Bipolar Disorder Support Group

Bipolar disorder is not just a single disorder, but a category of mood disorders marked by periods of abnormally high energy and euphoria, often accompanied by bouts of clinical depression. This is the place to talk about your experience with bipolar disorder, learn from others' experiences, and find support.

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BP from Head Trauma?

deleted_user
deleted_user
I was reading the BP VS. BPD and I was wondering what anyone my know about head trauma causing bp. I've just started lithium and was wondering if all the stress and the anoxic brain injury from blunt force trauma may have caused this chemical imbalance. I was hit on the back of the head w/ a mag flashlight from my 1st x-husband. I had a seizure and was must have inhaled vomit, I was left like that for 6hours w/out oxygen to the brain. I was posturing and had blood setting up in my back. I was told by the er that i would require a liver, lung and kidney transplant. If i did make it, I would never be the same. This occured in Oct. of 2000 and every year mood, etc get worse. I've seen some really great advice from people on this site and would really like some input...
deleted_user
deleted_user
I think it is as good of a guess as anything else. I blamed my childhood molestion, my drug addiction and alcoholism. I have blamed my lineage and a lifetime of abuse.

But blaming any of these idiotic things that happened in my life is just a waste of time. I have to get into the cure for my emotions not worry about the cause.

I can't go backwards and fix my problem. If I could I would do it for selfish finacial gain or to sleep with a certain beautiful female. I would never use that secret power to help the world.

My son had a very tragic childhood head trauma, I wouldn't be surprised if that helps contributing to his mental health.
deleted_user
deleted_user
My pdoc was wondering the same thing about me and I had to have a ct scan. I think in my case it is hereditary though no one has been officially diagnosed as bipolar except me in my family. They've all been diagnosed with depression though.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I was dx'd with bp shortly after a traumatic brain injury but, honestly, I think I had it before that.
deleted_user
deleted_user
No single cause may ever be found for bipolar disorder. Instead, a combination of biologic, genetic, and environmental factors appears to trigger and perpetuate the chemical imbalances in the brain that shape this disorder.
deleted_user
deleted_user
i have heard it is genetic, but that is not proven. it seems like a head injury could cause it. your doc may have more info on research, etc.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Diagnosing any type of psychiatric condition is based on certain categories that are established by a manual called the DSM-IV. It is a manual of certain criteria that each individual must meet to fit a specific category. So, in other words, there really is not definitive answer to your purpose of diagnosis. The psychiatrist base there treatment on these categories. That's why there are so many different medicinal "cocktails" used to fit each individual.
deleted_user
deleted_user
In the case of personality disorders there is not chemical connection. Personality disorders are acquired from the individual seeking solace from traumatic experiences. These are unique constructive abilities that the individual develops in order to compensate for traumatic experiences they are experiencing. Hence the term, "Dissociative fugue"
deleted_user
deleted_user
I had a head injury in my early 20's while in the Marine Corps, and the doctors always pause when I tell them about it. There could be some connection!

Jim
deleted_user
deleted_user
Having surgery which changed my chemistry was the biggest cause of the onset of BP for me. Also, was in a car wreck as a teen along with a multitude of abuses as a child. In hind sight it's hard to figure which of those contributed more to the BP. It was a horror show sometimes.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I had a head and neck injury in jan 2006....passed out at the top of a flight of stairs.
I was really drunk,amongst other things.
I hit a sudden and bad depression after this and started having really bad panic attacks.
However I had delt with depression several times before that....and there are two other members of my immediate family that have a bp dx as well.
Its a question Ive asked myself because things became gravely worse after that fall.
deleted_user
deleted_user
My mother-in-law sustained blunt force head trauma 15 years ago. She had been plagued with a series of medical complaints including nerve pain ever since. I think it's quite possible to have head injury induced BP. I blame my BP on my illicit drug use because both it and BP involve the same neurotransmitters.
deleted_user
deleted_user
i appreciate the info. i'm trying not to be in denial, but i had issues w/ depression and was the "crazy" one to do anything wild. but i've been doing so much soulsearching since being on my "cocktail". ONE OF THESE DAYS... Right?????
deleted_user
deleted_user
i am sort of in denial...only b/c i don't know if I am really BP...i trust doc, i can see where I fit in with all the symptoms, but I don't have a severe case...I mean, it is bad for me, but I don't have severe mania. So I am basically confused, but thinking that if my new med works, than aha! I must be BP.
deleted_user
deleted_user
i know what you mean. but, it's been 9 days on lithum too and huh, um... i'm calmer, not fliping into any rages, haven't broken anything, haven't hit any brick walls, haven't cused people at work. only cried today a bit. vs every single day.. i've actualy been smiling a bit this week... i must deal w/ denial...
deleted_user
deleted_user
I wonder same thing because my bp started after head trauma. It took a year after before my bp was extreme.
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