, like bipolar, get described by others as Happy and sad, alternating. And when the person is really sad, but only sometimes, they claim to have bipolar disorder. And being depressed sometimes is very different than having clinical depression. Both are difficult, especially bipolar, because the coping methods have to alternate. Among many other reasons.
Reply
deleted
· 8 years ago
Ohhh, the truth has been spoken
Weird thing is, that people used to deny having any disorder, but now people just say this for justifying their laziness and mood swings and to get sympathy.
(Ps: not offending anyone who has had any one of them, i was also depressed once and i know how it feels.)
In order to be diagnosed with a mental disorder, it has to be a disorder. It has to reach a certain threshold where it becomes difficult for the patient to function normally. We all get depressed sometimes, especially after certain triggering events, but it can't be diagnosed as depression unless certain conditions are met. So you may have some of the symptoms of depression, but you can't be considered "depressed" until you meet the base-level conditions that are typically universally applicable.
And there's the problem of people saying what guest was talking about and never talking to doctors about their problems. There's a whole new world of mental disorders being acknowledged and we do not know how to handle it as a society. It's so new and we only have self measurement which isn't very consistent. I also think these post are trying to make an important point but for those who aren't sure about serious problems they have may stop from going to doctors. I recently lost someone to suicide and they were considered mildly depressed and it wasn't taken seriously. The amount of regret I feel is unimaginable and that so many others aretoo. Done playing problems is inappropriate.
That's the strange thing. Like how do you DEFINITELY know you have a certain disorder? When you consult an expert, they ask you what you do and you give them an answer and then they tell you. My psychiatrist told me, hI fucking quote, "you're just a LITTLE depressed". Like is it a spectrum or are there definite lines to it? Like wtf
I study psy, so off the bat I'll tell you I don't know everything, but there are somethings I do know. One of them is that certain disorders are known to have a spectrum, autism being the best known one.
That said, all disorders that are well researched have common symptoms and less common ones. Often they also have "core" symptoms. Symptoms without which the disorder will not be accepted as being pathological. Meaning, if you are just busy and don't pay attention often and like to move around a lot, that does not mean it is pathological, or in other words tied to ADHD. You could just be busy, with a lack of motivation and a lot of energy.
To consider it ADHD you have to have something like "hyperfocus", or something else off the "core" symptoms that would make it likely that this is MORE than just a busy kid.
So, the assumptions of psychologist is always that they are talking to someone without any pathological issues and to find IF there's prove against that.
So when your psy told you "you're a little depressed" it may mean something like you have some "core" symptoms of depression, but lack the ones necessary to call it a pathological problem. After all, being a bit down is part of being human, and there has to be a threshold that determines when something goes from being common among everybody to something that is a pathological disorder that requires extensive therapy.
Does what I wrote make sense to you?
I don't know anything I'm just being nosey, but, having problems does not make you less of a person and you should try to remember how significant you are :)
I'm a gay homophobe who suffered from ADHD and depression. I have testicular and cervical cancer from sitting on a radioactive barrel and they suspect I might also have ass cancer. I also once got deported to Canada once. Accidentally.
and sometimes I have the sniffles.
I do have ADHD. I am not ADHD. I have the disorder but It's not what makes me me. There's a difference to these statements.
Also its annoying af to hear people who obviously don't have ADHD say they have it because they can't concentrate in class because literally thats not the only thing that makes it hard for me to function in normal situations.
Amen to that! I hate when people say "I'm add" or "I'm ocd"... It really grinds my gears.
1
deleted
· 8 years ago
I feel it's gotten out of hand like that because people tried to normalize it, to make mental illnesses more acceptable so those who suffer from them don't feel alienated. AMD it really got out of hand. There is validity to being diagnosed, but most of the time, people know a few symptoms and self diagnose, or a family doctor diagnoses them, and they aren't as qualified to do so as someone with a psychology degree. For example, I know someone who was, when he was 14 prescribed zanax for depression.... When really he wasn't depressed. He didn't know any better. And it was set straight quickly..but in a lot of cases it isn't. And we get people who just say they have it when they have no idea what the struggles really entail
I didn't mean to pick on your English. "Lesser" would mean my words weren't as good. "Fewer" would mean I restated it but in a shorter statement. I assumed you actually meant lesser and was being a smart ass.
The "hyper" episodes are what make the diagnoses of bipolar stick. Without the hyper episodes and just the depressive symptoms they will more likely be diagnosed with a depressive disorder.
The hyper eipsodes are incredibly debilitating. I've known a few people with bipolar and it may be one of the most difficult disorders to live with, not because of the depressive symptoms, which like I said before, aren't present in all people with bipolar, but because of the hyperactive episodes.
Weird thing is, that people used to deny having any disorder, but now people just say this for justifying their laziness and mood swings and to get sympathy.
(Ps: not offending anyone who has had any one of them, i was also depressed once and i know how it feels.)
That said, all disorders that are well researched have common symptoms and less common ones. Often they also have "core" symptoms. Symptoms without which the disorder will not be accepted as being pathological. Meaning, if you are just busy and don't pay attention often and like to move around a lot, that does not mean it is pathological, or in other words tied to ADHD. You could just be busy, with a lack of motivation and a lot of energy.
To consider it ADHD you have to have something like "hyperfocus", or something else off the "core" symptoms that would make it likely that this is MORE than just a busy kid.
So, the assumptions of psychologist is always that they are talking to someone without any pathological issues and to find IF there's prove against that.
Does what I wrote make sense to you?
and sometimes I have the sniffles.
I am /\ a murderer I just like to kill people sometimes
Also its annoying af to hear people who obviously don't have ADHD say they have it because they can't concentrate in class because literally thats not the only thing that makes it hard for me to function in normal situations.
We weren't taught English in my school.