bipolar disorder

[Haunted]

just to know something more about this.
I read something on the internet and this question banged in my mind:
"if I think I have this illness, does that mean I don't have it?"
I don't know if you understood that because sometimes I say things in a wrong way.
Once, I read in a post here on TH that if you think you have schizophrenia you don't have it or something similar.
So, now I hope my question is clear.
If it isn't I will explain better, even if I don't know how.

[Dr.Bobby]

Originally Posted by Haunted

Once, I read in a post here on TH that if you think you have schizophrenia you don't have it or something similar.

That was me! It's nice to know I'm not always talking to myself here.

Schizophrenia is a lot different than bi polar, so the advice isn't the same. With schizophrenia, there's such an impairment of reality testing that the ability to accurately judge one's condition is absent, ergo most schizophrenics aren't aware that they're impaired, nevertheless schizophrenic. Think: The people carrying all their worldy possessions in a shipping cart yelling at stop signs.

Bi Polar is entirely different, and even though people with full blown manic symptoms are psychotic, before they reach that point, they are able to identify with accuracy that they 'Don't feel well', that there's something wrong, that the mechanism that assesses functioning still registers impairment.

As I always say, the determinant in getting to a doctor isn't so much what you think the diagnosis is, it's if you can identify that there's something not quite right, that it impairs your functioning, and you cannot resolve it yourself.

[Thirteen]

To kind of add on to what Bobby has said, there is a bit more to Bipolar Disorder than people usually assume.

Bipolar Disorder involves various mood episodes, which are kind of obvious. It's not (as most people seem to think) just "Happy" and "Sad". You have the different episodes (though not everybody with Bipolar Disorder will go through them all), some of them required for a diagnosis to even be considered.

There are the Manic Episodes, Hypomanic Episodes, Mixed Episodes, and Depressive Episodes. You MUST have the symptoms of a Manic/Hypomanic/Mixed Episode, in particular intensities, and amounts of time, before a mental health professional will even consider looking further into whether you'd have Bipolar Disorder or not.

Better question: What kinds of things are making you question whether you have Bipolar Disorder or not? Be descriptive, it will help.

[Haunted]

I thought about that... I don't really know why.
I heard about bipolar disorder because I'm a huge fan of Demi Lovato and I wanted to know more... when I read about that I thought about myself and my "depression" sometimes interrupted by this feeling, when I feel like I can do anything. I was quite concerned about that until 2 weeks ago.
I started school a month ago and it's been 2 weeks since I last felt depressed for days, so I calmed down.
But I wanted to know if a bipolar person can be quite conscious to be bipolar just to be sure that it wasn't all in my head. I mean, probably I'm not bipolar but I had to be sure that I wasn't just being stupid. And saying that a bipolar person can be conscious that something's wrong with them you answered my question.

[Woo! Imagination xD]

With being bi-polar, I find that the symptoms can sometimes be mixed up with hormones. I had a similar experience when I was younger. I was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder because of my mood swings and because of the way I was. Later on, when I went for another diagnosis with a different doctor, I was told that it was actually just hormones.

Anyway, I find it is really easy to read something about somebody and then wonder if you may have it. I would have to agree with Dr.Bobby in the sense that if you get that feeling that you "don't feel well" then it may be something you should go to your doctor about. It could be depression and it could be something more serious, but try not to self-diagnose, as I find it usually creates problems with people.

I hope it works out, and I would like to hear from you if anything comes up

[Haunted]

yeah, my mom says it's hormones too and I think she's right. Just this summer I think I kinda was really depressed. I didn't smile and I couldn't help but be scared of myself and I felt so worthless... but now I don't feel that way anymore. I guess I was just living a bad moment.
Now I feel sad but because I miss a friend and... it's different.

[Dr.Bobby]

Serena, missing someone who's left doesn't make you bi polar! It makes you normal.

It's a problem (again, regardless of what you call it or diagnose it or think it might be) IF it seriously gets in your way, if it prevents you from carrying on with your responsibilities or ability to feel Ok (even if you have other feelings at the same time). Bi polar, or depression, or other 'actual' diagnoses require significant impairment, feeling certain things, even if they're strong or uncomfortable (esp. in response to normal life events) isn't necessarily a problem, unless (again) when they get in the way.

[Thirteen]

Honestly, you've probably just convinced yourself that happier moments (with Happy and Sad times being typical, and more extreme-seeming in your teens) were something more, based on Demi Lovato's story.

If you have sad moments that are beyond regular sadness (i.e. where you think of suicide, or hurting yourself), then I suggest you talk to your parents about it, and tell them you should see a therapist. Until then, it sounds like perfectly normal mood-swinging to me.

[Haunted]

No, I never thought I was bipolar. You just messed up a little bit. I just said that I felt like something was wrong because I couldn't control myself. I cut and once I even thought about suicide. I would never actually kill myself, but at the moment if I had a knife I would have stuck it into my belly just to feel something.
But now I don't feel that way anymore. I feel quite well, I just miss my friend and it is a lot different.

[Thirteen]

Well then, if I messed it up, I'm failing to understand your question. It seemed like you were asking "If I think I have Bipolar, does that mean I don't have Bipolar?".

So, I guess I'll try to recognize that, in a generalization. Usually, when people think they have a mental illness, they have their reasons. They can be right, or they could be completely wrong, but this usually depends on what kinds of things lead them to suspect there is something wrong.

Technically, even someone who thinks they have Schizophrenia COULD be right, if they exhibited the symptoms, and a doctor agreed. What was meant by the original saying is that, in general, people who think they have Schizophrenia probably don't, because of a couple things (that I can think of right now).

First of all, many people don't understand Schizophrenia well, and a blunt list of symptoms isn't going to do much good to the untrained (and obviously at least a bit worried) mind. Second, symptoms like Delusions, Hallucinations, Psychosis, etc. are associated with Schizophrenia (but not only Schizophrenia). Meaning, Schizophrenics may be too delusional to realize they need help, for example.

Does that help any better?

[Haunted]

yes, it was only a question to focus better on what being bipolar means. I never thought I was bipolar, I just wanted to know something more.
And yes, I'm a bit confusing when I talk. THats' why I need to explain everything. Plus, English is not my first language so it gets even worse to explain at times.

[Thirteen]

Oh, alrighty. Yeah, maybe I misunderstood because, as you said, your first language isn't English.

If you have any other questions, feel free to PM me and ask.