[whitemustang02]

does anyone here know mu about bi-polar disorder and depression? if so please let me know. because o really would like to know some information and have some questions about it.

thanks a lot.
-mike

[coreysr5]

NIMH · Bipolar Disorder

[ReverendDexter]

What specifically are you wanting to know?

[whitemustang02]

Originally Posted by ReverendDexter What specifically are you wanting to know?

how to diagnose it in some one, and ways of treat meant. aswell as effects of certain drugs with it.

[ReverendDexter]

When you say certain drugs, do you mean prescription/OTC or recreational?

[whitemustang02]

Originally Posted by ReverendDexter When you say certain drugs, do you mean prescription/OTC or recreational?

i mean birth control pills. specifically the effects of the hormones in them.

[Fluffy The Rhino]

I'm definitely not a doctor, but I think BC could easily go either way with depression/bi-polar disorder, that is, side effects may be unpredictable considering the mix of drugs/hormones/personality, etc...

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by FluffyTheRhino I'm definitely not a doctor, but I think BC could easily go either way with depression/bi-polar disorder, that is, side effects may be unpredictable considering the mix of drugs/hormones/personality, etc...

I agree... I don't think there's a direct relationship between the two, but the affect on the hormones could definitely affect moods.

This might be helpful: birth control options - Bipolar Support Forums

[ReverendDexter]

Okay, asked the SO, and got this:

Some of the medications used to treat bipolar disorder, including carbamazepine and topiramate, interact with birth control pills. As a result, women who take these medications should consider another method of birth control (eg, an injection of depo-medroxyprogesterone acetate, condoms, or an intrauterine device).

The blood level of one medication, lamotrigine, is decreased in women who take birth control pills. Some women who take lamotrigine and a birth control pill need a higher dose of lamotrigine.

So I guess that's actually a big "yes".

[Genevieve!]

is your Girlfriend being extremely Moody because of the birthcontrol pills?

I was on ortho Tri-cyclen (spelling is off) and it made me EXTREMELY moody, I mean MOODY to the MAX!

One minute I would be happy, then I would just start crying for no reason then I would have EXTREME fits of rage, I screamed at my boyfriends mother because she pushed my dog and I fucking blew a gasket.

That stuff OFTEN makes women moody. She could try a different brand. (If that is the case)

[JASonic]

Birth control pills can cause certain "depression" like simptoms cant it?

I have a hard time trying to understand bi-polar because its not like a broken bone and you can just see it and diagnose it. There are so many levels from mild to really bad. I suppose the really bad cases are obvious but what about the people that have mild cases and dont recognize it? Again, it seems to be a "definition" or condition given by a doctor. One doctor may say "your depressed" and another may say "you show signs of bi-polar" and yet prescribe the same exact medicine and life style changes to treat it.

My wife go's through "spurts" of depression and what we call here at home "roller coaster" emotions. Years ago she was prescribed medication by our FAMILY doctor (not a specialist) to treat it. It didnt really help. It just made her tired.

She has made more improvements by watching her diet and excercizing more. Knowlege also helped. She knows that a week before her period, she gets her "ups and downs" and has learned to deal with it...and not take meds for it.

I really think the issues she is having are more related to "hormones" than something defined by a book somewhere as "bi-polar". I also know a majority of women Ive known over the years deal with hormone issues to some extent. Are they all bi-polar? Hell no. But I will always ask the question...what is bi-polar exactly? If its a condition, arent we all bi-polar sometimes? Its like calling every hyper active kid ADD. I really think an individual needs to find the root cause ( either chemically in the body or something in their environment like being in a shitty marriage or crappy family) and correct that.

Its like a car. If the catalytic converter is bad, the car runs like shit. If you wanted, you could bust some holes in the exaust right before the cat and it would run better for a little while. Unfortunatly, its not "fixing" shit, the cat is still bad. You have to find the root cause of the problem and fix that. Until you address and fix the catalytic converter, its never going to run right and your just covering up the problem with a temporary fix.

[AzSonicSnake]

wow... bi-polar. been there done that. even on the medication the girl i was with would still have issues. thats extremely difficult to deal with. it was like living with a person on suicide watch.

[WAR-PARTY]

Originally Posted by whitemustang02 does anyone here know mu about bi-polar disorder and depression? if so please let me know. because o really would like to know some information and have some questions about it. thanks a lot. -mike

Unfortunately what you are describing is something that comes with being a female and it doesn't matter; fat, thin pretty, or fugly this is their natural state! It is closely related to PMS (Putting up with Men's Shit) So now you have acquired your first bit of wisdom, or why god put dogs, man's best friend, on earth. As men this is our curse and ours alone to carry.