I think one of my friends is BP. She used to live with my now husband and that's how I met him. He told me she used to fly into rages, put holes in walls and just break down into sobs for no reason. When I talked to her yesterday she told me how reclusive she'd become aside from her job. She also told me she has times where she's really super happy and colors seem super bright and she feels more alive than she's ever been. I call that feeling violently alive. But I told her how my low lows feel like a crater in my chest. I'm so deeply sad and don't know why. She said that's how she feels now. She is obviously depressed but has no money or insurance at this time to seek a professional opinion. She also is a big believer in holistic medicine but not averse to taking meds should she need them. I just worry about her.

I don't claim to be any kind of expert on picking out the BP, alcoholic or Republican out of the crowd. Maybe it's an acquired skill, like belching the William Tell Overture!

When I told some people I had bp they said they knew something wasn't right but they didn't know what.I guess it's not difficult to figure something is wrong when I'm manic.However they just accept me how I come.I can pretty much tell if someone has a mental illness of any kind & they often confide in me.

This one group of friends I used to hang out with in high school and into the last few years nicknamed me crazy bitch. It probably sounds kind of mean but they accepted it and would just crack the occasional joke. I was on only antidepressants during that time period. Everyone knew that it was true, even me, but they all accepted me for who and what I am. I really miss them. :-(
I'm also having a really crappy "I told you so" moment now that my bf's meds have triggered mania. Not a triumphant moment shall we say. Ugh.

Maybe it is because I am so wrapped up in my own crap in my life or maybe I just don't care enough to pay that close attention to people but I have never been able to tell when someone has BP or any other illness unless they told me and then I start noticing stuff about them.

I keep to myself and don't get out so I don't give people a chance to judge me. I actually want to make my avitar into a shirt...oh how true it is...lol

lol dorkie, i would buy that shirt - maybe you should go into business!

i've been able to spot MI in people a couple of times, but generally i don't get that close to people. the times when i have noticed the people have ended up confiding in me, which is nice if i can offer support but sometimes can be really draining. that sounds really selfish eh

Actually that would really spook me if someone I had just met turned round and said they knew I had bipolar, it would certainly make me very self conscious, I'm glad it hasn't happened to me

HA...I've been nicknamed Loca in college. Never figured out why until I found out until I was diagnosed. lol It actually made me laugh. I've been called crazy so much it never bothers me. Not a bit.

I can't tell at all if someone is BP or whatever. Can never

I guess it's like gaydar though. I'm pretty perceptive about it too simply because it's all very familiar for a bunch of reasons x

agree with lou...

first person to dx me was a homeless man with what he called 'manic depression'...

he dx'd me from across the street.

i swear to god.

took almost ten more years for me to seek actual help...

and what was the dx once i found a pdoc (and then a few others)?

ummmm. yeah.

true. story.

seriously.

pay no attention to the other thread full of would-be lies...LOL

HAHAH Wow! That's is just wild... O___o;;

i guess if he knew bipolar symptoms very well and you just told him everyday bits of your ups and down he would get it sooner then most but..i think he mite have been taking a shot in the dark

i think i was sketching out on the street lights and he could see it.

i took him for coffee and after he explained to me his symptoms...

which really hit home for me...in good and bad ways...

i asked him how he thought he knew...

and he said that anyone with manic depression...

could pick out another manic depressive...

that we were one big psychic family or something...

anyway. i dunno.

i just know what happened.

Wow craziness Beepeeagogo.