With all that being said, YES I think Americans are overdosed and over-diagnosed, but there are real mental disorders out there too. People that say pills just make us stupid sheep have not experienced the difference that the right medication can make in somebody’s life, and from my personal experience they often need a good dose of something themselves (or a swift kick in the face, as the case may be).

Plus, the diagnostic criteria for a manic episode is at least a week in length (and that goes the same with depression), not 5 minutes, so get bent Jake.

Sorry, touchy and personal subject, I’ve been through a LOT.

As for those who said that someone who actually had bipolar disorder would never talk so openly about it, thats wrong. I have type 1 bipolar (although unlike a lot of type 1′s, i also get really freaking awful depressions instead of the milder depressions…) and im very, very open about it. In fact, i write a blog about what its like to have bipolar disorder, although not as often as i used to because i’ve been busy. I dont want to live with the stigma all my life, so i’d rather just be open. Its not going to go away if i pretend it isnt there, so why not just be open and honest about it?

I think its up to the individual how open they want to be.

Actually, even though you were trolling, you’re right. Not all bipolar people have the same cycle lengths, let alone consistent lengths. I’m bipolar, and I often have “mini-breakdowns” in the middle of a normal period. That is, I will frequently cry over something insignificant and get over it, yes, *within minutes*. It is possible, believe it or not. From Wikipedia: “There are references that describe very rapid (ultra-rapid) or extremely rapid[24] (ultra-ultra or ultradian) cycling. One definition of ultra-ultra rapid cycling is defining distinct shifts in mood within a 24–48-hour period.”

However, my depressive episodes are usually much longer. They can last months or years. And I once had a manic episode that lasted an entire summer. But my manic episodes tend to be much shorter, less common, and usually less severe (hypomania), because I have Bipolar Disorder II. Type I is the opposite; the affected person has long and severe manic episodes and shorter, less severe depressive episodes.

As someone else said, Jacob was probably just joking. Another person mentioned that manic episodes cause one to tell others very personal things easily. This is true, as I’ve experienced it myself, but that doesn’t mean he’s bipolar. Depression like that can’t just be “solved” by listening to death metal. And the fact that he casually changed the subject after that is even more of a dead giveaway that he was joking. I don’t think he’s an attention whore, he just has a strange (and awesome) sense of humor.

There was no need for the definition, 14 just has a sharp sense of humour.

Attention Deficit Disorder

I disagree. I know what bi-polar is because I went to sixth form, and got an A Level in Psychology.

However, I am still poor and unsociable.

It’s another one of those things that a number of people don’t believe is a real complaint.

@Augh

Yeah. Pretty much what I said @23.