Is bipolar disorder common with us?

[Kristen]

Bipolar disorder runs in my family and I'm starting to realize I have it. They say that people who have it don't even know sometimes and I always thought I had depression which was made worse with gender identity disorder but now I notice that I also have times where I feel caught in the middle of a happy storm.

HRT seems to have helped me manage my depression better and I am happier overall but, lately I feel like the hormones are getting me "high". It seems like I have more manic highs, which is fairly lucky when it comes to the bipolar "lottery". Mania is wonderful when you have it but the problem is that it goes away without any notice and then all of a sudden the depression monkey jumps on my back. Rinse, wash, repeat.

I know depression is very likely with those who suffer from GID but, what about manic episodes?

Could bipolar disorder also be linked to GID like depression is?

[Alyx.]

Yeah, same thing happens to me.

I was wondering the same thing...

[Kristen]

High fives! 

I not surprised to be feeling euphoric and elated because of the hormones but how much is too much?

One of the problems that comes with my mania is that my thoughts race and it is hard for me to focus on the task at hand or anything at all really.

[lady amarant]

I get much the same reaction. When I'm high I struggle to focus on any one thing for very long. I just kinda flit from one thing to the next like an inebriated fairy. When my lows strike I range anywhere from apathetic to downright suicidal.

HRT has given me more highs and fewer lows, but I find the lows tend to be that much worse. Luckily I recognise it by now and kinda know how to deal with it (just. don't. get. out. of. bed. ... ) but sometimes it really scares me.

~Simone.

[icontact]

Sometimes I have episodes for about 4-5 hours where I'll have the symptoms of mania. But most of the time, I'm just depressed. Soooooo I'm not bipolar by the DSM-IV, just depressive. I'm not on hormones btw.

[MarySue]

It seems like I have more manic highs, which is fairly lucky when it comes to the bipolar "lottery". Mania is wonderful when you have it but the problem is that it goes away without any notice and then all of a sudden the depression monkey jumps on my back.

I'm not bipolar (as far as I know), but my ex-SO is. Mania may be wonderful to the person who's manic, but I can testify that it's hell on anyone who's close to them.

[shaniam]

I'm sure there are some that might be diagnosable w/ Bipolar disorder. I am not.

However, I'm a bit concerned about this poll. Bipolar disorder (formerly known as Manic Depression) is a serious illness and not something one should take lightly or try to self diagnose. It differs greatly from the normal highs and lows most people experience, and if you really think you have manic/depressive episodes, you should probably first talk to your doctor about it.

Secondly, none of the poll options included the answer, "No, I'm fine really". If we are really trying to get a measure of prevalence of bipolar in this group, don't you think it should have?

I hate to be the party pooper, but I work with mental illness, and this is really not something to mess around with.

-Shannon

P.S. Mania is wonderful? In my experience, mania often involves delusional and/or dangerous acts that can harm oneself or others and easily put one in the mental hospital.

[Kaitlyn]

It's possible I've got cyclothymia or bipolar II, since I'm miserable 95% of the type and hypomanic for the other 5%.  The highs seem to come around 1 AM, once per week or so, long as I'm awake then.

[TheBattler]

I have never been diagnoised with bi-polar but when I was on HRT my mood swings got out of control (hense my stay to hospital). I would go into work and sometime be high and distract everyone but my lows where not much better.

Alice

[goingdown]

Only depression from psychotic to mild.

[Stealthgrrl]

It seems like I have more manic highs, which is fairly lucky when it comes to the bipolar "lottery". Mania is wonderful when you have it but the problem is that it goes away without any notice and then all of a sudden the depression monkey jumps on my back.

I'm not bipolar (as far as I know), but my ex-SO is. Mania may be wonderful to the person who's manic, but I can testify that it's hell on anyone who's close to them.

Amen to that. My former spouse was bipolar. It was so much fun being up in the middle of the night trying to talk her down from implementing some demented plan and then being trashed for being "no fun." And that's the least of it.

When I meet someone now, and it looks like it might lead to anything, I ask them straight out if they are bipolar. If they are, it's a dealbreaker. One lied to me and said she wasn't, but it isn't as if it's hard to tell, when the irrational jealousy and pointless arguments start to happen. No way I'm sticking around for the paranoid fantasies, the hospitals, the police, the credit card bills and the promiscuity. Ain't we got fun.

[Jay]

I have depressed lows... 

When I get low, I get really low. Im not as depressed as what I used to be. I do see a light
now. But when the low hits me I just want to shut myself off from the world. I usually handle
these lows with weed! As it makes me level headed and not care.

Im not generally depressed. I have never been a happy person. It just once or twice a month
possibly more I fall into the abiys.

[vanna]

Voted for I have episodes of mania followed by episodes of depression (or vice versa)

Also
Self harm

Eating disorders

Obsessive behavior

but its good to find out thats your not alone in here!

[perfectisolation]

Depressed lows for me. but, im pretty sure bipolar runs in my family.

[Kristen]

I'm sure there are some that might be diagnosable w/ Bipolar disorder. I am not.

However, I'm a bit concerned about this poll. Bipolar disorder (formerly known as Manic Depression) is a serious illness and not something one should take lightly or try to self diagnose. It differs greatly from the normal highs and lows most people experience, and if you really think you have manic/depressive episodes, you should probably first talk to your doctor about it.

Secondly, none of the poll options included the answer, "No, I'm fine really". If we are really trying to get a measure of prevalence of bipolar in this group, don't you think it should have?

I hate to be the party pooper, but I work with mental illness, and this is really not something to mess around with.

-Shannon

P.S. Mania is wonderful? In my experience, mania often involves delusional and/or dangerous acts that can harm oneself or others and easily put one in the mental hospital.

My apologies. Perhaps next time I want to discuss something or start a poll I should clear it with you first?

Saying that you hate to be a party pooper doesn't change the fact that you are being one.

I'm more concerned about the damage you could cause over what my poll is capable of.

[tekla]

I'm kinda in agreement that its a very serious thing, and that it takes more than a self assessment to get there.  What I worry about is the use of the word 'common' as there are far too many things that could skew the outcome to prove anything like that one way or the other.

[tekla]

I'm kinda in agreement that its a very serious thing, and that it takes more than a self assessment to get there.  What I worry about is the use of the word 'common' as there are far too many things that could skew the outcome to prove anything like that one way or the other.

[Kristen]

Oh for heaven's sake!

I should have known better than to turn to the internet because of the quick-to-judge fun police.

I am not saying this isn't an important and delicate issue but the level of seriousness from some here makes me wonder if being a hater is common with us as well.

Life is a very dull place when we are serious all the time.

Reality checks are sometimes necessary but usually only succeed in making others fell less about themselves.

[tekla]

I've been confused for a lot of people in my life, but the police, first time for that.

But there are two questions really.  One: Are TG people more or less likely to be bi-polar.  Two: Are bi-polar persons more likely to be TG?

I don't think you get the real stats for either, though I think that number two is more likely than number one.

[Kristen]

Well I wasn't planning on writing a research paper with the results of this poll. I am just taking a recreational lithmus test in hopes of sparking some informative and creative conversation.

Thank you for your input.