Avatar Posted by jorcolicaran8 694 days ago (Question)
Is bipolar the new depression? Why is this diagnosis so popular now? I am not a mental professional so it is hard for me to think that one can determined if a person that is generally depressed is actualy bipolar, or when we notice that a person is acting differently than the week before it means he/she is bipolar. I've known many people in my life and I've seen changes in their moods. How can we differentiate changes in mood in a normal person vs the ones of a person with mild bipolar disorder. Does a bipolar person has a relevant change in mood just because, or something that happens in their lives or environment provokes the mood change? Is one born bipolar? Is there a cure?


Answers


bella
693 days ago
No I don't think bipolar is the 'new' depression. I understand what you're saying about, why it seems so 'popular' ATM and I think it's over used. Just because a person is moody, doesn't mean they're bipolar. It's not a label that should be tossed around lightly. In order to be accurately diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the patient would need to have an in depth psychological evaluation.

Bipolar is very different from depression because there are 2 definite phases a bipolar patient experiences - a 'manic' phase - which would consistently last for a period of time - everything things seems fantastic, even if it doesn't appear that way to other people. After the manic phase, the depressed stage follows. Alternately depression doesn't involve manic moods and they feel only depression. Here's a good link:

http://bipolar.about.com/cs/bpbasics/a/what_causes_bp.htm

If a person is just going through daily moodiness - this isn't bipolar illness. No there isn't a cure for bipolar.
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