I know at least one of you has a spouse that has bipolar disorder. I just went and took the online screening test for bipolar disorder and I got a positive result. I answered yes to all the questions except the last one saying, "Have you ever been told by a physician that you have bipolar disorder?" I have been treated for depression several times over the years and my mother was once diagnosed with manic depression (long time ago) but she's never had treatment for it that I know of. The test is at webmd.com. Would anyone mind taking a look at the questions and letting me know what they think please? Since this shows a positive result, what should I do? Go to my regular doctor or to another type of doctor? I may just be worrying too much, but H was the one that suggested I go take this screening when he saw the commercial about it. He might have been being sarcastic like normal, but with my mother being diagnosed with it I thought it wouldn't hurt. Thanks, I'm going to go for now. Will be checking back in for responses.....

I will check the site and let you know what I think. I have knowledge in this area. If you think you may have bipolar disorder, please see a psychiatrist, not a regular doctor, for an evaluation. INternists and family physicians are really not all that sophisticated in their screening. I will get back to you.

dumplin,
This is my first post. I have been lurking for a few weeks. I found out my wife was having physical affairs with 2 men in August 2002.
I concur with the another reply to your post that it is serious and should be evaluated by a psychiatrist. There are other disorders such as ADD, ADHD and Borderline Personality Disorder which have some of the symptoms of Bipolar Disorder.
My wife suffers from Bipolar Disorder, sometimes refered to as Manic Depressive Disorder. The affairs began shortly after she was diagnosed with the disorder in 2000. She was probably suffering from the disorder in 1998 when she started an emotional afair with another man that continued until she started the physical affairs. Because a patient with the disorder is often non-compliant her manic phase was not controlled until last week.
My wife also has an addictive/compulsive personality. Some people with the Bipolar Disorder have this additional problem which I understand can affect their ability to avoid an affair. Their "fog" can be more pronounced.

I have been diagnosed as bipolar and what's posted there seems to be pretty accurate. I would suggest making an appointment with a psychologist or psychiatrist if you think that it might be an issue.

Thank you all for your replies. I don't really know what to think. I know my mother was diagnosed with it though. I guess I'll just think on it and consult our Mental Health department - we have to go through them before our insurance will pay anything. Thanks!

Dumplin,

My first husband is bi-polar and my 9 year old daughter, "Dinobon" is bi-polar.

If the online questions point to the possibility of you being bi-polar, then by all means, go and get it checked out...better to be safe than sorry and with the proper meds you can go on and feel so much better.

If I can be of any help, please let me know. I'm learning as I go when it comes to dealing with Dinobon...but she is a special, creative and bright child.

Hugs to you,
Twiisty

Bipolar disorder and manic depression is the same thing and is hereditary.

My husband, Bipolar Bear, was diagnosed in January 2000. Until then, counselors and psychiatrist misdiagnosed him as just alcoholic and depressed and threw him in treatment a numebr of times. Once he was correctly diagnosed and the appropriate medication was prescribed, he no longer is compelled to drink to medicate his discomfort because the medication balances his brain chemistry and he says he feels and thinks "normally' for the very first time in his life. He LOVES his medication and loves feeling logical and reasonable...things finally make sense.

Bipolar Disorder is a managable disease despite the fact it is a devastating disease. I saw the Web MB bipolar questionaire a couple days ago and went through the list saying "yep, that's my guy" on every single symptom.

The psychiatrists at the psyche ward said that my husband was "profoundly" bipolar and suicidal. But, at least we finally had a reason why his behavior was so crazy and so reckeless and impulsive...and medication to control these destrcutive tendencies. It was the first step towards recovery and such a relief to know it could be controlled.

I certainly encourage you to immediately get an evaluation. It will change your life in ways you never thought possible. Good luck, Honey....you're in my prayers.

Catnip =^^=

<small>[ October 16, 2002, 06:56 AM: Message edited by: catnip ]</small>

Dumplin,

Would you mind posting the entire URL for the bipolar test? Just go back to the site and copy the entire address beginning with "http:" and then paste it into a message here. I looked at webmd and couldn't find the test.

Thanks,
MJ

Catnip After years of misdiagnosis and therefore doubt and mistrust, I am struggling to find the right medication for my situation- have been treated by an expert and had many rounds with several med's. Knowing that your answer will not be taken as expert advice by a Doctor, will you please tell me what med finally is working for your husband?

Here's the link for the bi-polar screening.
My Ex-Hubby and my daughter fit the profile, I did not.
It was interesting...I plan to look at it more later...
Hugs,
Twiisty

Bi-polar Screening

I looked at the assessment questions for bipolar on the web site. It is a cursory test for indicating you may be suffering from a mood disorder, of which bipolar disorder is one type. I think if any of you list yes to many of the questions, it indicates you should get further evaluayion by a psychiatrist. NOt a psychologist. Medications cannot be prescribed by a psychologist. keep in mind, as with most mental disorders, getting the right medication to work for you can be a lengthy period of trial and error. There are many different meds and different combination of meds that can work, but which one can work for you , and which dose, cannot be predicted ahead of time-hence lengthy times of trying a med and seeing if it works. Just keep plugging at it. I hope this helps.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">Originally posted by catnip:
<strong>Bipolar disorder and manic depression is the same thing and is hereditary.

My husband, Bipolar Bear, was diagnosed in January 2000. Until then, counselors and psychiatrist misdiagnosed him as just alcoholic and depressed and threw him in treatment a numebr of times. Once he was correctly diagnosed and the appropriate medication was prescribed, he no longer is compelled to drink to medicate his discomfort because the medication balances his brain chemistry and he says he feels and thinks "normally' for the very first time in his life. He LOVES his medication and loves feeling logical and reasonable...things finally make sense.

Bipolar Disorder is a managable disease despite the fact it is a devastating disease. I saw the Web MB bipolar questionaire a couple days ago and went through the list saying "yep, that's my guy" on every single symptom.

The psychiatrists at the psyche ward said that my husband was "profoundly" bipolar and suicidal. But, at least we finally had a reason why his behavior was so crazy and so reckeless and impulsive...and medication to control these destrcutive tendencies. It was the first step towards recovery and such a relief to know it could be controlled.

I certainly encourage you to immediately get an evaluation. It will change your life in ways you never thought possible. Good luck, Honey....you're in my prayers.

Catnip =^^=</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">

Thanks for all the advice. I'm going to contact our mental health group and see what they can offer me. I don't really see the "manic" side most of the time (at least to the extreme that the commercial shows). There are only a few times that I can recall being totally out of control - like when H and I separated and I went to a bar with my brother, his friend (who turned into my OP) and my mother. I got so drunk that I don't remember them having to "push and pull" me out so I would go home. They said that I told them I wasn't ready to go. Of course, I just chalked it up to having too much to drink and not being used to drinking at all.

Question for those who have bipolar or who know someone with it and were misdiagnosed with depression - When you/your family member was treated for depression, did the depression medication make him nonchalant and even mean at times. I don't know if it matters or not, but everytime I've taken anti-dep. medication I become the B*tch from hell or get the attitude of "Whatever, I don't care".

I don't know; I talked to my aunt last night and she said that my grandfather (passed away a couple of years ago) was also diagnosed with a mental disorder, but she couldn't remember what it was. She's supposed to talk to my uncle and see if he remembers. I haven't talked to my mother yet because she has always said that the doctors didn't know what they were talking about. I do know that she's attempted suicide at least three times that I've heard of and remember - I remember one time when I was younger that she took a bunch of pills and slept for like three days. When she finally came out of her room, she walked through the house without any clothes on and got something to drink and went back to her room.

I feel sort of stupid because I'm not to any of those extremes - I'm not saying I'm perfect - but I don't want my kids to ever have to deal with any of the stuff like that I had to deal with. I'm worried about it because of my mother; just like I don't drink very often because I'm afraid that I'll turn into an alcoholic like my father.

Gotta go for now! Sorry this sounds really down, doesn't it? I'll be back on later!

Catnip, I am a newby and having trouble figuring out how to pose a question directly to you. I guess all I can do is ask again and hope you check the thread later. Please respond! I/we could use the help. Q: What kind of medication is your husband taking? Catnip. Please respond.

I talked with our Corphealth people and want they are going to do is send me to a counselor for evaluation first and the counselor will then determine if I need to see to be referred to a pyschiatrist for medication.

Okay, I talked with my mother and she said she was diagnosed with depression and so was my grandfather (her father). She said that my grandmother has "diagnosed" her (my mother) with manic depression, but she's never been diagnosed with it from a doctor. I guess it was my grandmother that told me that Momma was manic depressive. Grandma told her this because of her mood swings so who knows. I already made the appointment and I'm going to keep it. My sister looked at the site and her results were negative, but she said she thought, "Yep, that's D on each question." Oh well, better safe than sorry I guess.

After a significant bout of depression and thoughts of suicide, by husband went to a psychologist for counseling and was eventually diagnosed as BiPolar, Manic too. The questionaire is a valid one and I stress that you seek help. I agree that a psychiatrist would be the way to go as indeed, our psychologist cannot prescribe the medication and must make a referral to our medical doctor, who then has to go over every little thing to make his determination. Why live like that any longer. Even as the spouse, I have been sorely affected by this illness. Good luck. K