Bipolar Disorder – What Does It Mean To Have a Predominant Polarity?

Did you know that about half the people with bipolar disorder, spend more time in one phase over the other and which phase that is can make a difference in how well you do? This video explains this pattern and how it can make a difference with your treatment.

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References:

Albert, Umberto et al. “Predominant Polarity and Polarity Index of Maintenance Treatments for Bipolar Disorder: A Validation Study in a Large Naturalistic Sample in Italy.” Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) vol. 57,6 598. 10 Jun. 2021, doi:10.3390/medicina57060598

Disclaimer: All of the information on this channel is for educational purposes and not intended to be specific/personal medical advice from me to you. Watching the videos or getting answers to comments/question, does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. If you have your own doctor, perhaps these videos can help prepare you for your discussion with your doctor.

[reinaldopereira]

I'm depressive predominant. I've been on lithium for about 10 years, but since my diagnosis changed from bipolar disorder to schizoaffective disorder, I'm also on latuda. I also take quetiapine to help me sleep. It took some time to get my meds right, but now I've been stable since October, which is great. 😀

[AmethystWoman]

I've been on Lamotrigine for years with great success. Having been on many antipsychotics over the years, I find the disregard for permanent TD symptoms to be way underappreciated when when doctors prescribe Abilify etcetera. It doesn't really matter if you're under control if you can't leave the house because you're drooling. I also have friends with bipolar disorder who are on Seroquel, are experiencing TD side effects and their doctor has them remain on Seroquel I don't understand why doctors doesn't don't understand the importance and the disruption of life when you have tardive dyskinesia. In fact many doctors don't tell don't even tell their patients that Abilify can cause TD. I know a lot of people with bipolar disorder and very few are educated that the medications they are on can cause lifelong dyskinesia.

As somebody who's developed TD after being on seroquel and Risperdal, it makes me really angry that there was very little attention paid to the fact that I was beginning symptoms of TD. And least of all that these types of medications are not discontinued when this serious side effect begins.

I'd love for you to do a video on tardive dyskinesia and how disruptive towards life it can be. I'd almost rather be depressed then unable to leave the house because I'm drooling constantly. And friends who have started lip smacking or their tongue hanging out of their mouth. It's just awful that these things are disregarded as it seems people with bipolar anf psychotic llnesses, well it seems just not worth it to pay attention to these common life altering side effects.

Do you agree that if say blood pressure medication caused someone's tongue to constantly hang out of their mouth, that this medication would be discontinued. If this was a side effect of any other medication for "physical' disorders, people wouldn't be told oh well...keep taking the pills that make you drool. Hard stuff for us. Esp to be disregarded. Thanks.

[ronniethezombie]

I was diagnosed with depression at age 9. Anxiety was added when I was 20. Then another psych said that it was bipolar and had me on mood stabilisers. But it wasn't working. No medication, no therapy, nothing was making it better. It was only at age 30( 3 years ago) my psych finally said "hey you have adhd let's put you on some ritallin" and suddenly everything made sense. As a woman i know its hard to diagnose so i don't blame those psychs. Depression was a symptom. I became depressed because I was being held back. I couldn't enjoy a movie that I once loved, and i had that added rejection thing that so many of us adhd peeps have. Mental health can sometimes be really tricky. Knowing what's wrong can sometimes be better than the medications. I'm only on the stimulants and antidepressants. I still take them but I also find my own ways of dealing with things and this has been the best 3 years of my life.

[nyker]

I wish I’ve had a doctor as good as you. I sent my therapist your video on BPD and she was very impressed, and she specializes in BPD at Yale. Your videos are so informative Thank you, you can’t imagine how much you are helping me in my walk with bipolar and BPD and PTSD. ( luckily me, I have it all).

[brianarbenz]

I was diagnosed as bipolar type 2 in 2019. Since I have lived alone for the last 40 years, it's hard for me to know whether I am predominantly one way or another. For that matter, it's hard for me to realize when I am having any kind of episode. It only becomes clear when I look back over the last few months, years, or over my whole life in retrospect.
There are periods where my creativity gives me great fulfillment, but creates an insatiable need for more. Then, I'll decide that what I have produced is flat in quality, and not that important. I'll even feel foolish for having thought it would be so valued.
Moreover, I'll go from being governed by a belief that I can influence the wider world to being focused on how others don't like me, and that I am not worth much. It's been difficult for me to find that healthy middle, where a person feels valuable for being able to do the essential simple things like relate to others well and enjoy things without overthinking them.

[bexsd]

I can't thank you enough for this video. I'm type 2 dpp rapid cycling, I'm on quietapine and low dose fluoxetine. I've had people almost abuse me saying I'm wrong, my meds are wrong, there's no such thing as polarity and I shouldn't be on anti depression medication.

I have spent a lot of time with my doc to get the right combo for me. This video makes me feel like I'm on the right path and I can better understand what's going on. I was miss diagnosed because of my dpp for so long no one believed me I was bipolar. Your videos are great sources of information. I'll be sharing this in the future when people don't believe me or doubt how bad it can be being manic and depressed at the same time.

Again thank you, I feel like I'm on the right path and don't feel like I'm alone in what I'm feeling.

[myelizababy]

This was SO helpful!! I recently got diagnosed bipolar after thinking for the last 10 years I had unipolar depression and gone through about 5 different meds not including the very expensive Ketamine treatments. I was prescribed lamotrigine and wow what a difference!

[Weirdo]

i was treated for depression with anti-depressants the last couple decades and i never felt good . my doctor kept switching doses and would add other drugs to help with anxiety. it made it worse. Isuicidal at one point. i medicated with whatever substance i could get my hands until i was a full fledge daily addict . i checked myself into rehab after a failed suicide attempt. thankfully my wife pushed me to go for a longer concurrent program and i was able to get a proper bi pilar 2 diagnoses. i am now 4 months clean and being treated for bi polar 2 with a mood stabilizer. i have never felt better, things are now healing with my kids and wife . i realize now this will be a life long battle. my thoughts are with everyone here struggling. i hope you find peace . ❤

[godlyroyalangelking]

The greatest challenge I have regarding clinical depression is: no matter how much counselling I get or ‘healing’ from trauma I go through.. or antidepressants I try to take.. will I always be depressed?

[flugshub]

Depression predominant. I started SSRI's in High School which woke up the mania. When Prozac didn't work and Zoloft made me disassociate and believe I could communicate directly with nature, my PCP should not have put me on Effexor. Ended up dropping out of college because my mixed episode got so bad that I was making horrendous decisions, getting high instead of doing work, and I was suicidal 24/7. There are totally, 100% signs that a child is going to become bipolar later in life, and an inventory should be taken before they're put on SSRI's in the first place. I was originally Bipolar 2, and I would've never experienced full mania if it weren't for antidepressants.

[kaybee]

Hi, Dr. Tracey. Could you possibly do a video that explains the connection between mental disorders and cognitive decline?

[Itsrichardash]

Yay! My favorite time of the week. My mom is in town visiting and we are enjoying your videos very much. She loves how you explain everything clearly and in an organized fashion. Thank you for everything you do!

[elizavetafilippova]

I think doctors putting me on like ten different antidepressants for years until I was finally diagnosed with Cyclothymia and only recently with Bipolar has had a lot of input into mixed episodes. I’m now put on more meds that I’ve ever been on and I honestly regret all those years of being under diagnosed, but whatcha gonna do. I’d love to be able to get years between the episodes at the very least lol I’m high functioning — that’s good — but some areas of my life are honestly influenced too much by my moods. Thank you, Doc, for not only informative but also entertaining take on serious matters like mental health ❤

[emanuelsanders]

You're a wealth of information and knowledge, Doc! Keep'em coming !

[shireenrahimi]

I always tell everyone how you’re the reason I was able to get a proper diagnosis after a 13 year battle of being mis-diagnosed. I’ve learned and continue to learn so much from your videos. Infinite gratitude to you Dr. Tracy Marks. You are literally a savior! ❤ 13 years later I’m finally in control of my bipolar super power. Here is one thing I would love to know. Why are folks with Bipolar disorder known to be artistic and creative??? What’s the science behind being bipolar and being a creative person/artist? When I was finally diagnosed my doctor said to me “you’re bipolar, you must be an artist or very creative” and she is right. I’m a full time performance artist. Turns out Jim Carey, Cher, Mariah Carey and so many other famous artist are also bipolar. What’s the connection?

[pimhalka]

Great video as always. I particularly appreciated the shout out to those of us with newer diagnoses. It can be overwhelming and practical, concrete steps like "track moods/start a mood journal" is super helpful.

[doloresw]

This was an awesome video! I've seen where doctors disregard what you report and keep you on what your taking. I know that you almost have to be your own advocate to push for something to change. I love that you're giving so much so that people are better educated.

[DocRocket]

Doctor, many thanks for this explanation. I have searched for over 30 years for answers to my depression. A number of different psychiatrists prescribed anti depressants only. I would be fine for a little while and then the bottom would drop out. I'd be severely depressed. In hindsight I'm disappointed that none of the doctors diagnosed bipolar disorder given my symptoms. Heavy drinking was the answer for me. (The boogeyman can't get you if you pull the blanket over your head.) Then I stopped drinking and it all started again. I have recently found a doctor who has made the right diagnosis of bipolar 2. I'm doing much better. However, your explanation was much clearer than anything I've been told or read. Thank you for all that you do. If I had only found you long ago I might have lived a much happier and productive life.

[msskullyskeletonia]

This is very insightful because i noticed for years that i have one phase more versus the other. Thank you for explaining this into further detail. i love your videos <3

[mishermash]

Dr. Marks, I'm so happy I came across your videos! I'm three weeks in to a Bipolar II diagnosis, and have been researching to understand how could I miss this over the years, or did it simply come to light due to recent trauma in my life. I've had depression for a good part of my life and in the 20 months, the depression has increased tenfold.

I'm about to start a Dr. Tracey Marks binge fest in your Bipolar Disorder playlist! 🙏🏼