Is it possible to be a "little" bipolar?

[Sabriel]

I'm finding recently that my long-time partner is going through excessive mood swings, like chipper and talkative switching suddenly over to morose, negative, and curled-up-under-the-covers depressed for several days at a time.

It's fairly new, and it scares me. It's affecting our family, jobs, everything.

I've seen some info about bipolar disorder, but it sounds more like extremes than what I'm seeing here. Is it possible to have a mild bipolar disorder?

If this situation sounds familiar to anyone, I'd appreciate some advice.

[Zomby Woof]

1. With all respect

I am editing out of respect for your privacy. I really don't feel qualified to comment beyond my own experience with a bipolar person, and that is all it was: My own experience.

:hug:

[Sabriel]

2. I'm not ready to make that move

We've been together for 20 years and have 2 kids. I can't think of how to approach the subject, though. We've never discussed mental health, although my partner did take Paxil and alprazolam for a little while.

spelledit

[Zomby Woof]

5. 20 years?

Wow. Well, I was advising you from a shorter term perspective, with a serious case.

I will say that this thread will probably be locked, because you are soliciting medical advice. But for what it's worth, I wish you well no matter what you decide!

[crispini]

3. That doesn't sound good. I'd get that person some professional help.

Sometimes I think I'm bipolar (although I know I'm not) because I go through phases -- the difference is that they are months long. I will go several months full of energy, very outgoing, and involved in a zillion projects. Then I realize I'm overcommitted, I haven't cleaned my house or taken care of myself properly in months, and I get very self-focused and have to weasel out of projects. I'm trying to minimize this 'cause it's a pattern of mine, but I think it's just a lifestyle thing I do and not anything clinical.

Your partner sounds quite different and I'd call a professional ASAP.

[crispini]

6. Oh and....

There are many positive changes that people can make to improve mood: Exercise, cutting down meat, more cooking esp. organic, lots of vegtables, taking good vitamins, taking Omega 3 fatty acid, dark chocolate. Meditation, yoga.

It's all about the mind-body connection. We are such intellectual thinking animals we tend to forget about the animal part, but our hormones and chemicals in our bodies have a POWERFUL effect on our minds. And we can get our bodies to produce the good stuff by exercising, taking care of ourselves etc.

[Sabriel]

7. Thanks. All those things have gone out the window, of course

They're typically the first to go when stress and lack of time hit.

Thanks for the reponses, crispini.

[crispini]

9. Isn't that the truth?

:hug:

[MountainLaurel]

4. Yes

I forget the exact name, but there is indeed a milder form of bipolar disorder, just as there's a mild (but more continual) depression.

Here's some info from the American Association of Family Physicians:
http://familydoctor.org/625.xml

The National Institute on Mental Health:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/bipolar.cfm

(This includes a continuum of mild to severe. Mild mania is hypomania, mild depression is dysthymia.

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance:
http://www.dbsalliance.org/PDF/BPcalendar.pdf

MedlinePlus (National Institutes of Health):
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bipolardisorder.html

[nothometoday]

18. BIG yes

I was going to post similar advice. There ARE often " degrees" with depressive disorders...


Good luck to you and yours :)

[TroubleMan]

8. Yes, it's called hypothymic

But what you're describing seems more than that.

[havocmom]

10. If the partner is of the female sort, it might be getting on to the change

time of life and that can bring on some nasty mood swings for some of us females. Think of it like a male mid-life crisis combined with the hormonal swings of a teenage female. Throw in a lot of body discomforts which some of us get and you see the importantce of good medical care.

If your partner is male, yer on your own ;) My 'long time' partner and I split the sheets 14 years ago. Life is better now. He is torturing some other poor schmuck. :D I have a gentleman who behaves like a responsible adult. Our daughter survived the whole thing and came out of it much wiser and more careful about relationships.

Seriously, a check-up is in order. Read up on depression. It can set in any time and it can be dealt with constructively. PM me anytime if you wanna vent or ask questions. Been there, done all that. Survival is possible. But you gotta get to the bottom of things.

[hickman1937]

11. What is "fairly new"?

Sounds like my onset of menopause a few years ago.

[Sabriel]

13. New as in the last six months

And menopause is out of the question. Heh.

[hickman1937]

19. Is your LTP too young?

It comes on at different ages with different people. Otherwise it sounds like something scared the crap out of your LTP.

[miss_kitty]

12. There might be something going on that needs looking at by a healthcare

professional. Having it done sooner rather than later is always a good idea. If you are having trouble convincing your SO about seeking help, talk to your own doc to find ways to convince the SO to go to a doc

[Sabriel]

14. Have you ever tried to get a Norwegian to admit weakness?

Talking about mental health is rather, uh, touchy around here. Last time I tried it, we were cool for days.

[miss_kitty]

16. Damn! as a Norwegian (a quarter anyway)

I see your point.

Might be best approached as a general check up(c'mon hon-let's both get a check up-can't hurt-I know we're healthy, but this will establish baseline for the docs to use in years to come)-as we age, our bodies need looking at. I avoided the doc for years, and am now paying for ignoring about 18 months of symptoms. And I'll pay for that the rest of my life.

You can always play the child card-"The kids and I need you around for years, and we need you healthy!"

[bliss_eternal]

15. I would be inclined to think yes...

I think there are mild forms of most mental disorders. Sometimes things can be treated with diet, supplements, exercise, etc. If those things don't help, they may need other assistance.

:hug:

I hope that you can help this person to be evaluated by someone quailified to do so. It's tough to live with, I speak from experience, so I'm sending you a little cyber hug and good thoughts!

[havocmom]

17. Sabriel, you have mail

;)

[friesianrider]

20. No more than it is to be a "little" pregnant...

You either are or you aren't :)

It is possible though that perhaps he has a mild case of it - or maybe just depression. I'd definitely advise getting your SO to see a professional. You may consider going with them as well, as support.

Good luck :)

[CBGLuthier]

21. nothing mild about that

Unfair to try to diagnose but thatis bipolar.

Not all have the incredibly excessive delusional highs, which sounds like the only thing they don't have.

I am mostly like what you are describing but tend to keep it between the ditches so to speak.

My cousin, on the other hand, is what most think of in that he can be delusional when up.

Whatever is going on, they need help. And do not let anyone give them antidepressants unless well diagnosed. Antidepressants and bipolar are a very, very bad idea. I won't elaborate but I know this from personal experience.

[FuzzySlippers]

22. Yup. It's called cyclothymia.

http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.cyclothymia.html