Hey Im sorry for semi-hijacking this thread but I was simply wondering what exactly (according to you, and not some web site) are the key symptoms of bipolar disorder? Just in case that question wasnt so clear I want to know how you would describe your life as a bi-polar person BEFORE being on any meds.

Also what meds have you been prescribed and do they have any side effects other than being zombie-like?

Thanks again and I wish the best to all of you, and hopefully (maybe) Im just terribly hypochondriac....

Im sorry if this post didnt bring anything to the conversation

I have mild Autisim/Aspergers Syndrome, ADD, and OCD... Im very high functioning though as far as the autism part, if you saw me in public you wouldnt notice a thing..
Im on 1mg of Risperdal, 20 Mg of Adderall XR, and 40 mg of Prozac... Anyways, ganja is the best medicine to calm me down and make me mellow...

I allow 'them' to put names on me, when convenient.
(schizo-affective=schizaphrenia + bi-polar)
Their chemicals=feel bad now + worse later
Nature's medicines=feel good now + increased concentration & objectivity +
greater awareness later

Greater awareness does NOT feel better.
You get higher highs & lower lows, caused by EVENTS.
(& the people involved)
Bush lied to us all so he could war in Iraq.
Take a pill & it won't bother you?
Who is delusional, the republicans or you & me?

I need a bigger dose of objectivity, where's the lighter?
K.I.S.S.

How did these politicians figure that insurance companies could make so much money by covering our prescriptions, instead of Medi-caid(Medi-Cal)
& at the same time the government saves money?

The wealthiest get wealthier, while the poorest lose again.
I must be halucinating again.

I have bipolar and i think that it helps me. im on only 10mg of abilify but when i have phycotic episodes it really helps me mellow out and sort things out. for example when i think someone is following me and stalking me. i just smoke a bolw lay in bed and figure out that thats just bull shit and im depressed. or when im manic and im finding myself to be god. i just smoke a few bowls and relize im just normal with alot of energy. lol weed is the cure for bipolar its just the way you use it. i think there should be weed therapy where people teach you the right techniques to use when you smoke pot to get rid of those crazy ideas you get. plus when your manic smoking pot is awsome!!

i recently read that low doses of cannabis increase serotonin levels but higher doses decrease serotonin levels. it's probably hard to self-regulate these levels. which is why we need waaaaay better medical cannabis in this country with standardized extracts and whatnot.

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The fools are at the bottom of it all.

I am not an expert on the risks of marijuana overall.I see people become somewhat paranoid or unmotivated, but a quick search of the medical literature did not seem to comment on whether those are recognized risks in larger samples than the patients I've seen.A substance use expert could comment better on that.They are literally using the herb to control their mood. Often they use very tiny amounts, but usually daily.They usually seem to stop using if we have success controlling their mood with typical mood stabilizers, as though they found the drugs better than the herb.These are very anecdotal observations and should be interpreted as such...

Not so much about bipolar, but about mood swings:

I have always been very moody, and suspected that I had a mild case of bipolar disorder. However, a psychologist and psychiatrist finally diagnosed me as having Generalized Anxiety Disorder - something I didn't even know existed.

I have found that magnesium supplements help mellow me out a LOT and I found out that magnesium deficiency is VERY common in the US.

You can get magnesium supplements at any health food store, or, GET THIS!

Hemp seed is super high in magnesium! It also has GLA (a type of omega-6 fatty acid that helps to regulate hormonal mood swings, like during menopause or PMS).

I want to stress that this is a super-effective nutritional supplement for anybody suffering from low-level mood disorders (and anybody who just feels stressed out sometimes).

I don't have much else to contribute but this has helped me so much, I thought I should share.

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The fools are at the bottom of it all.

I won't say it's straight-up bad for bipolar, and I don't know you, but I know that substance abuse often goes with the disorder.

I do believe cannabis has good and bad interactions with mood disorders. Depends on you, your mindset, your smoking habits, other medications you're taking, and the support structures you have in place including therapy and those around you.

I guess it's up to you.