Video: bipolar disorder

Popular topics

Special reports

Child health

Men's health

Women's health

Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder, formerly known as manic depression, is a condition that affects your moods. An expert talks about symptoms and diagnosis, and explains the different treatments that are available.

Last reviewed: 11/01/2025

Next review due: 11/01/2025

More articles on: Mental health

Ratings

How helpful is this page?

Average rating

Based on 6 ratings

All ratings

Add your rating

Comments

4 Comments

Our rules

Comments are personal views. Any information they give has not been checked and may not be accurate.

ger1 said on 29 June 2024

I have recently been diagnosed with Bipolar disorder, for years doctors were treating me for normal stress and depression, even work related stress, they gave me anti-depressants etc. I lost friends and my job because other people didn't want to be around me, I could not get one normal doctor to understand this. I felt like I was going insane, one day elated another crying my eyes out, it ended late last year when I got suicidal, then I was finally referred to a Mental Health hospital with proper Psychiatrists that understood, they have put me on Decent medication now and though my episodes have not completely gone they are more manageable, I am still on a waiting list for Psychotherapy

I only wanted to say this to reassure other people that they are not alone, you are not going insane and help is out there and you will get better. Sometimes you need to pressure your doctor/GP to make them realise that it is not ordinary stress and depression, they are not trained in psychiatry and it is easy for them to misdiagnose your condition.

Report this content as offensive or unsuitable

Sherlin said on 18 June 2024

When i was staying in hostel, one of my friend would walk down the streets. We carried her to the student health center. The staff originally thought she was on drugs, but she wasn't. She had to control herself anyhow. Her parents came in the middle of the night to get her and she was hospitalized on the locked ward for 4 months. She was treated with Thorazine and painted pictures and she went to basket weaving. She always wanted to do that. After she was released, she threw away all her medication. She felt she didn't need it and returned to college. Her grades improved after that. To know more about Bipolar Disorder visit:

http://www.simplehealthguide.com/bipolar-disorder-2

Report this content as offensive or unsuitable

wildheart said on 23 August 2024

I have a partner who suffers from Bipolar, and it is definately more than just mood swings. It may start off as mood swings but a full blown episode or relapse, is more than just mood swings. Their whole way of thinking changes, everything is gets distorted to the point where it can ruin a relationship. I find there is not enough information on Bipolar in it's extreme. It's a devastating and distructive illness, and not enough of this information is published. The partner/carer of a person with bipolar go through hell and there is definately no support to those who love people with bipolar. More needs to be done in the way of therapy for the patient and their partner. The biggest problem a carer faces is that people with bipolar during an episode have their thoughts taken over by bipolar and because the law states that their word must be listened to, when they are in a bipolar episode, and they are not themselves, there is so much damaged caused. They dont know what they are saying or doing when very ill, because the bipolar has control not your partner, when they are well there is always a mess to clean up because the Drs etc listen to what they're saying but it's the bipolar not your partner/relative's thoughts. That is my experiance of it in 6 years being with my partner. The system lets you down.

Report this content as offensive or unsuitable

RCMA said on 05 March 2024

I can confirm recovery is possible. I have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder in remission. I am no longer on medication and have been fully discharged. I do not fear relapse. The biomedical model in this incident did not work for me, risperadol, and diazapan didn't help the social factors emotional stress and tension that caused my breakdown. I am not a machine. I am a human being, and so a mix of the biomedical approach and humanistic approach is needed for a full recovery for everyone, for anything i believe. More money into complimentary therapies :)

Report this content as offensive or unsuitable

Useful links

NHS Choices links

External links

Services near you

Find addresses, phone numbers and websites for services near you

Tools

Also on NHS Choices

Mental health blog

An archive of blogs from people with a mental health condition, talking about their symptoms, treatments and their life with their illness.

Most recent post

Candycan

  • Going to the doctors
    A week ago I went to the hospital for an Ultrasound scan as my doctor thinks I may have ...

  • by Candycan
  • 2 comments
JustEliza

  • Integration
    Once I let him go completely, I felt it: a sweet rush of resentment and grief covering the longing ...

  • by JustEliza
  • 0 comments

Mental health

Get information about mental health problems, find out where to get help and read other people's real life stories.

  • Link to Directgov – public services all in one place
  • The Information Standard - Certified member