My best friend’s mom was diagnosed with bipolar disorder a few weeks ago. After knowing that, I realized my friend might also have a few symptoms and tendencies, but I’m not sure. She sometimes has very unusual shifts in mood.. but these ups and downs might not necessarily reflect bipolar disorder symptoms. How can I tell if she’s having early symptoms of this disease?
USICO
Hello and thank you for your question about how to recognize if your friend is bipolar.
Firstly, I would like to say that it is a good thing you are concerned about your friend.
You may be able to recognize some warning signs so that you will be able to either ask her to seek help, or call a help center to assist you.
Bipolar disorder is only seen in about 1% of the population. Although there seems to be a genetic connection, I have read that most people diagnosed with bipolar have no family history of it. It most commonly starts between 20-30 years old.
However, your friend may not be bipolar, but have the lessor form called:
Cyclothymia (cyclothymic disorder)
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cyclothymia/basics/definition/con-20028763
As I do not know your friend, I would like to explain a few things about being bipolar that may surprise you. While being down for a long time is certainly not a good thing, (this is called Dysthymia: “persistent mild depression” – in some, at least 2 years of dysthymia leads to recurring major depression”), some bipolar people actually report that they like the feelings of mania because they get a lot of things done.
However, the problems with mania happen when a person has a “marked impairment in functioning, or relationships with others, or needs to be hospitalized to prevent harm to self or others, or there are psychotic features” . So, in looking at your friend, you might want to consider, whether her manic episodes are so severe that they may result in danger to her, others, relationships, or employment, which may lead to hospitalization.
While it takes a psychologist or psychiatrist to diagnose bipolar disorder, I can tell you there are four major classifications:
bipolar I:
manic episode with or without major depressive episodes
bipolar II :
hypomanic episodes with at least one major depressive episode
rapid cycling: >
4 episodes of mania/depression/mixed within 1 year
cyclothymic:
alternating hypomanic episodes with dysthymia
I know this is confusing, so please read about:
1. What is the difference between mania and hypomania?
2. Detailed but very readable look at bipolar disorder
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/bipolar-disorder-in-adults/index.shtml#pub16
I do not know if you are writing from the US, but the National Institute of Health has a free hotline if you feel your friend is in a serious crisis:
Call the toll-free, 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255); TTY: 1-800-799-4TTY (4889) to talk to a trained counselor.
I hope your friend will be happy and well.
Simon Downes, MD, PhD 