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Summary of Question:	Re: Health
Category:	General Sikhism
Date Posted:	Thursday, 3/22/2007 8:14 PM MDT

Dear confused person,

Look I am not a doctor either, just a 4th year student, but based on what I've seen and what you said, I don't honestly think you have bipolar disorder. It is common that when you are stressed your moods can change a number of times every day-In fact this is what is happening to me at the moment, and I truly associate it with stress only.

In bipolar disorder, it is more common to have periods of highs and low that last for longer time-say a couple of months of high, then a couple of months of low. Sometimes people suffering of this disporder only have highs.

The highs are generally time when people feelon top of the world, they feel they are omnipotent and can do anything-great feeling of superiority, that is. Therefore people at this phase often unconsciously speed while driving, gamble or overspend and have increased sexual feelings. They often only sleep 3-4 hours a night yet feel they have heaps of energy and never feel tired. They are also very talkative and it is hard to interrupt their speech. Patients often describe their thoughts of being 'jumbled'. Often they don't think there's anything wrong with them either- they just feel really good when they are high.

Lows are the direct opposite, with depressive symptoms, low mood, changes in weight, fatigue and so on. I recently saw a woman who was suffering of the disorder and had spent 3 months by simply sitting in a chair for whole day. The same lady, with 20 year history of BPAD, when asked if she thought she had mental illness, responded that she had never really thought about it, but no, she did not feel unwell. Usually these patients don't have much insight into the illness and they infact don't notice the mood swings as well aspeople without this disorder.

Look what I am trying to say is that if you've been to see doctors and they have said there's nothing to worry about, they are definitely right. For doctors it is quite easy to recognise the symptoms of BPAD, and they usually have a lot of experience in treating this disorder. So get on with your life, if you are stressed talk to someone eg. school/uni counsellor or a doctor that cna suggest good relaxation techniques or simply do prayer if this works for you.

(REPLY) Sat Nam. And to this advice I would add, try a yoga practice! SP