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April 5, 2008, 2:37 pm
Flag as Inappropriate K to the J  

Almost everyone I know seems to have some type of Bi-polarness in them! Even I seem to think I could be bi-polar sometimes.

Is there really any test to take to know for sure if you are bi-polar or not?

I'm asking this because anybody could just have a 'split personality' or just get very angry sometimes and act bi-polar.

How does anybody know for sure if they are bi-polar?

I am not sure that you understand fully what bipolar disorder is. It's not just about getting angry-in fact the definition is quite the opposite. Bipolar disorder used to be called manic depression and this it would seem is a more accurate description.

Bipolar is a type of depression, characterised by periods of bad depression. But, the person will then swing through into a manic phase-and the manic phase could last for a couple of days, or weeks, or months. Mania is NOT about getting angry. It would be more characteristic of extremes of behaviour like religious fervour, or out of control gambling, or overspending to the point that you make the whole family broke.

There are also different grades of bipolar, that are dependent on the severity of the mania you suffer. I personally am bipolar 2, which is a less severe expression of it.

I hope that this helps you to understand what is really a very complex condition a little better.

Also, when you refer to "split personality", that term loosely relates to the mental health condition of schizophrenia, not bipolar disorder. And yes, everyone has moods but people with mood disorders such as bipolar disorder experience these mood swings in a much more severe way than the norm.

My kids keep telling me they are bipolar as it is a joke. I had to explain to them it is really a disorder and not something to make light of. Sometimes I think the media does not full explain things which could be the problem.