Reply to Bipolar success stories?

Forum Index » Kids With Special Needs and Disabilities

Reply to "Bipolar success stories?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]^^ they are leaning towards a diagnosis of GAD -generalized anxiety disorder (DSM-IV)

He doesn't have any depression or lows--never.  Never had suicidal, self-harm thoughts.
He doesn't have any mood swings.  In fact, always been the most stable emotion-wise, mellow.  Zero extremes in that regard.
He has lots of friends long-term,  romantic relationship, finished college in 4 years, highly motivated.

He had trouble sleeping as a kid/teen, but no related issues with that.  Always had low level worry/anxiety. Never been fired, holds more than one job skipped school, etc.
No delusions of grandeur or risky behavior.

I would say more "Keyed up/on edge/restless", but not manic.  Never violent.

It does sound like there is a lot of haziness in diagnosing these things and they tend to want to observe and monitor before smacking a label down which I agree.

I do know many kids in that age range that had various issues, that weren't life-long or lasting.

[/quote]

Then  I spoke too soon, and that could be anxiety disorder. There is a big difference between bipolar and anxiety disorder, but you'd have to have a complete medical history to figure it out. Also try to get a DSM 5 diagnosis, the descriptions of bipolar have changed and now includes anxious mania and mixed mania.  I get anxious mania.  It differs from ordinary anxiety in that it is far more extreme - I bounce off the walls, I can go for many days without sleep, I can't concentrate on anything at all, and if it goes on too long, it can morph into paranoia.  I've never been violent though.

If it is GAD, then he can get through these anxiety attacks with a benzodiazipine, like Xanax.  He should stay in contact with psychiatrist even when he feels fine, for at least a while.  Bipolar may first manifest in your 20s.  I did not get my first full mania until I was 28, but in retrospect, I had some prior hypomanic episodes that I didn't recognize and nobody else knew about.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics