Some Little Known Facts (Or Are They?)
I know I've entertained with some stories of my bipolar disorder, a poem, my kids, my marriage, etc. I thought that maybe I'd educate about my bipolar disorder.
As you know by now, if you've been reading from the beginning, or at least for the past few weeks, I've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder type I. Bipolar I has manic episodes that last at least seven days, or manic symptoms that are so severe that the person needs immediate hospital care. Depressive episodes occur as well, typically lasting at least two weeks. Episodes of depression with mixed features (depression and mania at the same time) are also possible.
My mania typically lasts at least several months, and is almost always followed by a debilitating crash. Only one time was different. Back in 2001, I was admitted to the hospital during a terrific high. I remember flirting mercilessly with the doctor that had to examine me when I had to come into the hospital. I had him blushing and uncomfortable. He was a medical doctor that had to ask me all sorts of personal questions, and I kept laughing at him; you would have thought that I would have been the uncomfortable one. Then I went on to flatter him. He came in one more time to see me again the next day, and again, I flirted with him until he was blushing. The day after that, however, was different. I didn't crash like I normally did. I was put on Lithium when I entered the hospital, and it slowly was working. I was getting calmer. I was so grateful that time to not crash.
The National Institute of Mental Health says people with bipolar disorder type I often experience periods of unusually intense emotion, changes in sleep patterns and activity levels, and uncharacteristic behaviors, often without recognizing their likely harmful or undesirable effects. These are called "mood episodes." It's important to note that these are very different from moods and behaviors that are typical for the person.
I always get so upset when a person describes something as bipolar. "The weather is so bipolar lately." Um, no. That's insulting. You can't put the weather on medication and expect it to get stable. You can't send the weather to therapy to learn coping skills. That's bull. Rant over.
When the doctors diagnosed me, they went off a list of symptoms to figure out if I "qualified" for bipolar, as well as many tests and interviews. Mind you, these symptoms are different from moods and behaviors typical for the person.
Like I said above, they really got me with the risky things that show poor judgement. I'm pretty even-keeled in "real" life. When I'm manic, however, I'm a slut. There's no better word to describe it. I drink so bad that I have the shakes the next day. I look at anything with two legs like a bed partner. I spend money that I don't have. I'm just a hot mess. And that is not typical behavior for me.
I was 18 when I looked at buying a cute, two-door sports car. I was working at Montgomery Ward at the time. It was a part-time job in the men's department. I was supposed to be attending high school, but I wasn't even doing that. My shopping habits were out of control. I talked to the dealer at least four times about this little sports car; they were very encouraging. I just needed somebody to co-sign for me. Guess what? I couldn't find anybody. Probably a good thing. (If you're wondering what kind of car it was...it was red.)
Wondering where these facts were taken from? You can read more at:
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/bipolar-disorder/index.shtml
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