Can You Be Too Old To Get Bipolar Disorder? 

As always, thank you Doctor. And on a completely unrelated note, the curls are poppin' 🤭

If you think that....... she is the best Doctor ever..👍

I was 35 when I found out. I spent my time covering up how I felt. Don’t just throw dirt on it or gut it out. It festers unless taking care of. Thanks for the great videos. I found your channel right around when I found out. It’s been helpful.

Hi Dr Tracy, I just wanted to share some good news as your videos have really helped me speak to my doctor more productively. I've been switched from Carbamazepine to Lamotrigine and I am doing really well on it, and have hope for the future. I thanked my doctor, but I also wanted to thank you :)

I love your videos. I think of them as part psychology class and part therapy session. I learn new things from them and knowing those new things makes me feel a little more prepared and focused for dealing with life in general.

You are so helpful. Your tone, your thoughtfulness are always appreciated.

Your videos have helped me wrap my head around this diagnosis. So glad I found you and your book has helped navigate my life into accepting and working through this seemingly impossible chain of events.

Another excellent video. Your channel is a fantastic resource for information on bipolar disorders. It's helped me to better understand my struggles.

Ur truly are the best doctor / psychiatrist ever I watch all your videos... I suffer from severe anxiety disorder/ light depression.. I wish you were my personal psychiatrist you truly are amazing beautiful ❤️💕

Thank you for your professionalism!

Thank you for making these videos about bipolar disorder. It's the other way around for me because I was diagnosed at 14 and I thought I was too young to be diagnosed.

Excellent content, as always 😊

Your videos are so informative! 🙏🏼 I'm just curious if you're a trauma informed psychiatrist? Do you have any videos on c-PTSD/PTSD or the comorbidity of trauma and Bipolar/BPD?

Another great video. Thanks Dr. Marks.

Dr. Marks, Thank you so much for all you do to educate us on mental illnesses! You’re an angel and please don’t ever stop because it is really helpful learning about my mental disorders. Love, Leo

I appreciate this video, thank you

Lol, at ' the crystal ball' 😃 The mood stabilizers and modifying diet for bipolar disorder is great advice. Thanks for sharing !

I don't think mine is a new condition. I'm 48 and was just diagnosed. I have always known I had very low troughs and very high peaks in my mood I just never associated it with having a metal illness. I always thought I was the super active energized person but I didn't know who the low energy and irritable person was. It was a difficult journey to now. Your videos and advice have helped me so much, thank you.

Thanks Doc. Always on point.

Thanks for this video.

I got diagnosed 2 weeks ago.. your videos really help understanding Bipolar 2. Thank You.

The best channel, thank you Doctor

This is great. Thanks!

Thank you doctor for these videos! You help soo many People out there. Like me, I was wondering what is wrong with me and I found your channel. Before it got too worse I diagnosed with bipolar disorder. And I am 16. Just wanna say thanks, you helped me soo much!!

Great video. Could you do a video on early or childhood bipolar disorder? I like that you mention to maintain a schedule, but that can be very difficult as many jobs in customer service have rotating schedules and will ofter not hire or fire people for requesting a set schedule due to a medical issue. Personally had a job where my supervisor would schedule me 3-10 one day and the very next day 9-1. after that job I started requesting a set schedule during job interviews and They refused every time. I have heard many similar stories. In hospitals they will also change people's shifts abruptly. I personally view it as ableist. I have seen research that suggests these types of schedules are bad for anyone's health and make it impossible to keep a schedule. I know that the Americans With Disabilities Act is supposed to help with that. Asking for a regular schedule is not asking an employer for an unreasonable accommodation. Although I have had employers claim the rotating schedule at JCPenny is company policy so they could not make that accommodation. I'd love to hear your view on that.

After my psychiatrist put me on Lamictal and a antidepressant l thought I was bipolar in my 20’s but it was never realized. I was in and out of hospitals with sever depression finally my doctor put me Lamictal which has helped me with my moods and Prozac at a low dose. It took me years to find the right medication. I still have have depression but not to the extent of before. Thank you for your videos they are helpful.

Thanks doctor.. The best doctor ever.

Hey doc. Thank you for all you do to educate the RU-vid community on often misunderstood mental and non mental issues. I was diagnosed with CRPS / RSD .. and allot of the medication I’ve taken for PAIN MANAGEMENT have been bipolar medication. I do NOT have bipolar disorder .. and I am interested in the coronation between the two. Such medications as mirtazapine, olanzapine, Nortryptoline, lamotrogine, and others Thanks!

I wonder if you could please post the Food and Mood program. I don’t see it on your you tube page, thanks for all the lucid presentations.

thanks for posting this

Hi I find your videos very informative, can you talk about Dissociative Identity Disorder? Thanks

Yes!more lifestyle videos❤❤❤

I really appreciate that you accept some of the alternative treatments that seem to help with or without help from the Pharmaceuticals. I get a lot of good information from you. I also want to wish you best of luck with the med Circle live stream Friday. I've been led to some very good information from different doctors through them as well.

Symptoms that are common in both men and women include:👇 high or irritated mood. more energy and greater goal-driven activity. elevated self-esteem or grandiosity. reduced sleep. higher than usual frequency of talking. rapid speech flow and flights of ideas or racing thoughts. being easily distracted.

I would like to see some information on how TRT affects someone with bipolar.

U r really doing great ❤️ Good wishes from INDIA

Thank you for all your videos!! I have heard some professionals state that depression with chemical imbalances is actually rare and that almost all depression is environmental.

Thanks for this video

Yes. I love the idea of having preventative videos.

Doctor Marks, thank you for your informational and insightful videos! I have a question for you. My name is Oxana and I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder nine years ago. Over this time I had four major mania episodes. However, over the past four years I have had only depressive episodes and no mania or hypomanis episodes. Can my diagnosis, based on the fact of having three or four major depressive episodes every year over the past four years, be redefined to depression?

I am in the process of figuring out a diagnosis for my mood swings. My mother has bipolar 1 and from personal speculation borderline/antisocial. Could you talk about the disorders that have to do with mood swings and rapid emotion changes? I watched your video over rapid cycles and I really liked it.

Hi Doctor can you make a video about alcohol and depression and anxiety plus how it diminishes the effects of the medication like anti depressants

Doctor, thank you so much for the great videos. May I ask these questions: after serious manias throughout all these years, I ended up hurting many people in ways that my apology would not even be good enough for them. All they want is to revenge on me. Also hurting others left me with trauma that I have to carry on my shoulder all my life and people think I am just using bipolar disorder as an excuse for my behavior. Sometimes it’s really difficult. What would you suggest for a patient like me? Thank you.

Could you talk about TMS and Spravato treatments for major depression?

Love that you explain that diet and exercise and scheduling can also play a role in anxiety and depression in ManiaLove that you explain that diet and exercise and scheduling can also play a role in anxiety and depression in Mania Some people don't realise how important it is to keep a schedule life going Think you for the video

A few years ago I was kinda worried that I might develop bipolar disorder at some point because of how my depressive episodes tended to just stop from one day to the other, which was very different from how other people described their depression. Now I haven't even had a depressive episode in almost four years and don't see myself as a person with a mental illness at all anymore. it's wild how things can change (for the better in my case)! :)

My first hypomanic episode was at 20. Then another at 23, then 25, etc. Every 2 years or so. By my mid 30s they were mania because that's when delusions became obvious...reference, grandiosity, paranoia. I wasn't successfully treated until I was 40.

I saw the title of this video and had to watch it. I am going to send the link to my therapist because despite years of therapy, hospitalizations off and on, and not ONCE having a therapist even CONSIDER the possibility, my CURRENT therapist strongly suspects Bipolar Disorder. And so after hearing her reasons and concurring she very well could be right, I found an agency that does psych evaluations. I was seen by a young neuro-psych doctor. I underwent a day of testing involving patterned blocks, word usage and meaning, sequencing, and a lengthy multiple choice booklet that had more personality based questions. Before the testing, she asked me about background, symptoms etc. One thing she noted that we both found interesting during the results appointment a few weeks later was that there were tests evaluating for one symptom/disorder and I scored very high on one and the exact opposite on the other. Ultimately, she said that I show no signs of bipolar disorder because "everyone has times where they are irritable or impulsive, look at teens for instance." I tried to tell her that this just wasn't my typical behavior plus, the antidepressants do absolutely nothing and also, I went from being a people person and not having anything I recognized as anxiety to having high anxiety, very isolated and unable to work. One thing I could ALWAYS do was work! I even had times of working 2 or 3 jobs at a time, going to staff meetings, never home etc. One thing you said I have never heard of but wow does it fit. My primary care doc for the past several years has said that I have high levels of inflammatory markers in my blood work. We attributed it to fibromyalgia or possibly my obesity which I was told could be due to years of childhood trauma. Anyway, I have never had issues with irritability but have begun having episodes over the past several years. And I have been having episodes of high anxiety, my thinking gets irrational and I have been engaging in risky and impulsive behavior that is so FAR from my norm AND my character that it is shocking to me. In fact, I'd venture to say if anyone that knows me well, were told about some of the behaviors, they would tell you there is no WAY I would do those things! But when it happens, it just takes over for a while. Then goes til the next time. Anyway, I am 59 now and this has been happening for about 9 years or so maybe (my usually excellent memory isn't always so great nowadays) and getting worse over the past several years. Thanks.

I have a question for you. Recently I was out on Wellbutrin and I became hypersexual. I'm confused as to whether this is a symptom of bipolar disorder or more of a side effect from starting the new medication. I noticed with an increase in lamictal, it finally went away. I would really appreciate if you could answer this question. Thank you!

I've struggled with issues which felt like stress a huge lack in energy and lost interest in any hobbies, got worse over the last 5 year i am 35 now. I have been arguing with doctors telling them it isn't depression on its own as there is a lot more going on but couldn't put my finger on it. I have done a lot of research over this past year on bipolar and i am now very aware of my symptoms, i have a cpn now and have had 2 difficulties psychiatric assessments over the last 3 month, still no further forward, not being taken serious enough. I am now taking 100mg of quetiapine and my mood feels a bit more stable, i was giving nearly every antidepressant going since the age of 18 and they did not work but doctors kept giving me them. I need a diagnosis so i can explain to close ones what has been going on and to receive the correct professional help but i am getting nowhere

Hi Dr. Marks, I have been living with Bipolar 1 with psychotic features for a while. Can you please do a video about how Bipolar 1 with psychotic features differ from Schizoaffective disorder? Thank you.

I was diagnosed at age 50 with bipolar I. Had probably been bipolar II for a long time, but a real live dysphoric mania didn’t arise until age 50

Another excellent and interesting video! For once, I don't have anything to say about myself 🤪😂 but I am curious about some things... 1. I wonder if some people who develop depression earlier in life and take certain anti-depressants (whether they work or not) have more of a chance of developing BP later in life simply due to the effects / long term effects of the anti-depressants (can these people somehow develop a sensitivity to the activating aspects of those anti-depressants (I'm thinking in over-generalised terms such as meds like Prozac or Wellbutrin). 2. I wonder if it's possible to have manic episodes as a child (when mania can often be seen as just "over active", "too much sugar", "over tired", "naughty" or even as having ADHD) and then later, perhaps in late adolescence, depression might kick in and is subsequently diagnosed, with no awareness of the possible existence of any mania. Then, they might go on anti-depressants that may cause a manic episode (or the person feels "better" as they've gone from a lethargic, apathetic and low mood to an excitable, motivated and high mood, and just assume the meds are working. OR they feel restless, anxious and irritated and feel that the meds AREN'T working so go off them). So either way the person still isn't aware of the presence of any mania. Or they don't go on any meds at all for thr depression and then eventually happen to have a manic episode way later on, after it being "dormant" since childhood. Is that even possible? BP with the mania only occurring once or twice, even when unmedicated? 3. Anyone who develops BP after say, 50 or 60, do they HAVE to have had the potential for that their whole life? Or can it simply not exist aside from unipolar depression? Similarly, can someone not even have any depression at all and then be diagnosed later in life with BP? 4. I forgot what I was going to ask. lol. Oh well!

Love your thorough explanations- but what I truly wish is that all doctors were like you and explained things like you do. Rexulti- is that the antipsychotic that you were speaking of in the video? I had a great deal of luck as far as treating symptoms but it caused extreme dizziness and Rapid weight gain and I know everyone is different so this is not to discourage anyone from taking the medication because if not for that this would have been the medication that has helped me more than anything in quite a long list of medications

This was helpful. My mom was diagnosed with bipolar disorder two years ago and she is in her 50s. Am I more at risk of developing bipolar disorder because I have a parent with it?

Love the outfit. I'm annoyed because I can't tell the difference between personality and pathology in terms of BP symptoms.

Do you have a website we can go to for more information. Do you have a podcast? My daughter has been diagnosed with bipolar 1, mixed, severe. I need to understand.

What products do you use for your hair?

Is it possible to have bipolar brought on by a gruesome 3 years of trauma after trauma; already diagnosed with major depression since childhood. Like undergoing immense stress could bring on these more intense swings even though you are older than the normal range of diagnosis you typically see? Is it possible to have episodes of mania or depression that last years? If I were to draw out my timeline - I would be up for about 6 years sprinkled with depression intermittently and since 2018 I’ve been severely down sprinkled with mania to the point where my coworkers thought I had ADHD. Your thoughts are appreciated 😁

Thank you doctor!

Thank you for the great video!❤️ is it possible that someone inherits bipolar 2 from a bipolar 1 parent? Or the opposite

When I wake up I can feel the energy in my belly. If I’m manic it climbs up my body and my thoughts are racing. When depressed I wake up with an empty head and low energy. I only take lithium and clonopin for my anxiety. I can’t take an antidepressant or I go manic mixed

I've wondered if my recurring depression/anxiety is actually bipolar for years now. probably been depressed around 20times last 20 years and still haven't found a medication or way to be stable. I almost wish I could have a manic episode to get it over with.

Thanks

I was diagnosed bipolar II at 40 which turned out to be bipolar I. My first manic episode happened in my 20s, but I avoided hospitalization because my psychosis caused me to run away frequently (still does, and I'm almost 50.) It was eye-opening when I got the diagnosis and looked back on all the signs and near misses over the years. I should have been diagnosed earlier, for sure. My question. I've read here and there that bipolar symptoms decrease w age AND increase w age. Can you speak to that? What's the outlook?

can you make a video on having hypothyroidism and figuring out if you have bipolar or adhd or just major depressive disorder? i’m trying to learn more about myself

This explains a lot...

My mum developed bipolar after the menopause, that was in the seventies. There were no antidepressants in those days, it was valium etc, and it seemed the best thing and I still believe those types of drugs were better, thank you for this.

I see that you are doing another "ask me anything" style video, I am curious, if I am diagnosed as bipolar 2, and I had a hypomanic turned mixed manic episode while under the influence of give or take 6 energy drinks per day for a couple months, does that change my diagnosis? I know that I have had manic episodes in the past under the influence of drugs (prozac, and cold medicine abuse)... So if it is a common trend in my life, is my diagnosis bipolar 1 or 2?

This was really fascinating, and it brought up a question for me based on my own mental health history, and that is, Is it common for perimenopause or menopause to impact medication effectiveness in people who are under treatment for mental illnesses? Here's my story, very briefly: I was diagnosed with MDD at the age of 30 (had mental health issues long before that, but stigma and lack of insurance kept me from getting the help I needed), but after FINALLY getting to see a psychiatrist at the age of 39, I got the diagnosis of bipolar 2. I was relatively stable for several years after that, but when I was 46 I had the first depressive episode for which I was actually hospitalized because of suicidality. Then I was hospitalized four more times over the next four years because we just couldn't seem to find a medication that actually worked to keep my mood stable (I was also having hypomanic episodes, too, but those were more manageable for me than the depressive episodes). They finally got me on the right cocktail and I haven't been hospitalized in almost 3 years now.

Wow that question has never crossed my mind lol.

Thanks tracey

Dr. Marks, you mentioned having a "crystal ball" in this episode. I am curious your thoughts on genetic testing like "genesight." While not a crystal ball, it sounds like it would help my provider and me make better medication choices to find the best fit for me and my needs. What is your position on the testing?

Can you do a vid on how to get rid of derealization/dissociation and depersonalztion after smoking its been a struggle for me all the sudden and it sucks i cant even smoke like i did in the beginning but i wanna continue to do so (smoking weed) :'(

Dr. Marks, can paranoid schizophrenia show up in your 60s and 70s? The textbooks say the signs typically show up much earlier (adolescence/teens/twenties), but two people on my father's side, who were relatively normal until they reached that threshold, inexplicably lost touch with reality. I have lived my entire life wondering if I am going reach the age of retirement and suddenly lose my mind.

Could you please discuss the life expectancy for bipolar 1. Thanks!

People say I'm bipolar. I say I look and feel fine! People just lack understanding.

Just started zoloft a couple weeks ago and stated to feel significantly better, however, there have been nights I wake up with racing , repetitive thoughts and anxiety. Is it normal for setbacks days to accrue !?

Hey, Dr. Marks. A little over 2y ago I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder after a long depressive episode + SSRI's = hypomania. Since then I've been on Lithium + Lamictal and life's been great. I've had 2 depressive episodes post my diagnosis but no hypomania whatsoever. Can someone have bipolar 2 with just one antidepressant-induced hypomanic episode?

@Dr. Tracey Marks I was diagnosed with Bipolar 1 disorder before I was 18. (I was probably 15 or 16) However, I’ve noticed you’ve said it’s not normally diagnosed that young. Why would this be so in my case?

Interesting 👍

If your diagnosis is TRD and you get "Mild" mixed states from anti-depressants, is that considered Bipolar 2?

Thank you 🙏❣️

I'm 69. I've struggled with depression for many years. This year I had a severe depressive episode that drove me to my doctor who's been trying to get me to take antidepressant s. We tried Paxil and Wellbutrin with no positive results, When I was between medications I had my first manic episode. My diagnosis went from poor menopausal depression to bipolar ll.

Can you please do a video explaining more about intrusive thoughts? I have schizoaffective disorder bipolar type and intrusive thoughts is something I deal with a lot, thoughts that I feel like cant be coming from my own brain because some of them are very dark. For example I will be walking and a thought will enter my mind to trip the person walking by me, or if I am dining with someone I may have a thought to sling my water on them even though I dont truly want to do these things and some of them are violent thoughts and I have never been violent towards anyone in my life and know I never will. Is this a part of my illness? Thank you in advance!

I got a prescription for a drug (fluoxetine 10 mg). That was my first psychiatrist appointment ever and I was diagnosed with anxiety (fearing about bacterias and viruses, sickness and death overall) but it doesn’t really stop me from living. I just simply feel a bit bad at night when I start thinking about my alleged sickness syptoms and sometimes I have hard time breathing (feeling like I can't catch a full breath, yawning) but still it doesn’t affect my life, just make it a bit harder with washing hands and more. But I believe that talking about it on the therapy will help me, I believe I can overcome it without medication (I believe I had episodes of similar anxiety symtoms when I was younger and I got through it). I am just really sceptical about taking meds. You know like I know some people need it because they are unable to live but I don't feel like I need it. It would be cheating, postponing the problem, wouldn't it be? There are many, many, many side effects and even more when you stop taking it, so why would I even start? Is there a reason that I should?

can you do a video about long-tern effects of anxiety? Can anxiety cause a mental ilness?

If your onset of bipolar is later in life- are you more likely to struggle with other neurological/cognitive disorders, such as; Alzheimer’s or dementia? Additionally, do you mind posting videos about how antipsychotics and antidepressants affect the brain chemistry long term?

I was diagnosed late in my life when my symptoms became more serious, and my mania was not really controlled well. Doctor, please tell me how can I deal with the shame caused by my behavior which offended so many people during my many mania episodes? The feeling of shame makes me feel I am someone not worthy of living and makes my depression even more serious. The society is not really tolerant to bipolar patients. When I offended people during my mania, they just think I am an asshole and then they take revenge on me. I am really tired of this kind of life.

At 49 had a severe manic depression episode requiring hospitalization I blame Antabuse meds to stop drinking & Effexor anti depressant perhaps that sudden withdrawal from alcohol was the last straw ?

Hi Dr. Tracey. Everytime i talk to stranger, i will have palpitation and will end up crying...is it normal for introvert person?

What role does a shortage of magnesium in the blood play? I’m keeping my moods regulated with diet plus magnesium supplementation intermittently. What should I watch out for?

I’m scared of my anxiety when I get them well..I get them everyday I’m scared I’m gonna have seizures or hallucinate or just drop dead I get this really tired feeling that I super tired everyday I feel like I can’t breathe on my own and my head feels weird but I’ve been diagnosed with GAD and panic disorder, am I actually dying or is it just anxiety please help..☹️

I developed full syndromatic Bipolar (with mania) at 40 as did my grandfather which was triggered by an SSRI. However I was depressed for almost all of the ten years before that.

Ok Dr. Marks, I’m 62 and don’t have my cane yet. Maybe I need to get fitted for one soon. 🤔😉😊

Hey can you make a video on a disorder, I don’t know the name, but it’s when you see things that you think you already saw happen. It’s like the things you “saw” are happening the same way they happened

Thank u so much for clarifying this because i have seen certain episodes in family members. But it's scary because they insist they are fine and everyone else is "crazy"..

Wow, I didn't know that onset of Bipolar Disorder could begin after 50, let alone after 60!

Structure is a little hard when you work overnight 12.5 hr shifts and have a bunch of kids that require you to convert on your days off. I went down to part time which helps me have more "normal" time. One of my issues (the most minor one) staying on medications is that I cannot take medications at the same time. Sometimes I'm waking up at 4pm. Sometimes noon when I'm converting, Sometimes 6 or 7 am. I don't want to be a zombie all day, or unable to sleep at night, or zombie overnight at work, plus I really struggle with sexual side effects on every medication and that also affects when you should take meds.

Hi Dr Marks, what would you say the general prognosis over the longterm is for bipolar? I know timely treatment is important, but say you have that, do people tend to become harder to keep stable as they age?