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If you’ve ever met someone who claims to be bipolar, you may have wondered, can people fake bipolar?
To understand if a person may be faking the bipolar disorder, you first need to understand what bipolar disorder is and what bipolar disorder isn’t. If you suspect a person may be faking bipolar disorder, you should first try and observe the person over a period of time. Make notes about their “high” behavior and also their “low” behavior. If the person seems to be going through depression, this may be a cry for help. You should typically give people the benefit of the doubt and help them seek assistance for their disorder (the same as you would help someone injured get the hospital.) Only a doctor or mental professional should make the call as whether or not a person may be faking bipolar disorder. Is it possible for a person to fake cancer or a handicap? In short, yes. As with any illness, it is possible for a person to fake bipolar disorder, but keep in mind that true manic depression is a serious illness. Those who have bipolar disorder and show signs of irrational mood behaviors should seek help from a mental heath professional.
Those who are diagnosed with bipolar disorder often exert signs of high “highs” and low “lows.” Because of the mood swing behavior, bipolar disorder can also be referred to as manic depression. Mood swings can typically last several days to months. If the disorder is left untreated, it generally worsens. A person may continue to live a life filled with manic behavior, which can lead to suicide. Knowing a little more about the symptoms of bipolar disorder, you will be able to make your own conclusions about whether or not a person may be faking bipolar disorder.
Below is a list of some the highs and lows a person with bipolar disorder may experience.
Some of the “high” symptoms may include:
• An overly excessive self-esteem
• Highly optimistic
• Poor or erratic sleeping habits
• A sudden increase in the desire to reach goals
• An increase in physical activity
People with bipolar disorder may often seem overly self confident at times. Although not a bad characteristic, this feeling may suddenly shift to feelings of guilt and depressing thoughts. Another characteristic of bipolar disorder is high optimism that suddenly changes to aggressive behavior. Bipolar patients often do not realize that their moods change so rapidly. They often believe that a change in their environment or life has caused the sudden change in mood. Although this may be true, most often bipolar mood changes can be caused be simple or non life altering events. In extreme cases, such as the death of a family member or loved one, extreme mood changes can take place. However, you will most often notice mood changes during a person’s daily life and interactions.
Some of the “lows” may include:
• Poor concentration
• Lack of sound judgment
• Physically or verbally aggressive
• Short attention spans
• Abnormal or risky behavior
• Sleeping for extended periods of time
Most, if not all people will have changes in mood and behavior depending on what is going on in their life at the time. Those who suffer from bipolar disorder may have changes in mood because of a small change in their life or possibly even no change at all. It is not known the exact cause of bipolar disorder, but mostly it can be linked to three possible causes. First, chemical changes in the brain may cause these sudden changes in mood. Second, research has shown that other family members with mental disorders such as bipolar disorder often have the same disorder. In short, it may be genetically related. Third, a person’s experiences and environment may cause bipolar disorder.
If you believe that a person may not be faking bipolar disorder…
You should try and do everything you can to help them. If you are a close friend or family member with the person, talk to them about their sudden mood changes. Help the person understand that mental disorders are nothing to be ashamed of, but that through professional help, they can lead a more productive life. For people who are older and have been living with bipolar disorder the majority of their life, this may be more difficult to talk about. When a person has lived their entire life experiencing the highs and lows of bipolar disorder, it can be difficult for them to adjust to any changes. For them, living with the sudden mood swings has become a normal part of life. They may not want to hear that they have a mental illness. In some cases, interjection may only be advised if you suspect the person is capable of hurting themselves or someone else. Whether a person is faking bipolar disorder or truly suffers from the illness, seeking a mental health professional’s help is the best action to take. If the person is faking bipolar disorder, a mental health professional can help find the actual cause for the person’s actions. If a person is not faking bipolar disorder, you can help them take the steps to better their life.
