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Bipolar Disorder/normal mood in bipolar

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Expert: Joyce A. Anthony - 7/6/2011


Question
My stepson is 20 years old. His father does not want to discuss my stepson's behavior/possible diagnosis.

Anyway the boy has per year 8 months with a lot of rapidly changing mood swings with anger (similar to bipolar and borderline) and then 2 months in which he is totally normal, no anger, no rage,no depression, motivated, and really nice and friendly and so on.

Is it possible for a person with bipolar/borderline to be normal for just 2 months per year?

Answer
April:

With bipolar disorder, there are many times when the person's mood is completely normal.  As time continues and the disorder is left untreated, those times get shorter and further apart, but it is entirely possible for someone with bipolar disorder to cycle for a few months and then go into a "normal" state.  

                                     Joyce A. Anthony

Bipolar Disorder

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Joyce A. Anthony

Expertise

I can answer questions dealing with bipolar disorder in a parent, yourself or your child. I can give suggestions and insight into what can be expected of many medications for bipolar disorder. My most extensive knowledge is in children with bipolar disorder. Here I can give advice on dealing with daily events, schools, medication and professionals.

Experience

I am the daughter of a bipolar/schizophrenic parent, am bipolar myself and am raising a bipolar child. I have a background in Psychology from Gannon University, have run several parenting classes for those parenting bipolar children and have had extensive experience with medications, the school system, homeschooling a special needs child, dealing with counselors, doctors and other professionals in the mental health field. I write for a bipolar website, with the focus on educating the child with bipolar disorder on his/her illness.

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