Is it I'm bipolar or I have bipolar?

Bipolar is an adjective — never a noun — that means “being, characteristic of or affected with a bipolar disorder,” according to Merriam-Webster. So in that sense, “I'm bipolar” is correct grammatically.

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How can I tell if I'm bipolar?

Symptoms - Bipolar disorder
  • feeling sad, hopeless or irritable most of the time.
  • lacking energy.
  • difficulty concentrating and remembering things.
  • loss of interest in everyday activities.
  • feelings of emptiness or worthlessness.
  • feelings of guilt and despair.
  • feeling pessimistic about everything.
  • self-doubt.

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What is commonly mistaken for bipolar?

The most common misdiagnosis of bipolar disorder is major depressive disorder (MDD). The symptoms of major depression last for at least two weeks and can include: persistent feelings of sadness or low mood.

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How do I know if I'm bipolar or just moody?

It's normal for your mood to change in response to different situations, news, or challenges you encounter throughout a day. But if your mood shifts dramatically between extreme highs and lows, it may be a sign of bipolar disorder.

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Can you be mildly bipolar?

Cyclothymia (cyclothymic disorder) is a milder form of bipolar disorder. It involves frequent mood swings of hypomanic and depressive episodes. Bipolar disorder is a lifelong mood disorder and mental health condition that causes intense shifts in mood, energy levels, thinking patterns and behavior.

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Bipolar Disorder vs Depression - 5 Signs You're Likely Bipolar

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At what age does bipolar start?

Bipolar disorder can occur at any age, although it often develops between the ages of 15 and 19 and rarely develops after 40. Men and women from all backgrounds are equally likely to develop bipolar disorder. The pattern of mood swings in bipolar disorder varies widely between people.

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Do people with bipolar realise they have it?

Do bipolar people know they are bipolar? That's a difficult question to answer. In general, it seems that most people who have bipolar disorder at least know or sense that something's amiss, even if they haven't been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

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What is a bipolar swing?

Overview. Bipolar disorder, formerly called manic depression, is a mental health condition that causes extreme mood swings that include emotional highs (mania or hypomania) and lows (depression). When you become depressed, you may feel sad or hopeless and lose interest or pleasure in most activities.

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Am I bipolar without mania?

Bipolar II disorder is a type of bipolar disorder in which people experience depressive episodes as well as hypomanic episodes (shifting back and forth), but never mania. People with bipolar II disorder tend to have longer and more frequent depressed episodes than people with bipolar I disorder.

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Is bipolar triggered by trauma?

Some experts believe that experiencing a lot of emotional distress as a child can cause bipolar disorder to develop. This could be because childhood trauma and distress can have a big effect on your ability to manage your emotions. This can include experiences like: Neglect.

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What is the most misdiagnosed mental illness?

Bipolar disorder

Bipolar is one of the most frequently misdiagnosed mental health issues. Somewhere between 1.4 and 6.4 percent of people worldwide are affected by bipolar disorder. However, it's hard to say which number is more accurate due to the frequency of wrongful diagnosis.

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Can anxiety be mistaken for bipolar?

Bipolar disorder and anxiety are two mental health conditions that can look and feel similar. Some people also experience anxiety and bipolar disorder together. The differences come in the triggers behind the overarching symptoms.

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What age does bipolar start in females?

It usually starts in your teens or 20s. Often women first have a depressive episode (or multiple) as an adult — before they have a manic (or hypomanic) episode.

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What triggers bipolar rage?

Arguments with your spouse, chilly weather, grief — a number of scenarios may provoke bipolar mania or depression. Certain medications, seasonal changes, and alcohol could trigger bipolar mood episodes, experts say. Here's why. Bipolar disorder is characterized by unusual shifts in mood and energy.

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How common is bipolar disorder in Australia?

What is Bipolar? Bipolar Disorder is a serious life long mental health condition which features pronounced mood swings. The condition was formerly known as manic depression. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that the condition affects 2.9% of Australians aged 16 and over, or 568,000 people.

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How quickly do bipolar moods change?

How quickly does a person with bipolar disorder shift between highs and lows? It depends. Mood shift frequency varies from person to person. A small number of patients may have many episodes within one day, shifting from mania (an episode where a person is very high-spirited or irritable) to depression.

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What is a mild form of bipolar disorder?

Cyclothymic disorder is a mental disorder. It is a mild form of bipolar disorder (manic depressive illness), in which a person has mood swings over a period of years that go from mild depression to emotional highs.

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How do people with bipolar act?

Bipolar disorder can cause your mood to swing from an extreme high to an extreme low. Manic symptoms can include increased energy, excitement, impulsive behaviour, and agitation. Depressive symptoms can include lack of energy, feeling worthless, low self-esteem and suicidal thoughts.

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What are the red flags of bipolar disorder?

Grandiosity and overconfidence. Easy tearfulness, frequent sadness. Needing little sleep to feel rested. Uncharacteristic impulsive behavior.

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Do bipolar people lack empathy?

Bipolar disorder can cause a lack of empathy, but symptoms may also make it more challenging to focus on the feelings of others. While there is no medication to improve empathy, treating bipolar disorder can help. Introspection, guided emotional learning, and observing emotions in others may also help build empathy.

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What are the coping skills for bipolar disorder?

Try relaxation activities, like meditation or yoga. Maintain a support network, of family and friends there to help during a crisis. Educate your loved ones about bipolar disorder so they can best support you. Ask them to help you recognize the warning signs of manic or depressive episodes.

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What is the youngest bipolar?

Bipolar disorder has been diagnosed in children as young as 5. When young children experience symptoms, this is called early-onset bipolar disorder. What are mood episodes?

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What not to say to someone with bipolar?

  • 'You're So Lucky You Get Manic Because You Get So Much Done! '
  • 'I Thought You Were on Medication for That'
  • 'You Can't Have Bipolar Disorder'
  • 'Bipolar Disorder Doesn't Give You an Excuse to Check Out From Life'

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