Can anyone help me understand bipolar disorder?

I am not clear on exactly HOW bipolar disorder works but I fear for my step-daughter. I don't know if she could be bipolar (hee Mother is) but I wanted some insight as to IF she could be suffering from it. Here is the way she is:

1. She vanishes for days on end. When she comes home she sleeps all day and stays up all night. She cannot get to sleep until the wee hours of the morning.
2. She is very promiscuous and recently told me that she made the guy "respect her first". Whatever that means. No offense to you decent guys, but respect could come in the form of kind words to lure her into the sack. She seems hypersexual and writes about being a "nymphomaniac" and "orgasms".
3. At times, she cannot take any type of crticism, even constructive. At times, she can. She has trouble getting along with other females and it has cost her three jobs.
4. Sometimes she is as sweet as can be and at other times exhibits explosive anger.

Many of the symptoms you are describing sound like signs of mania. Some manic depressive people suffer from bouts of mania, followed by deep depression although they do not have to have the severe swings in order to have the illness.

Mania can be characterized by bouts of restless energy, insomnia or little sleep, and bizarre behavior. They seem to have no concept of the choices they are making or the consequences of the behavior. Again, these can vary in severity.

I would recommend journaling what you are seeing for a period of time and then taking her to a psychiatrist. Bring the journal with you so you may offer those recollections.

If she is bipolar, she may not realize it. This is the difficult part of the disease. There are many new medications out there to deal with the symptoms, and only a mental health professional would be able to decide which is most appropriate. Source(s): I am a nurse.

yes it could be but you'd have to see a professional to get the best answer...
but for now, read this, it could help: http://www.bipolar.com/what_is_bipolar/w...
rapidly changing moods... that is it
it sounds as if and I really hope not that she is on drugs of some sort though with the explosive behavior could be bipolar disorder. the promiscuous could be from being sexually abused. Her not getting along with females could just be her personality. Some people write out their fantasies and there is nothing wrong with it as long as she is not doing anything and if she is you need to get her on birth control and teach her about safe sex. Abstinence is really not the best thing to teach due to the fact teens learn about sex from music, TV and other things and they need to know how to protect themselves take her to a counselor is my best advice. Apparently she needs help that you cant give her. Its nothing you have done but something that she has traumatically experienced.

I know this because this description of your step daughter is an EXACT description of me when I was younger. My mom got me help and now I am a responsible adult who holds a job pays bills and can react in a positive way with others.

As for the criticism it could be she is really sensitive or the way someone is criticizing her. She also may have post traumatic stress syndrome along with anger issues. She may bottle up feelings in an unhealthy way and finally explode.

Good luck and I really hope this helped you out if you have anymore questions you can email me at strong_mandy_forever@yahoo.com