I’ve been looking into them because I know my mother has one of the two and I was wondering if it was possible for me to get one of them/how to prevent from getting it. I know she has one or the other because she used to be in a mental hospital after her mental breakdown in her 20s, takes Risperidone (Risperdal) which is prescribed to those with schizophrenia or manic-depressive (bipolar). She has MANY of the symptoms of each, even on her meds, and cannot hold a job (nor does she want to). I’m more inclined to think schizophrenia from the symptoms except she’s only had one (visual, seeing, and physical/touch) hallucination that she’s mentioned to me and that seems to be a big symptom so maybe it’s bipolar. I don’t know.
I was wondering about specific symptoms that would help me know which she has. She doesn’t like to talk about it, but I think I have a right to know because both are thought to be hereditary and genetic so I likely could develop it!

Oh and she said her doctor says it’s a “chemical imbalance in her brain” and that her meds (resperidone) correct that.
She also has HIGH anxiety that she takes xanax for.
She has sooo many of the symptoms of both, i don’t know what to think… I’m so worried i could end up with one of those disorders too

Well, back in 2008 I was diagnosed as having Bipolar type 2 (makes sense, seeing as my dad has Bipolar type 1). I have been on 2 mood stabalizers, Trileptal and Seroquel, which neither of them helped. Fast forward to today, I went to see someone here in Arizona (a psychiatrist), seeing as I just recently moved here from Florida, and now they are saying I have Borderline Personality Disorder, and that is the reason for my mood swings. I don’t know who to believe, my psychiatrist back in Florida, or my psychiatrist here in Arizona. Has anyone ever had 2 different diagnoses like this?

also, whats the dif. between bipolar and bipolar type 2?

and can one live with these illnesses w/o therapy?

Depression is prolonged sandness or unexplained crying spells, changes in appetite and sleep patterns, irriability, anger, agitation, worry, anxitey, pessimsim, indifference, loss of energy, persistent lethargy, unexplained aches and pains, feeling of guilt, worthlessnes and/or hopleness, inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal, excessive consumption of alcohol or use of chemical substances and recurring thoughts of death or suicide.

Bipolar – Increased physcial and mental activity and energy, heightened mood, exaggerated optimism and self-confidence, excessive irriability, aggressive behavior, decreased need for sleep with out experiencing fatigue, grandiose delusions, inflated sense of self-importance, racing speech, racing thoughts, flight of ideas, impulsiveness, poor judgement, distractibilty, reckless behavior such as spending sprees, rash business decisions, erratic driving and sexual indiscretions, and most severe cases, delusions and hallucination

My husband says that they are different. I say they’re the same.

also, whats the dif. between bipolar and bipolar type 2?

hello! i was diagnosed as bipolar when i was 12 and about a year ago i was hospitalized after a traumatic event. a doctor i only met with for five minutes told me i wasn’t really bipolar, that i was actually bipolar but you can’t diagnose anyone under 18. so i was just wondering the difference and how you can tell which is appropriate. i mean the most common physch misdiagnosis is mistaking schitzophrenia for manic depression so its possible, at the same time i respond to medication and dont respond to group therapy, instead i get along better with “authority”.