Three Bipolar Disorder Symptoms No One Wants to Talk About

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The three symptoms below represent the side of bipolar disorder we all know is there but rarely want to let the public know exists.

Woman Shushing - Three Bipolar Disorder Symptoms No One Wants to Talk About


I know how important it is to protect the reputation of bipolar disorder in the full general public. We don't want people thinking we are dangerous, scary, crazy people who can't be trusted. But I practice feel nosotros need to own upward to the fact that certain mood swings Do crusade the behaviors we want to sweep under the carpet. The three symptoms beneath represent the side of bipolar disorder we all know is there but rarely desire to permit the public know exists. This is only an opinion, of course, but I'm truly interested to know if yous experience the same.

#1 Dangerous, Aggressive, and Violent Behavior in Bipolar Disorder

I work with parents and partners of those with bipolar disorder. In the majority of situations, people who are in a potent dysphoric manic episode can be dangerous, aggressive, and violent. Physical assault and weapons are not uncommon. Many men get to jail because of this behavior when they actually need psychiatric help. People who are balmy-mannered and kind when well, both men and women, get superhuman forcefulness along with the aggression—ripping a sink out of the wall, punching through windows, throwing chairs, and other dangerous behaviors are not uncommon.

Families and partners suffer in silence considering they are scared to tell anyone about what really goes on at domicile.

I take violent thoughts when dysphoric mania is raging. I used to hunt down cars if the driver flipped me off or made a foreign face. It is non my goal to scare anyone reading this. Information technology'south my goal that we are honest about these hidden and pushed-nether-the-rug symptoms of bipolar disorder.

The solution is management. People with bipolar exercise non have these symptoms unless the mood swings are raging. Prevent the mood swings, and you can prevent the dangerous, aggressive, and vehement behavior.

#ii Psychosis in Bipolar Disorder

I have rapid cycling bipolar Ii disorder with psychotic features. Although information technology is more common amongst people diagnosed with bipolar I, people who live with bipolar II also experience psychosis. I experienced undiagnosed psychotic symptoms from historic period 19 to 31, when I was finally diagnosed. I've had hallucinations and delusions all of my adult life. What scares me is that no one—and I mean no one—educated me almost psychosis when I was diagnosed. It was as if the symptoms didn't exist. When I learned the extent of my psychosis, I was appalled that I had lived with it for so long.

My symptoms were mostly visual hallucinations and paranoid delusions. I didn't know that others didn't have them also! If you lot have bipolar I disorder, there is a lxx% chance of full-on psychosis when y'all are in a full-blown manic episode. This psychosis tin be very bizarre and mimic schizophrenia. The divergence? People with bipolar disorder only have psychosis during a manic or depressed mood swing. There is no psychosis exterior of low or mania.

If a person experiences psychosis in between episodes, this is not bipolar disorder but another mental health status. Practise yous or your loved ones have psychosis? If bipolar disorder is involved, psychosis could exist involved as well.

#iii Cognitive Impairment in Bipolar Disorder

Many people find this scary. Nosotros already have bipolar, does this mean we have retentivity bug as well? Possibly. Cognitive impairment from retention lapses, forgetting appointments, beingness unable to remember information, and experiencing encephalon fog during certain episodes is common! If you have bipolar, you've probably felt the sluggish brain that comes with low. If you accept mania, you have probably tripped over your words, said things you didn't hateful, and had trouble thinking thoughts in order.

My cerebral symptoms visit me daily. I'm not able to remember dates and numbers, and I demand help with calendars and appointments. Mine got worse later intense therapy I had for severe depression. It's something I find distressing, only information technology'southward easy to manage.

I want u.s.a. to be open about cognitive issues. This is the only way we can get help! My cognitive symptoms tend to linger all of the time, just they go worse with mood swings. A perfect example of this: I was supposed to submit this weblog past midnight. Yesterday, I reminded myself all day to submit it, only I withal managed to go to slumber without sharing it on time. I have to live with these symptoms, and fifty-fifty though a few things sideslip through, I do control the majority of my pocket-sized retentiveness issues with a good support arrangement!

Here's the Good News—Yes, In that location IS Expert News!

Bipolar disorder is an episodic illness. We have all of our symptoms while in a mood swing. This ways we are STABLE when we are not in a mood swing. The symptoms I list above usually go abroad when the affliction is successfully managed. It can take regular monitoring for those of us who accept daily symptoms. Others who have long breaks between mood swings may even forget the symptoms fifty-fifty existed. This is why we must have a management plan that can recognize the dangerous, aggressive, and trigger-happy behavior; psychosis; and cognitive harm every bit shortly every bit they begin.

I know we desire to protect our reputation effectually this illness. We don't want to be seen as different or "freaks." But I ask that within our community, we get brutally honest about what really happens to those of us with the illness. It's the Simply way to stop the symptoms and make them stay abroad forever!

Originally posted January 29, 2015.

Nearly the author

Julie A. Fast is the writer of the bestselling mental health books Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder, Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder: Understanding and Helping Your Partner, Getting It Done When Yous're Depressed, OMG, That'due south Me! (vol. 2), and The Wellness Cards Treatment Organization for Bipolar Disorder. She is a longtime bp Magazine author and the meridian blog correspondent, with over five million web log views. Julie is also a researcher and educator who focuses on bipolar disorder prevention and means to recognize mood swings from the kickoff—before they become too far and take over a person's life. She works as a parent and partner passenger vehicle and regularly trains wellness intendance professionals, including psychiatric residents, pharmacists, general practitioners, therapists, and social workers, on bipolar disorder and psychotic disorder management. She has a Facebook group for parents, The Stable Table, and for partners, The Stable Bed. Julie is the recipient of the Mental Health America excellence in journalism award and was the original consultant for Claire Danes's character on the TV show Homeland. Julie had the beginning bipolar disorder web log and was instrumental in teaching the earth almost bipolar disorder triggers, the importance of circadian rhythm sleep, and the concrete signs of bipolar disorder, such as recognizing mania in the eyes. Julie lives with bipolar disorder, a psychotic disorder, anxiety, and Add.

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